Civic Practice Grants support Professional Company Members’ efforts to learn more about civic priorities within their communities, develop relationships with leading arts and non-arts organizations, and discover and deliver services through authentic, mutually beneficial partnerships.

Civic practice draws on the art form’s inherent creative assets to address public priorities and community needs. OPERA America believes that opera companies must extend beyond transactional strategies for building audiences. They must learn to be strong partners and co-creators with a deep respect and nuanced understanding of their communities’ historical context and existing cultural norms.

Civic Practice Grants are supported by OPERA America’s Opera Fund, which was launched by the National Endowment for the Arts, with support from The Helen F. Whitaker Fund, Lee Day Gillespie, Lloyd and Mary Ann Gerlach, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, and The George Cedric Metcalf Charitable Foundation.

Grant Details

Civic Practice Grants are offered biennially with awards of up to $30,000.

Eligibility: OPERA America’s Professional Company Members based in the United States can apply.

 How to Apply

Professional Company Member staff can log in to view grant guidelines and application deadlines. To learn about becoming a Professional Company Member, visit Organizational Membership.

Meet the Grantees