Deadline: October 5, 2018

Chamber Music America has announced a Request for Proposals for its Presenter Consortium for Jazz program, a program designed to provide support to consortia of U.S. presenters that collectively engage up to three professional U.S. jazz ensembles to perform at each presenter’s venue.

A consortium consists of one lead presenter, two presenter partners, and up to three ensembles. The consortium presenters may be located within the same state but must be located in different cities or regional areas at least fifty miles apart. The ensembles may reside in the home state of a consortium partner, or be from elsewhere in the United States

The consortium may work together to create a single program that travels to each venue or each partner may curate its own separate program(s). A strong consortium is one in which each partner and the ensemble(s) work together to plan and develop the proposed performances. A consortium is also encouraged to collaborate on creative efforts to market, manage, and present the project. If a consortium elects to work with up to three ensembles, each partner must present all three ensembles in performance at its venue, with the engagement consisting of one or multiple concert events.

To be eligible, each of the three presenting organizations in a consortium must be based in the U.S. or one of its territories; be located in three separate locations at least fifty miles apart; be a 501(c)(3) organization or otherwise eligible for charitable contributions; be a CMA Organization-level member; and have no overdue reports or financial obligations to CMA. The jazz ensemble(s) selected by the consortium must be based in the U.S. or one of its territories; consist of two to ten professional musicians; and include improvisation as an integral part of its composition and performance.

Program funding will support concert fees, travel, housing, per diem, cartage, and the presenters’ marketing and production costs for the proposed concerts. The program will fund up to 75 percent of the eligible expenses above, up to a maximum of $10,000 per consortium partner. The program will fund up to 75 percent of the eligible expenses above, up to a maximum of $10,000 per consortium partner/$30,000 per consortium. A $1,000 incentive per partner is available to a consortium that programs a CMA New Jazz Works grantee ensemble in performance of its entire CMA-commissioned work.