IATDD Five-Year Music Creation Grant for a Bilingual (Chinese–English) Music Creator
Application deadline: 30 November 2026, 23:59 (Paris time)
Rolling review — the call closes early once a recipient is selected. Apply early.
About IATDD
The International Academy for Talent Discovery and Development (IATDD) is a non-profit association governed by the French law of 1 July 1901 (registered name: Académie Internationale pour la Découverte et le Développement des Talents, AIDDT; RNA no. W922023771). In line with its statutes, IATDD discovers and supports outstanding creators and may award creative grants following an independent evaluation procedure.
Background
A third-party donor (an individual or an institution) has expressed its intention to make monthly donations to IATDD, totalling approximately €30,000 per year, to support an outstanding music creator who has written in both Chinese and English and is committed to writing in French in the future. IATDD is therefore opening a call for applications to select one grant recipient.
The grant recipient will be selected by IATDD alone, through an independent evaluation procedure. The donor takes no part in the selection.
The Grant
• Amount: IATDD will allocate to the grant recipient no less than 85% of the funds received from the donor for this grant, expected to be at least approximately €27,000 per year, i.e. about €2,250 per month. The remaining portion covers the Academy’s evaluation, administrative and financial management of the programme. The final amount will be set in the grant agreement.
• Payment: monthly instalments by bank transfer. Each monthly instalment is paid after IATDD has received the donor’s donation for that month; if a monthly donation is delayed, the corresponding instalment is postponed accordingly.
• Duration: five years (provisional), subject to an annual review.
• Nature: this is a creative grant to support the recipient’s artistic work. It does not create an employment relationship between IATDD and the recipient.
Eligibility
Required
1. A track record of writing songs (music and lyrics) in both Chinese and English;
2. At least five years of continuous experience in music creation;
3. At least ten original works;
4. A commitment to writing songs in French during the grant period.
Preferred
1. A bachelor’s degree or higher in music or a related field;
2. One or more international awards.
Membership of IATDD is not required, and no application fee is charged. The grant recipient may decide freely whether to apply to become an IATDD member or volunteer; this decision has no effect on the selection or on the payment of the grant.
Application Materials
Applicants may choose their own format, but the application should be clear, well-structured and logically organised. We recommend including:
1. a cover letter (maximum two pages) presenting the applicant and their motivation;
2. a curriculum vitae detailing the applicant’s creative career over at least the last five years;
3. a list of ten representative original works, each with its title, year, language(s) and a link to a recording or score;
4. a copy of degree certificate(s), if any;
5. proof of award(s) received, if any;
6. a five-year creative plan describing the works and goals the applicant intends to pursue during the grant period, including a plan for writing songs in French;
7. a copy of an identity document (for identity verification only).
References or letters of recommendation are welcome but optional.
Selection Process and Timeline
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis: IATDD evaluates complete applications in the order in which they are received, so earlier applicants may be selected first.
1. The order of receipt is determined by the time the application email reaches IATDD’s mailbox; for incomplete applications, by the time all materials have been received. IATDD will acknowledge receipt of each application by email.
2. IATDD’s Academic Evaluation Committee evaluates each complete application on the basis of artistic quality, bilingual (Chinese–English) creative ability, the commitment to and plan for writing in French, the coherence and feasibility of the creative plan, and the applicant’s track record.
3. Shortlisted applicants may be invited to an interview, in person or by videoconference.
4. Any committee member with a personal, family, professional or financial connection to an applicant or to the donor must withdraw from the evaluation.
5. Once the Committee finds that an applicant meets the required standard and decides to award the grant, the call closes early: no further applications will be accepted, and applications not yet evaluated will not be reviewed further.
6. If no recipient has been selected by the application deadline, the Committee will evaluate all remaining complete applications. IATDD reserves the right not to award the grant if no application meets the required standard.
7. If the call closes early, IATDD will publish a closing notice through the channels where this call was announced and inform the other applicants by email. All applicants will be informed of the outcome by 31 December 2026 at the latest; the start date of the grant will be determined separately.
Obligations of the Grant Recipient
The recipient will sign a written grant agreement setting out the amount, payment schedule, duration and expected creative outcomes. In particular, the recipient will:
• carry out the creative plan agreed with IATDD, including writing songs in French during the grant period;
• submit an annual progress report together with the works completed, which will form the basis of the annual review;
• take an active part in IATDD’s music projects and activities in France, with the form and frequency of participation and the covering of related travel costs to be agreed in the grant agreement;
• acknowledge IATDD’s support in public presentations of works created during the grant period, as provided in the agreement.
The recipient retains all rights to their works. Continuation of the grant each year depends on the annual review and on the agreed outcomes being met.
Important Conditions
• The grant is subject to the actual receipt of the donations by IATDD and to the signature of the grant agreement. Monthly payments are limited to the funds IATDD has received for that month; IATDD assumes no obligation to pay amounts it has not received.
• The recipient is solely responsible for their own tax and social security obligations in their country of residence. IATDD will fulfil any declaration obligations that apply to it as the paying organisation.
• This grant is unrelated to IATDD membership and to any IATDD honorary title or award.
How to Apply
Send your application as PDF files to liugan995@gmail.com, with the subject line “Music Creation Grant Application – [Your Name]”.
Applications must be received by 30 November 2026, 23:59 (Paris time), or by the earlier closing time stated in a closing notice, if any. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered. As applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, applicants are encouraged to submit complete materials as early as possible.
Data Protection
Personal data submitted in applications will be processed by IATDD solely for the purpose of this selection, in accordance with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Data of unsuccessful applicants will be deleted within twelve months after the selection, unless the applicant agrees otherwise. Applicants may exercise their rights of access, rectification and erasure by writing to liugan995@gmail.com.
Contact: liugan995@gmail.com
