Clarence E. Beyers Fund for Music Performance

BEYERS Grant

Clarence E. Beyers pursued a personal mission to increase the Erie community’s access to art and music and make generosity to the arts contagious. For many years, Beyers generously contributed to local arts organizations and helped talented Erie students obtain professional training at nationally recognized institutions. He was active on multiple boards and a long-time violist in the Erie Philharmonic.

To continue his legacy, Erie Arts and Culture uses the annual distribution from the Clarence E. Beyers Fund to support Erie County non-profit organizations and independent efforts that present quality musical performances for the public.

    • Amount: ~$30,000 distributed annually

    • Source: Clarence E. Beyers Fund

    • Eligibility: Erie County non-profit arts organizations

    • Application Window: October 1 - December 15

    • Grant activity period: April - March

    • Notification date: March 31

    • Grants provide partial funding for music performance initiatives in Erie County.

    • Funds should not support capital improvement projects.

    • Projects must provide an artistic or social benefit to Erie County stakeholders.

    • Events or activities must be open to the public (not necessarily free).

    • No activities may have a religious purpose.

    • Funds cannot be used as reimbursements for expenses incurred outside of the grant activity period.

    • Requests for innovative programs or audience development initiatives will be prioritized.

    • Applicant must be a 501(c)3 non-profit organization or an individual/grassroots effort with a fiscal sponsor.

    • The applicant’s principal office/activities must be located in Erie County, PA.

    • Applicants must not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, national origin, handicap, sexual orientation, marital status, gender, or gender identity.

    • Applicants must be in good standing with Erie Arts and Culture and its program requirements.

    • Provide a one-page project description

    • Provide the project timeline

    • Include the total cost for the project (with provided budget form)

    • Amount requested

  • Virtual information sessions will be held to assist applicants. Specific dates for these sessions will be announced on our social media pages and via email.

    • Project is well planned 

    • Project timeline is appropriate for project scale and scope

    • Budget is appropriate for the project’s scale and scope

    • Project will deliver a quality artistic product

    • Project is new and innovative or implements an audience development initiative

    • Project has other confirmed sources of funding

  • EAC staff review for eligibility, a panel of industry experts scores applications and makes a funding recommendation. The Programs Committee approves that recommendation and presents it to the Board of Directors for final approval. 

    • Interim check-in calls with grantees to track progress and identify additional needs

    • End-of-cycle round table, oral reports in small peer groups

Ready to apply? Use the button below to access the application via Submittable.

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Questions? If you have any questions or need more detailed information, please contact our team at info@erieartsandculture.org.