The LGBTQ+ Emerging Artist Awards, founded by Music Forward, is a grant program allowing artists to have thriving careers and promote a more inclusive music industry overall. For 2024, Gibson Gives, the non-profit division of the legendary music brand Gibson, is partnering with Music Forward to present the LGBTQ+ Emerging Artist Awards for 2024.
With 45 of the LGBTQ+ Emerging Artist Awards granted, the new Music Forward and Gibson Gives partnership allows the program to continue to champion diverse voices from all backgrounds and communities, from Atlanta to Austin, and New York City to North Hollywood.
The screening process for the awards is extensive, with ten (10) LGBTQ+ Emerging Artist Awardees aged 18-24 years old to be selected based on many factors, including the strength of their body of music work, the breadth of their body of work, their artistic vision, and their articulation of their career goals. The ten US-based selected artists are dedicated to their songwriting craft, and their vision for themselves through music.
LGBTQ+ Emerging Artist Awards submissions for applicants are open now HERE.
The ten awardees will each receive:
- $3000 Grant
- $1000 Gibson retail for an instrument.
- Performance Opportunities that include the Gibson Garage Nashville and Gibson showrooms, as well as other venues.
- Quarterly Mentorship with established musicians, as well as the Gibson and Music Forward teams.
The timeline for the LGBTQ+ Emerging Artist Awards program is as follows:
- Monday, August 5: Applications open.
- Sunday, August 18: Applications close.
- Monday, August 19 – Friday, September 27: Application review and selection.
- Monday, September 30: Awardees notified.
- October 2: Announcement of Awardees.
- Mid-late October: Virtual Award Show.
Music Forward and Gibson Gives believe in music as a catalyst for discovery, connection, and transformation, and the power of amplifying artists and providing a forum for their diverse voices to be heard. Gibson Gives will donate over $43,000 to the program for 2024, including $33,000 in cash grants ($30k grants/$3k admin fees), and $10,000 in Gibson retail for an instrument. Music Forward develops and administers the grant awards from selection to distribution, and Music Forward and the Gibson team collectively develop and execute mentorship programs.
For more information about Music Forward please visit: https://musicforwardfoundation.org/. To learn more about Gibson Gives visit gibson gives.org.
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Source: Music Forward, Gibson Gives