COMING SOON! 2026 Music in the Community Grant Program. See below for the call for proposals, for informational purposes only. To be added to the interest list to be notified when grants reopen in May of 2025 (for the period of performance of July 1, 2025-June 15, 2026), please email katherine.bruell@dca.nm.gov. Thank you for all you do to promote music in New Mexico!
2025 Music in the Community Grants Call for Proposals [CLOSED]
New Mexico Music Commission Mission
To protect, promote, and preserve the musical traditions of New Mexico; to foster appreciation of the value of music; and to encourage the educational, creative, and professional musical activities of the residents of New Mexico.
Grant Program Objectives
To provide public funding to support new or existing music engagement, music education, music appreciation, or music performance programs or activities in New Mexico with an emphasis on serving rural, tribal, veteran, disability, or other underserved communities.
Who Can Be Funded
New Mexico-based businesses, non-profit organizations, tribal and local government entities, K-12 schools and higher education institutions, and individuals. Please note: individuals submitting proposals must identify a community partner organization and provide a letter of commitment from the organization to support the proposed project.
Amount
The grant amount is $2,500. No matching funds are required, but applicants may commit additional funds to the project. Proposals that are selected will receive the full $2,500 when the project activities have been completed and an invoice has been submitted. Funds may be taxable. Awardees are responsible for all applicable taxes due. Contact your tax professional for any questions about taxes.
What Types of Activities Can be Funded
- Musical performance in local venues or festivals
- Lectures or presentations about music-focused topics (e.g. ethnomusicology, music history, notable musicians, music production, etc.)
- Music or musical instrument demonstrations
- Workshops on music-focused activities (e.g. performance, instrument building or repair, music or lyric writing, etc.)
- Exhibitions about music-focused topics
- Other similar projects that provide music engagement, education, appreciation, or performances
What Expenses Are Allowable
- Artistic, administrative, and technical fees
- Consultant and facilitator fees
- Consumable supplies
- Marketing expenses
- Rental fees
- Artist travel fees
What Expenses Are Not Allowable
- Projects or organizations outside of the State of New Mexico
- Investment or contingency funding (i.e., accounts earning interest)
- Awards or prizes passed through to individuals, including fellowships, scholarships, or cash prizes
- Projects or programs that have already occurred
- Projects in which school, college, or university course credit is the primary purpose
- Cost of parties, receptions, fund-raising events, and other social functions
- Any food except when food is part of a per diem
- Deficit reduction
- Negotiated indirect costs
- The commission or acquisition of permanent works of art
- Permanent capital acquisitions such as buildings or land
- Capital improvements, new construction, renovation, or conservation
- Requests that fund members of the New Mexico Music Commission
Timeline
Deadline to apply: 5pm (MST) June 15, 2025 (tentative).
Notification: July 30, 2025 (tentative)
Project activities should occur between July 1, 2025 and June 15, 2026.
Final report and invoice must be submitted to New Mexico Arts by June 15, 2026 for payment of grant funds.
Application
Email submissions to Katie Bruell at katherine.bruell@dca.nm.gov by 5 p.m. (MST), June 15, 2025 (tentative) or apply online after reading all the information provided here.
1. In a single document, provide a clear and concise overview of your proposed project (maximum 2 pages). Please use the guiding questions below to shape your response:
- Describe your project and its goal(s).
- How does the project create opportunities for local community members to access music performances or music centered programs or activities?
- Who will be your primary audience?
- What is the timeline of your proposed activities? Have you done this project before?
- List key project musicians, staff, and community partners. Include their relevant experience and roles in relation to your proposed project.
- Provide a budget showing what you will spend NMMC funds on and any other funding that will be used to complete the project. Be sure to review the allowed and not allowed items from the instructions on this web page (above).
- How will you know if your project has achieved its goals?
2. Complete your application by filling in the state’s substitute W-9 form and emailing to katherine.bruell@dca.nm.gov. In part 4 of the form, select “other” and put “Music Services.” Please be sure to have a wet, scanned signature or a digitally signed document–no inserting an image of a signature.
https://www.nmdfa.state.nm.us/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/NM-SUBSTITUTE-W9.pdf
Selection Criteria
Proposals will be selected based on the following criteria (20% each):
- Does the project create opportunities for local community members to access music performances or music-centered programs or activities?
- Does the project serve rural, tribal, veteran, disability, or other underserved communities in New Mexico?
- Is your planned activity or service feasible within the timeline and do you have the individual and/or organizational capacity to complete the project?
- Is your budget appropriate for the project?
- Do you have a plan for evaluating if your project goals have been met?
Legal Scope of Work
The Agency recognizes the need for music programs/activities for communities in New Mexico
Scope of Work
- Coordinate and deliver music engagement, music education, music appreciation, or music performance programs or activities.
- Contractor should use the New Mexico Music Commission logo in all visual publicity.
- Program activities must be completed by June 15, 2026.
- Final report and invoice submitted to the Commission by June 15, 2026.
Non-discrimination
The New Mexico Music Commission complies with all local, state, and federal laws and regulations concerning civil and human rights and must assure that programs, grants, and employment practices are free of any discrimination based on race, color, national origin, disability, sex, or age.
Accessibility
For accessibility questions, request for accommodation, or to receive an alternate format of this call for proposals please contact New Mexico Music Commission Administrator, Katie Bruell.
Contact
Katie Bruell
Administrator, New Mexico Music Commission
Department of Cultural Affairs
505-487-0519