Grants

MSF has awarded modest annual GRANTS beginning in 1990. During Sybil Shearer’s lifetime, recipients were proposed by her and approved by the Trustees.

Funding is focused on those artists and arts organizations whose work is congruent with the artistic discipline and creative individuality embodied in Shearer’s and Morrison’s own work. When the Trustees’ attention is called to artists and arts organizations that demonstrate those ideals, an invitation to submit a grant proposal may be offered. Grants are given only to or through 501(c)3 organizations. The Morrison-Shearer Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. MSF Grant History.

Andrew Weeks Photography © 2023 PARA.MAR Dance Theatre

FELLOWSHIPS are a special type of grant, usually given to an institution to fund a dance residency or a scholar performing research on a topic relative to Morrison or Shearer. Fellowships include the Sybil Shearer Fellowship at Ragdale and scholarly research fellowships at The Newberry Library.

The Foundation provided a $1.5 million grant to the RAGDALE FOUNDATION for the construction of the $2 million Studio House of Dance and Music, home to the new Sybil Shearer Studio at Ragdale.

MSF has also occasionally given GIFTS-IN-KIND to appropriate institutions. These have included original and remastered Morrison portraits, equipment, and archival materials not related to MSF.