Honoring Philadelphia’s rich Black music heritage for the fifth year in a row, Black Music City is offering grants to Philadelphia-area artists, and applications are open today.
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. Interested artists are encouraged to apply here. The deadline for applications is February 3, 2025. 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, additional collaborators StoryCorps and the African American Museum in Philadelphia have joined the project. Primary support for Black Music City 2025 is again being provided from the William Penn Foundation, and since its launch, the program has awarded $500,000 in grants to fund 120 projects.
The 2025 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.