OPERA America has announced the launch of IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access) Opera Grants.

The Grants have been made possible by Charles and Cerise Jacobs Charitable Foundation and are intended to fund initiatives racial inequality in the opera world. Two grants will be awarded annually to composer-librettist teams with each partnership receiving $12,500 to advance their work through workshops, readings, and other development processes. Moreover, OPERA America is committed to providing financial resources that will aid the team to create videos for promotional purposes.

“OPERA America is uniquely positioned as the field’s convener and connector to advance the careers of the most talented creative artists,” stated Marc A. Scorca, president/CEO of OPERA America in a press release. “IDEA Opera Grants enable us to identify and support the development of new works by emerging composers and librettists of color. By facilitating their work, we will help enrich the art form with new creative voices.”

Those interested can send letters of intent by July 2019 with full applications due a month later. Recipients will be noted in late October 2019 of the decision.

IDEA Opera Grants are but the latest in a long line of other grant programs offered by OPERA America. It also has the Oper Grants For Female Composers Program as well as the Opera Fund.