Jazz Road Creative Residencies

About

Program Overview

Jazz Road Creative Residencies is a component of the larger Jazz Road program, a 4-year national jazz initiative directed by South Arts and funded by the Doris Duke Foundation with additional support from the Mellon Foundation. The program provides financial support for professional jazz artists in self-defined residency activities that advance their artistry, creative exploration, community engagement, and lifework in jazz. This artist-centric program removes financial barriers that keep professional jazz artists from investing deeply in their creative practice and experimenting across a range of artistic and community engagement possibilities throughout the U.S.

Eligibility

Individual professional jazz artist (working solo, with a professional composer-led or collective jazz ensemble, or as an artist-led nonprofit organization or corporation)
U.S. citizen or permanent resident based in the U.S. or its territories
Noteworthy record of work experience and accomplishments in the jazz field
Mid-career to more accomplished level career stage
Previous Creative Residency awardees are NOT eligible to apply

Residency Requirements

Residencies must be one to four weeks in duration, either in a continuous or non-continuous format, and can take place anywhere in the U.S. Artists define their residency goals, structure, budget, location(s), and timeline. Residencies may incorporate collaborations with other artists, multiple disciplines, or partner organizations (not required for eligibility).

Eligible Residency Focus Areas

Creative emphasis: develop, produce, record and/or perform existing and/or new work
Community engagement emphasis: connect artistic vision, practice, and/or new work to opportunities for community immersion
Pushing the jazz field forward
Any combination of the above (most competitive grants address two out of three areas)

Award Amounts

Grant amounts range from $5,000 to $40,000
Grants are awarded directly to artists

Award: Grant amounts range from $5,000 to $40,000.
Theme: Jazz Road Creative Residencies support professional jazz artists in self-defined residency activities that advance their artistry, creative exploration, community engagement, and lifework in jazz through creative emphasis, community engagement emphasis, or work pushing the jazz field forward.
Eligibility: Individual professional jazz artists (U.S. citizen or permanent resident based in the U.S. or territories) with noteworthy work experience in jazz, mid-career to more accomplished level. Previous Creative Residency awardees are ineligible.
Audience: Individual professional jazz artists (U.S. citizen or permanent resident based in the U.S. or territories) with noteworthy work experience in jazz, mid-career to more accomplished level.