The Opera Fund

Photo courtesey of Houston Grand Opera; The End of the Affair
2009 Director-Designer Showcase Awardees
  • Ainadamar
    Awardees: Mike Donahue (director), Anya Klepikov (designer), Sara Erde (choreographer)
  • Einstein on the Beach
    Awardees: Elise Sandell (director), Liz Freese (designer), Keturah Stickann (choreographer)
  • Florencia en el Amazonas
    Awardees: Lawrence Edelson (director), Martin T. Lopez (designer), Lauri Stallings (choreographer)
  • Mourning Becomes Electra
    Awardees: Andrew Eggert (director), Anka Lupes (designer)

The Opera Fund, in conjunction with Opera.ca's Canadian Opera Creation Fund, provides technical and financial support to OPERA America Professional Company Members and others as part of a North American effort to enhance the quality, quantity and creativity of new opera and music-theater.

Goals
The goals of the program are to:
  • Enhance the vitality of opera and music-theater in North America through the creation and production of new works
  • Develop a deeper and broader appreciation on the part of the general public for opera and music-theater companies
  • Encourage creative artists who will write and interpret new works
Award Categories
1. Repertoire Development
Repertoire Development assists OPERA America Professional Company Members (PCMs) and their partners in meeting the special costs incurred by developing and producing new North American opera and music-theater. There is a strong emphasis on consortia though sole applicant support is also available.

Development Awards allow the creators and/or producers to assess and refine a work in progress. The primary intent of this award is to provide financial assistance for the development of the work and the creative process, although some proposed projects may also serve an audience development purpose. The award may be used to offset creative fees or other costs associated with the development of a new work, including but not limited to, a lab production, a workshop, a reading or a revision.

Award range: Up to $50,000 for Consortium support; up to $25,000 for Sole Applicant support

2. Audience Development
Audience Development offers financial assistance to OPERA America Professional Company Members (PCMs) and their partners for planning and implementing specific activities that strengthen relationships between audiences, the art form and the company. Proposed activities must be undertaken in conjunction with the creation and/or production of a new work or existing American work. Two types of Audience Development Awards are available. Design Awards offer support for the planning of a project and Project Awards assist in the implementation of the proposed projects.

Award range: Up to $5,000 for Design Awards; and Up to $25,000 for Project Awards.

3. Director-Designer Showcase
As part of a continuing effort to foster emerging opera artists, OPERA America is launching a bi-annual Director-Designer Showcase under the auspices of The Opera Fund. The Showcase will offer direct benefits to promising stage directors and designers seeking to break into the world of opera. It is intended to bring new talent to the forefront and connect promising directors and designers with those who are in a position to hire them.

Funders
The Opera Fund, launched by The National Endowment for the Arts, is funded by:
  • The Helen F. Whitaker Fund
  • Lee Day Gillespie
  • Lloyd and Mary Ann Gerlach
  • The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
  • The Canada Council for the Arts
  • The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
  • The James S. and John L. Knight Foundation
  • The George Cedric Metcalf Charitable Foundation

Staff Contact Information
For more information, please contact Megan Young at 212-796-8620, ext. 203 or MYoung@operaamerica.org.

This search scans titles, composers, librettists and work synopses in the entire directory.

The Opera Fund Submission Guidelines
The Submission Period has Ended
Please check back in the future.

Tips for Preparing Your Application
In addition to providing financial support through The Opera Fund and Canadian Opera Creation Program, OPERA America and Opera.ca, respectively, offer technical support to companies as they prepare their applications. Below you will find articles which address characteristics of successful application materials, as identified by award adjudicators.

Articles that are in PDF format can be viewed with Adobe Acrobat Reader, a free software download available from www.adobe.com.

The Opera Fund Awardees
2009
Director-Designer Showcase
Ainadamar
Awardee: Mike Donahue
Director-Designer Showcase
Einstein on the Beach
Awardee: Elise Sandell
Director-Designer Showcase
Florencia en el Amazonas
Awardee: Lawrence Edelson
Director-Designer Showcase
Mourning Becomes Electra
Awardee: Andrew Eggert
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002

Canadian Opera Creation Fund Awardees
To learn more about the Canadian Opera Creation Fund, please visit Opera.ca

2009
Canadian Opera Creation Fund: Development
Alexandra
Awardee: Chants Libres
Composer: Zack Settel
Librettist: Yan Muckle
Canadian Opera Creation Fund: Development
Lillian Alling
Awardee: Vancouver Opera Association
Composer: John Estacio
Librettist: John Murrell
Canadian Opera Creation Fund: Development
Mary's Wedding
Awardee: Pacific Opera Victoria
Composer: Andrew P. Macdonald
Librettist: Stephen Massicotte
Canadian Opera Creation Fund: Development
Svadba
Awardee: Queen of Puddings Music Theatre
Composer: Ana Sokolovic
Librettist: Antoine Laprise
Canadian Opera Creation Fund: Production
The Children's Crusade
Awardee: Soundstreams Canada
Composer: R. Murray Schafer
Librettist: R. Murray Schafer
Canadian Opera Creation Fund: Production
The Shadow
Awardee: Tapestry new opera works
Composer: Omar Daniel
Librettist: Alex Poch-Goldin
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002


Winter 2009 Magazine Issue
  • Letter from the President/CEO
  • New Works
  • NEA Opera Honors
  • Opera Conference 2010
  • Creative Connections with Opera.Ca
Contact Us
330 Seventh Avenue, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10001
P 212-796-8620 • F 212-796-8631
Info@operaamerica.orgDirections
From Airport:
The easiest way to reach the OPERA America offices is to get a cab at the airport. Cost is $40-45
(not including tip).
  • JFK - Take the AirTrain ($5 - approx. 15 minutes) to the Jamaica Street Station and transfer to the Long Island Railroad (LIRR). Take the LIRR to Penn Station ($12 - approx. 35 minutes). See Penn Station directions below.
  • LaGuardia - Take the M60 Bus to the Hoyt Ave/31st Street. Get on the or Train and take that to 42nd/Times Square Station. Follow the Times Square Station directions below.
  • Newark - Take the New Jersey Transit train to Penn Station ($15 - approx. 45 min). See the Penn Station Directions below.

From Penn Station/Madison Square Garden:
Leave the station through the 7th Avenue/33rd Street exit and walk south for four blocks. The building is on
the right hand side.

From Grand Central Station:
Take the Train to the 42nd/Times Square station and transfer to the Train.
Take the Train to the 28th Street stop and walk north on 7th Avenue.
The building is on the same block as the train stop.

From 42nd Street/Times Square:
Take the Train to the 28th Street stop and walk north on 7th Avenue.
The building is on the same block as the train stop.

For more detailed directions, most up-to-date pricing or to specify a different starting location, please visit the
MTA Web site.