For the fourth year in a row, Black Music City is offering grants to Philadelphia-area artists that honor Philadelphia’s rich Black music heritage.
A total of $125,000 in grants is being dispersed to local Black musicians, writers, photographers, filmmakers, podcasters and more, who create new artistic works based on the legacy and future of Black music in Philadelphia. Applications are open today, and interested artists are encouraged to apply here. The deadline for applications is January 31, 2024. Past Black Music City grantees are also eligible to apply for grants to build upon their previous projects.
Established in 2020, Black Music City is a collaboration between WXPN, WRTI, and REC Philly. This year, a Selection Committee of Black Philadelphia professionals prominent in the arts, media and business communities will review the grant applications, from which 30 recipients will be selected. Committee members include Philadelphia Music Ambassador Chill Moody, John Morrison (host of WXPN’s Culture Cypher Radio) , singer-songwriters Samantha Rise (a Pew fellow and Black Opry grant recipient) and Laurin Talese (vice president of the Philadelphia Chapter of the Recording Academy), and Greg Bryant (host of Evening Jazz and The Get Down on WRTI).
Black Music City has increased the amount of available grant funds each year, awarding a total of $263,000 in grants to 99 recipients in its first three years. Lead support for Black Music City 2024 is being provided from the William Penn Foundation through a two-year Creative Communities grant.
The 2024 Black Music City grant winners will be announced in March. In addition to the grant money they receive, each recipient is offered informational and support sessions before the completion of their new works. The creators and their new works are featured in videos, and celebrated online and in special events held during June, which is celebrated as Black Music Appreciation Month.
Full information about available grants, eligibility, and submission process is available at BlackMusicCity.com.