About
Emergent Seed seeks to support emerging composers and writers in the greater DC Metro area with $150 and $500 grants and the opportunity to reach new audiences.
Our goal is to be a platform to spotlight and nurture this region's amazing, emerging talent. Started in response to COVID-19, Emergent Seed seeks to address the immediate financial stress caused by coronavirus closures, and in the long-term seeks to build a catalogue of high quality, diverse performers of multiple genres. Ultimately, we aspire to be a social enterprise. We seek to be a financially self-sustaining vehicle - raising money to give out grants beyond the initial funding raised - while also being fair to the artists we're serving. For example, if Emergent Seed holds a fundraising broadcast event, those Applicants whose videos are selected for broadcast would receive a percentage of the proceeds raised, too.
The name “Emergent Seed” reflects who we support –- “emerging” artists –- and how -- with “seed” funding and short video performances.
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR
Original work.
Our goal is to support Greater DC Metro area creatives who perform, recite, or read aloud what they make since audiences can’t gather in-person at this time, and possibly for many months. Applicants must submit a single 2-5 minute video of a complete performance with a natural ending. The underlying content of this performance must be original (and if applying for the $500 Winner Grant, it must also be unpublished/un-produced work), in one of 4 Creative Categories in Music - Songs or Instrumental - or Writing - Poetry and Storytelling. See the APPLY page for more details.
GRANT OPTIONS: WHAT YOU GET
"VIRTUAL GIG"
$150
Can submit previously published/produced work
Consider like payment for a virtual gig
WINNER
$500
Can only submit Unpublished or UNproduced work
Mentorship
Recording in a professional music studio
Participation in 20% Royalty Pool
