Project Applications Invited for French American Jazz Exchange

Jointly administered by Chamber Music America, the cultural services department of the French Embassy, and the French American Cultural Exchange, the CMA/FACE French American Jazz Exchange supports small jazz ensembles and/or individual musicians from France and the United States, or their territories, who wish to engage in a collaborative project in one or both countries. The project must feature at least one public performance and may include such activities as touring, recording, and audience development.

Eligible projects will be directed by a lead jazz partner from one country working with a collaborating jazz partner(s) from another country and performing with an ensemble of two to ten musicians from one or both countries. The lead and collaborating partners may perform other music genres but must be rooted primarily in jazz. The ensemble may be an established group or project-specific, with guest musicians from jazz and/or other musical genres.

The French American Jazz Exchange accepts applications from the lead partner, defined as a France- or U.S.-based professional jazz musician or ensemble.

A French applicant must have been a citizen or legal resident of France for the past five years and must reside in France or its territories. An American applicant must be a United States citizen or legal U.S. resident for the past five years, reside in the U.S. or its territories, be a CMA organizational-level member, and have no overdue reports or financial obligations to CMA.

Projects are eligible if they advance an adventurous musical idea using traditional, straight-ahead, and/or experimental concepts; create new music composed by one or both partners; explore new music by one or both partners that may not necessarily result in a finished composition; and/or bring partners together for the first time to play one partner's existing music or music by both partners.

The exchange provides partial or full funding up to $10,000 per project. Grants may be used for expenses including composing and arranging, concerts and touring, educational activities, recording, travel, production, equipment and space rental, marketing, booking and management, and visa and related legal services.

Grant application workshops will be offered in CMA's New York City office, and nationally via teleconference, in advance of the deadline.

This is the final year to apply to the French American Jazz Exchange program in its current configuration. Visit the CMA Web site this winter for more information on possible new grant opportunities for French/American jazz collaborations.

Guidelines and application are available at the CMA Web site.