Opera Grants for Women Stage Directors and Conductors support Professional Company Members in increasing the number of women in the field.

Through contract fee support, the program encourages member companies to contract women in key artistic leadership roles.

OPERA America is committed to pursuing gender equity in all facets of the field. Women stage directors and conductors have been consistently underrepresented in opera productions, on average representing fewer than 30 percent of the directors and fewer than 15 percent of the conductors in a season.

Opera Grants for Women Stage Directors and Conductors are supported by the Marineau Family Foundation.

Grant Details

Opera Grants for Women Stage Directors and Conductors support up to 50 percent of the contract fee, up to $15,000, for a woman stage director or conductor.

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

The program is open to stage directors or conductors who are cis or trans women, and who have United States citizenship, permanent residence, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status.

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