Schwartz Performing Arts Fund

The Institute for the Performing Arts offers financial assistance for conceiving, planning, and coordinating performing arts-related activities on the University of Rochester (UR) campus, such as:

  • Guest artist performances and residencies that serve student learning
  • Conferences/lectures/symposia
  • Commissions
  • Events in service to curriculum or the UR student learning community
  • Creative and/or scholarly research related to performing arts

Projects eligible for funding should either be directly related to or contribute to the advancement and promotion of knowledge in the performing arts and should involve students in a significant way. Interdisciplinary arts projects are encouraged as are projects that engage UR students with the community and/or community non-profit organizations. Expenses can include student research assistant or student arts fellow to support the project.


Application Process and Eligibility

Funding up to $10,000 per project

Submissions for proposals are welcome from one or more adjunct or full-time professors at the University of Rochester throughout the academic year, starting from the first day of fall semester through two weeks before the last day of the spring semester.

This opportunity is open to all departments, provided that the proposed project is centrally focused on the performing arts. The proposal must involve the School of Arts and Sciences Performing Arts collaborator in a significant way.

Applications are continuously accepted and funded on a rolling basis. The maximum funding allocated for a single project is generally $10,000, with most grants awarded at a level of $5,000.

If awarded, department/program administrators are responsible for overseeing all project logistics (i.e., any relevant guest/speaker travel, housing, hospitality, payment processing, etc.).

Upon completion of the project, awardees must submit a final report.

Projects included in regular department budgets, such as mainstage shows and student concerts, are ineligible for funding. Only projects outside of recurring annual or semester performances will be considered. Special projects that enhance regular programming will be considered.

Applicants should clearly outline the project’s objectives, the student and/or community impact, the methods to achieve them, and explain why the proposed format (i.e., lecture, performance, etc.) is most suitable for success. Submissions must be made at least three weeks before the first proposed event date to allow for flexibility and responsiveness to current events, while also maintaining the integrity of the review process.


Funding Application

Project Information

All fields are required unless noted otherwise.

One or two sentences.
Additional details about the project, including the names and affiliations of all creative artists, performers, and project directors (for students, include their graduation year and major). Be sure to also include information on any collaborative aspects, as well as the key dates/times of events.
How will this project contribute to and impact the University of Rochester and the Rochester community?

File types allowed: doc,docx,pdf,xls,xlsx,txt

Upload a comprehensive budget outlining detailed expenses and income sources, both projected and confirmed. Including additional sources of support in your budget will strengthen your application.
You may use this space to provide any additional details or explanations regarding your budget.