New Music USA has announced its cohort of 30 new music groups and organizations that have been selected as the inaugural awardees for its newest initiative, New Music Inc.

The program based in Baltimore, Chicago, and New York City works to propel small-budget and artist-led organizations. The first cohorts include eight organizations in Baltimore, 12 in Chicago, and 10 New York City organizations. Participating organization will receive financial support, 12 to 18 months of mentorship, and hands-on skill-building. The program’s collaborative mentorship opportunities include one-on-one meetings with the program coordinators, cohort learning sessions, development of organizational plans, and peer-to-peer feedback from local arts professionals.

The Baltimore region is led by Program Coordinator Marquis Gasque “Mighty Mark. The organizations include 2640 Space, Blakwater Production House, Contemporary Arts Inc, EPIC FAM Music, High Zero Foundation, Le Mondo, Mind on Fire, and MRI Studios Inc. They will receive $6,000 in development grants and 12 months of collaborative mentorship.

The Chicago Program Coordinator Kori Coleman leads Àkójọpọ̀ Music Foundation, a.pe.ri.od.ic, Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians, Chicago Composers Orchestra, Crossing Borders Music, Hearing in Color, Lampo, LYNX Project, New Music Chicago, NON:op Open Opera Works, Pleiades, and the Chinese Fine Arts Society (CFAS). Grants total in $8,000, with 18 months of mentorship.

Amanda Gookin, the New York City Program Coordinator teams with Batalá New York, Bergamot Quartet, ChamberQUEER, Irreversible entanglements, LayeRhythm Productions, Inc., Pathos Trio, Pique-nique Recordings, Resonator, TAK Ensemble and, the Healing Project. NYC will collect $10,000 in grants money and 18 months of mentorship.

The inaugural New Music Inc cohort consists of 50 percent BIPOC-led organizations to reflect the diversity of creators and artists who are contributing to their local music communities. The program also marks a major step forward in New Music USA’s goal “to deepen and expand its services across multiple US cities over the next 5 years.”