Jazz Education Network
OVERVIEW: The Jazz Education Network invests in jazz arts through education, performance promotion and developing new audiences. It does this in part by providing scholarships, making grants and hosting music festivals.
IP TAKE: Institutional awards are not this funder’s priority, but jazz performers, presenting organizations and the occasional researcher may receive funding to promote jazz appreciation and awareness. This is an open-minded, accessible funder that’s laser-focused on jazz music education. All applicants must be dues-paying members of the Jazz Education Network.
PROFILE: Established in 2008, the Jazz Education Network (JEN) seeks to broaden the “jazz arts community” by increasing exposure to jazz music. JEN, completely dedicated to jazz, has become an international organization with a presence in all 50 states. The foundation “is dedicated to building the jazz arts community by advancing education, promoting performance, and developing new audiences.” To these ends, it funds programs and scholarships.
Grants for Music
JEN supports efforts to foster appreciation for jazz by expanding its audience and creating opportunities for performance. Under the Developing Audiences initiative, JEN offers the JEN Outreach program, which “is designed to assist in bringing quality jazz education and/or performances to schools and community locations.” JEN also offers the JAZZ2U grants, sponsored by the Herb Alpert Foundation, “to assist in funding a speaker, clinician, or performer at any event that will bring jazz to new or existing audiences.” These small grants are available to “schools, community centers, and performances by quality performers and advanced educators,” but are only available within the United States.
JEN supports a series of jazz and music festivals across the United States and the globe. The Jenerations of Jazz festival connects students with jazz performers and educators, and the Sisters in Jazz Collegiate Combo Competition auditions and selects full-time university students identifying as young women or non-binary jazz artists to perform with the Sisters in Jazz quintet.
Grants for Arts Education, K-12, and Higher Education
The foundation’s education grants center on the intersection between jazz music and youth, from kindergarten through college. While its giving programs are not limited to higher education, JEN supports university jazz students and scholars as well as post-secondary institutions. For high school and college students, JEN currently offers twelve scholarships to support students studying vocal jazz, instrumental jazz and composition. Applicants may either nominate themselves or be nominated by a teacher.
Important Grant Details:
Scholarships range from $1,000 to $3,000, and all applications are due in mid-September. JAZZ2U grants range from $300 to $500. While this funder runs open application programs for its grants and scholarships, guidelines, eligibility and due dates vary by program. Grantees should consult program pages before submitting materials. General inquiries may be submitted to the foundation via email or telephone at (312) 781-6299.
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