RFPs: Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation Project Funding

Deadline: 01-Oct-2026

The Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation supports institutions worldwide developing high-quality projects focused on New Music. The Foundation funds a broad range of artistic, educational, academic, and cultural initiatives, including festivals, concerts, composition commissions, sound art installations, symposia, publications, academies, and educational programmes. The Foundation places particular importance on innovative projects that contribute to the creation, presentation, understanding, and appreciation of contemporary music. Projects can be large or small, but they must demonstrate exceptional artistic quality and meaningful engagement with audiences.

About the Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation

The Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation has a longstanding commitment to advancing and promoting New Music internationally. Its funding programme is designed to support institutions organizing projects that contribute to contemporary musical creation and help audiences engage with new forms of music. The Foundation considers projects of different sizes and does not favour large-scale initiatives simply because of their scope. Instead, the central consideration is the quality and artistic significance of the proposed project. What Types of Projects Are Supported? The Foundation supports a wide range of projects connected with New Music.

Eligible project types include:

- Festivals focused on New Music. - Concerts featuring premieres and revivals. - Sound art installations. - Composition commissions. - Symposia. - Musicological publications. - Academies. - Educational programmes. - Projects for children and young people. - Initiatives designed to make New Music accessible to new audiences. Projects may involve contemporary musical creation, performance, research, education, audience development, or other approaches that contribute to the advancement and appreciation of New Music. Support for Children and Young People The Foundation also supports initiatives that introduce New Music to children and young people. Projects should help make contemporary music accessible to audiences who may not otherwise have opportunities to engage with it. Educational and participatory initiatives can therefore contribute to the Foundation’s broader objective of expanding appreciation and understanding of contemporary musical creation. Focus on Artistic Quality and Innovation Funding is awarded to exceptionally high-quality projects, regardless of whether they are large or small. The Foundation places importance on innovative approaches that contribute to contemporary musical creation and engage diverse audiences. Applicants should therefore clearly demonstrate the artistic relevance and quality of their proposed project rather than relying only on its scale or number of activities. What Costs Does the Foundation Prioritize? The Foundation’s primary focus is on artistic costs. Applicants should clearly identify the artistic elements of the project and explain how the requested funding will contribute to delivering them. The Foundation does not provide full project funding. Applicants are expected to secure at least one additional institutional partner that contributes a comparable amount. Co-Financing Requirement Applicants must obtain support from at least one other institutional partner. The additional partner should contribute an amount comparable to the Foundation’s requested support. This means applicants should demonstrate a credible financing structure rather than relying entirely on the Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation. A complete cost and financing plan must be submitted with every application, even when funding is requested for only part of a larger project. Who Can Apply? Applications are accepted exclusively from organizing institutions. Individuals cannot apply directly to the Foundation under this programme. Institutions should be responsible for organizing the proposed project and must provide the required project, financial, and supplementary documentation. Application Limits The Foundation places limits on the number of projects that an institution can submit and receive support for.

Each institution may:

- Submit only one application per deadline. - Receive support for only one project per calendar year. - Receive support for a maximum of three projects in three consecutive years or periods. Applicants should therefore carefully select the project they wish to submit for funding. Projects Not Supported The Foundation does not support certain types of projects.

Ineligible projects include:

- Marketable music productions. - Internal university projects. - Dissertation projects. Applicants should ensure that their proposed activity is primarily an eligible New Music project rather than a commercial music production or an internal academic activity. Application Language and Submission Applications must be submitted online.

The Foundation accepts applications in:

- German. - English. Applicants must provide all required information and supplementary documentation through the application process. Required Application Materials Applicants must submit a detailed application package demonstrating the artistic, organizational, and financial strength of the proposed project.

Required materials include:

- Online application. - Detailed budget plan. - Cost and financing plan. - Supplementary material of up to eight pages. - Letters of intent from key participants. - Venue confirmations. - Exemplary scores and recordings where applicable. - Permanent cloud link providing access to supplementary materials. The supplementary document can include materials such as: - Concert programmes. - Biographies. - Details about symposia. - Other relevant information supporting the project. Scores and Recordings for Young or Lesser-Known Composers Additional materials are required when a project involves works by young or lesser-known composers.

Applicants must provide exemplary:

- Scores. - Recording