Special Awards in the Arts Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

  • Application materials must be received by Tuesday, July 21, 2026 at 4pm PT. Please email applications to special.awards@gerbode.org. Late or incomplete submissions will not be eligible.

  • Our application process is designed as a supportive, multi-stage journey—offering opportunities to learn, connect, and refine your proposal along the way.

    1. 2026 Music Awards Announcement
      March 24
      Application launches

    2. Explore & Connect
      March 24 – mid-June
      Application Workshops + Drop-in Sessions

    3. Deep Engagement & Project Development
      May 18 – July 7
      1:1 Consultations with Program Director

    4. Finalize & Submit
      July 21, 2026 at 4pm PT
      Application Deadline


  • Yes. You can schedule a 30-minute phone call or Zoom meeting with the Program Director to discuss specific questions about your application or project in more detail.

    We recommend that you attend either an Application Workshop or Drop-in Session before scheduling a consultation. (Click on links to find availability)

    1:1 Consultations are available May 18, 2026 through July 7, 2026. You can schedule a consultation here. 

  • We do not accept applications directly from individual artists or ensembles. An eligible 501c3 organization is the applicant.

  • We accept fiscal sponsorship on a case-by-case basis. Fiscal sponsors serving only as a fiduciary bridge are not eligible. A fiscal sponsor must be an active partner and meaningfully involved in the project beyond a fiduciary pass-through.

    Artist-driven or ensemble-led projects may apply through a fiscal sponsor, including situations where an ensemble is commissioning a composer or serving as the producing entity, provided the sponsored project has a clearly defined budget between $60,000 and $3,000,000 and meets all other eligibility requirements.

    Please email special.awards@gerbode.org or attend a drop-in session to confirm eligibility.

  • Yes. If you are a founding director, resident composer, artistic director, or core member of the producing organization or ensemble, the proposed project should represent a significant artistic advancement or meaningful impact for the ensemble.

  • While the producing organization must be based in an eligible Bay Area County, the artist(s) can reside in any zip code in California or out-of-state if the artist has a demonstrated history creating and producing work in California in the last 5 years. Please contact staff to ensure eligibility. Please contact Olivia at special.awards@gerbode.org or attend a drop-in session to confirm eligibility.

  • Download the Word version of the Application available here and enter information directly into the document. Please do not use a font smaller than 10 pt. and save frequently!

  • The information requested in our Application Form aligns with the Common App with notations in parenthesis. While the intent of the Common App is to provide an easy copy-n-paste from the Common App template, be mindful of our program’s goals and criteria. Consider making minor revisions to ensure responses address the specific nuances of the 2025 Theater Production Awards program.

    If you are not using the Common App, please simply ignore the notations in parenthesis in our application form.

  • The Common App is a collaboration between funders and grantmakers with unique histories and objectives. The 2026 Music Awards is a part of the Common Application for the Arts – Bay Area (“Common App”) – an initiative in which participating funders use standardized questions to help create greater efficiency for grantseekers. 

    The information requested in our Application Form aligns with the Common App with notations in parenthesis. While the intent of the Common App is to provide an easy copy-n-paste from the Common App template, be mindful of our program’s goals and criteria. Consider making minor revisions to ensure your responses address the specific nuances of the 2026 Music Awards program.

    If you are not using the Common App, please simply ignore the notations in parentheses in our application form. Once you have completed Gerbode’s application, consider copy and pasting your responses into the Common App template since you are already 70% complete!

  • Yes, there is a suggested max word count noted each section. 

  • It is important for the lead artist to respond to the Artist Statement questions. Do not be overly concerned with “grant speak” or formal grant language in the response. However, we do suggest that you try to be as concise as possible in this section. Please feel free to include an outline or bullet points to convey your artistic process. 

  • If the application form (narrative format) does not work for the lead artist or the producing organization, please discuss other possible options with the Program Director. While we do not have a formal process for doing so, we will consider a video recording of responses to the questions or a presentation deck as other possible options. 

  • What makes a strong work sample submission:

    Work samples are a key component of the panel's review and carry significant weight in the evaluation. Panelists will look for evidence of your artistic voice, creative methodology, and the originality of your approach — not just technical proficiency. Strong submissions give panelists a clear window into how you make work, not just what you have made.

    Examples of strong work samples by practice type include:

    • New music / classical / opera: A recording of a recent premiere or workshop performance of an original composition; a score accompanied by a recording; a recording demonstrating compositional voice within an ensemble context

    • Jazz / improvised / experimental: A live or studio recording of original or improvised work; a video that captures your creative process or ensemble dynamic

    • Folk / traditional / roots / world music: A recording demonstrating cultural grounding and your relationship to a specific tradition; a video of a live performance in a community or cultural setting

    • Hip-hop / electronic / beatmaking / production: A produced track, EP, or project demonstrating your sonic identity; a recording or video of a live performance or set featuring original work

    • Interdisciplinary / sound art / multimedia: A video documentation of a performance, installation, or multimedia work; a reel or project page that illustrates integration across art forms

    Work samples need not depict the proposed project itself, but should reflect your artistic practice and support the panelists' understanding of your creative process and experience. Samples from the last 3–5 years are preferred.

  • Submit audio recordings, scores, videos, or other relevant materials that provide the review panel with a clear sense of your creative process and artistic vision. Work samples should be closely related to the proposed project and may include past compositions, performances, or works-in-progress that reflect the direction of the new work.

    You may provide up to 3 work samples. Work samples can be provided below by using online links (video or audio - up to 5 minutes of material to review), or attaching JPGS (images), or PDFs (documents). Please indicate necessary user/password info.

  • Deadline to submit application: Application materials must be received by Tuesday, July 21, 2026 at 4:00pm (PT). Application materials must be emailed to special.awards@gerbode.org. Gerbode Foundation staff will confirm receipt of all applications once received; there is no need to follow up.

    For eligible fiscally-sponsored projects, with the exception of the IRS letter, materials should reflect your organization or ensemble - not the fiscal sponsor.

    Please attach the following application materials as separate PDF files to an email (unless otherwise noted). Label each file numerically as listed below. You may send multiple emails if attachments exceed 25MB. 

    1.  IRS determination letter establishing the applicant organization’s nonprofit 501c3 status.

      If applying with a fiscal sponsor, in addition to its IRS letter, please include a short description of the partnership with the fiscal sponsor as it relates to the commissioned work.

    2.  Completed Application Form – Section 1 through Section 3 (submit as a Word doc)
      • If applicable, please also attach a bio, a CV/resume
      • If applicable, please attach work sample images, PDFs or other related materials

    3. Project Budget. Complete and include the Common App budget template. Download the Excel template here.

    4.  Staff & Board list.

    5.  Financial Statements (Last Completed Fiscal Year): Balance sheet and profit & loss statement 

    6. Year-to-Date Financial Statements (as of June 30, 2026): Balance sheet and profit & loss statement

    7. Current organizational budget. 

  • Email notifications regarding the status of applications will be no later than September 2026.