Early Music Program Fund

The Early Music Program Fund (EMPF) was established in late 2020 to support educational or field-building programming for researchers studying music in the period before c. 1600.

The Early Music Program Fund’s educational programs build, strengthen, and sustain the research skills needed to knowledgeably study, teach, perform, and illuminate music and musical cultures in the period before c. 1600. This includes, but is not limited to, programming focused on paleography, codicology, organology, the archival sciences, the study of musical notation and lexicology, languages and liturgy, and the scribal and material cultures that informed and conditioned the creation, evolution, and dissemination of early music. EMPF field-building programming focuses on strengthening and extending the scholarly and professional networks that support scholars and teachers who work on early music up to c. 1600.

Applicants will receive a decision notification in mid-March. Funds awarded must be used by 30 June of the following year. Recipients will be required to complete a grant report detailing use of funds and providing data on impact.

2026 Online Annual Meeting

In 2026, AMS affiliates are eligible to apply for funding from the Early Music Program Fund to organize and host early music-related in-person watch parties and events during the 2026 Online AMS Annual Meeting. The 2026 AMS Annual Meeting will be held virtually on Saturday and Sunday, 14-15 November 2026 and Thursday and Friday, 19-20 November 2026. In order to accommodate multiple time zones, the Annual Meeting schedule will be largely organized around two time blocks: 1) Time Block A (10 a.m.–4 p.m. ET) and 2) Time Block B (6 p.m.–10:30 p.m. ET).

In-person watch events must include some kind of in-person mixer, reception, or other networking event, in addition to one or both of the following elements:

1.  A watch party organized around a featured session on the online program (to be determined when the program is available)
2. A special, locally hosted session that will be streamed or recorded to the rest of the conference

For example, a chapter or study group may apply to host a mixer and in-person watch party of a virtual session; OR a mixer and recorded in-person session/event/performance; OR a mixer alongside both an in-person watch party and a recorded in-person session.

If awarded, EMPF funding may be used to cover a range of expenses associated with organizing the event, including catering, venue rental, speaker fees, videography and technical support, etc. Affiliates who apply are responsible for all onsite logistics as well as the recruitment of participants; however, the AMS Office will promote the event and facilitate attendee sign-ups. EMPF funding cannot be awarded to individuals. Individuals who wish to organize an in-person event as part of the 2026 online AMS Annual Meeting must partner with an AMS chapter, study group, or committee to apply for funding.

Only AMS-affiliated chapters, study groups, and committees are eligible to submit an application for funding to the Early Music Program Fund. Individuals wishing to propose should partner with an AMS chapter, study group, or committee. AMS chapters, study groups, and committees are limited to a maximum of two proposals per annual grant cycle. To be considered, proposals must either be submitted by a duly elected or appointed leader of the relevant chapter, study group, or committee, or be received along with a letter from such a leader authorizing the proposal submission on behalf of that chapter, study group or committee. Proposals in excess of $2,500 will not be considered. The AMS reserves the right to award less than the requested amount.

Please see the application form for additional details regarding allowable formatting, required content and allowable submission filetypes for each document. Applications to the Early Music Program Fund must include:

1. A brief proposal summary (150 words)
2. Statements on target audience, anticipated impact, and planned promotion
3. A narrative proposal (500 words)
4. A project budget (use this budget template)

If you have questions about applying for funding from the Early Music Program Fund, contact the AMS office at ams[at]amsmusicology.org.