Foundation Support for Edge Jewish Music (was schmaltz...)

[JeffSchan <JeffSchan...>]

Gideon wrote:

<<Has anyone on the list had success approaching the foundation world to 
support Jewish music generally or "edge" Jewish music in particular?>>

Absolutely none, and unfortunately I have spent a good deal of time trying.  
In trying to raise funds for my CD "No More In Thrall" and my cantata "The 
Past Is Present", both dealing with the Holocaust and both having budgets in 
5 figures, I did not receive a single penny from any Jewish sources.  I was 
able to get a personal referral to someone at the National Foundation for 
Jewish Culture, and that person was kind enough to try to think of Jewish 
sources of funding.  The only ones he came up with were places that had 
already turned me down.  He quite frankly admitted that there is no real 
support among Jewish foundations for the performing arts.  I think this is 
pretty ridiculous, and perhaps if more of us tried to approach these places, 
maybe they would get the idea that there is a need for money in this area.

In a pleasant change of pace, the National Foundation for Jewish Culture has 
just established the "Susan Rose Recording Fund for Contemporary Jewish 
Music".  Unfortunately they are giving out only 1 grant in its first year.  
It seems to be oriented towards "classical" music:  "The Fund will not 
support the recording of folk and other 'popular' genres nor music intended 
specifically or primarily for liturgical contexts."  Anyone interested should 
contact Ms. Rebecca Metzger: Rmetzger (at) jewishculture(dot)org

Jeffrey Schanzer

---------------------- jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org ---------------------+