IMAF - The International Music and Art Foundation, Vaduz

MISSION

The International Music and Art Foundation was established with Charitable Status (Gemeinnuetzigkeit) in Vaduz, Liechtenstein on February 12, 1988 for the purpose of receiving funds from individuals and corporations for distribution in support of worthy arts organizations worldwide.

Established with the belief that, after all, our greatest legacy to future generations is art, the International Music and Art Foundation makes grants to facilitate the improvement and dissemination of the visual and performing arts, as well as the study and preservation of art and culture from the past. "Preservation" includes the conservation and restoration of individual works of art and architecture as well as cultural and environmental documentation and preservation. Specific interests of the Foundation include, but are not limited to, the fine arts (painting, drawing, sculpture), music, theatre, and architecture ("frozen music" Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1829).

OBJECTIVE

The International Music and Art Foundation does not make grants to individuals, only to recognized and established organizations in the performing arts such as opera companies, symphony orchestras, chamber music ensembles, ballet and theater companies, etc. It also makes grants for architectural restorations and for the conservation of art; to museums; and to educational institutions for research and publication on the history of art.

POLICIES AND GUIDELINES

The Foundation wishes to encourage projects that promote values in line with our particular interests that are well informed, that have clearly defined goals, and that are innovative and risk-taking, while acknowledging traditional standards of excellence and responsibility to the art form.

Grants are not made for the establishment of new organizations, for travel expenses, nor for meetings, workshops, conferences, or seminars held for the purpose of planning or organizing a project or activity.

We prefer to learn about projects through informal investigations of what we find promising.
Unsolicited applications as a rule will not be responded to.

With assets (Balance Sheet) of approximately 38,000,000 Swiss Francs (US $27,000,000), the International Music and Art Foundation makes grants ranging in size from several hundred to several hundred thousand Swiss Francs, with most grants falling towards the median of 16,000 Swiss Francs (US $9,500). Our mean average grant is 80,000 Swiss Francs (US $48,000). Whenever possible, the Foundation prefers to issue challenge grants conditional on matching Foundation grants with funds from other sources. The Foundation prefers not to make grants for operational support.

If invited by the International Music and Art Foundation, applicants will be asked to send four copies of the following documents, or state the reason why a document can not be provided:

1.) The budget.

2.) Other donor contributions.

3.) The organization's recent audited financial statements.

4.) A current list of the organization's Board of Directors.

5.) Evidence of tax-exempt status (or an excerpt from the Register of Commerce).

6.) The organization's Mission Statement.

Good proposals clearly state their purpose, envision sensible processes, and establish goals that are achievable. Proposed projects are first reviewed to determine if they fall within our interest and program guidelines; those that do not are declined. Projects that fall within our guidelines are reviewed on a continuous basis to determine:

the proposal's priority within the Foundation's goals;

the artistic merit and/or quality;

that the potential results will have significant impact;

the financial soundness of the grantee.

Proposals should include a brief narrative explaining the importance of the project, how it relates to the Mission Statement of the International Music and Art Foundation, and should include specific plans for evaluating project activities. No special forms are required, nor is this invitation an indication that a project or organization will receive support or funding.

Proposed projects should demonstrate support by appropriate organizations and/or governmental units in the community where the project is to be carried out.

All grantees must provide detailed financial reports and maintain complete records documenting the use of the grant. The International Music and Art Foundation may make periodic site visits and whatever other investigations it deems important.

The Foundation expects tangible outcomes from grantees, and all grants will require a written report from the recipient detailing how the Foundation's support was used and accounting for all expenditure of funds at the end of the grant period, or annually if the grant extends beyond one year.

Funded project designs often reflect a blend of the applicant's initiative and the Foundation's input. The International Music and Art Foundation recognizes that promising approaches and worthwhile organizations often need more than financial assistance. Therefore, the Foundation Trustees may serve as Board Members of compatible organizations and, if appropriate, will participate on policy and advisory bodies consistent with the Foundation's interests. The Foundation welcomes collaboration with other grantmakers and favors grantseekers with multiple sources of support.

EXAMPLES OF RECENT GRANTS AWARDED

A sampling of recent grants to organizations that illustrates the breadth and depth of the Foundation's interest:

AUSTRIA

Albertina Collection, Vienna: Founding Member of the Society of Friends of Albertina. One of the most important print collections of its kind in the world, housed in a historical palace.
www.albertina.at

Austrian National Library, Vienna: for the restoration of 250 antiquarian books from Yemen, Southern Arabia, in the Glaser Collection. "As well as copies of the Koran and commentaries on the sacred book of Islam, dogmatic works on law are also found together with works on history, tradition, grammar, etc." www.onb.ac.at

CAMEROON

Handi-Art-Issek, N'gaoundere: for the establishment of a Center and School for Handicapped Artists. HANDI-ART-ISSEK is a registered non-profit association inaugurated by the Governor of the Adamaoua Province and operating with the approval of the Minister of Cultural Affairs of the Republic of Cameroon, where most handicapped people beg for a living.

CZECH REPUBLIC

Plasy Monastery, Plasy: for the complete restoration of the ca.1690 organ in the Royal Chapel of the state owned National Cultural Monument (on the UNESCO waiting list).
http://fmv.vse.cz/cz/castles/plasy.htm

Villa Tugendhat, Brno: for restoration of the Mies van der Rohe masterpiece of modern architecture from 1928-30, now owned by the City of Brno. The restoration is administered and supervised by the Czech Institute for the Protection of Monuments and the World Monuments Fund, with matching funds for this internationally important project met in part by Czech contributions. www.export.cz/hj/9701/villa.htm www.worldmonuments.org

FRANCE

Société Paul Cézanne, Aix-en-Provence: for the "Bulletin: L'Année Cézannien" and for support of the forthcoming Cézanne library project at Jas de Bouffan.
http://www.aix-en-provence.com/french/tourisme/cezanne/ateliercezanne.htm

ITALY

Medici Archive Project, Florence: annual grants for "the study of documentary sources for the Arts and Humanities in the Medici Granducal Archive, 1537 - 1743." www.medici.org

ROMANIA

Targu-Jiu: for the restoration of Constantin Brancusi's "Endless Column," in conjunction with the World Monuments Fund. www.worldmonuments.org

Muzeul National de Arta al Romaniei, Bucharest: for the design and construction of specialized display cases (for manuscripts, silver, costumes, medieval jewelry and small items, etc.) and for the completion of the new galleries opened in April 2002.
http://art.museum.ro/museum.html

SWITZERLAND

Tonhalle, Zürich: to subsidize reduced price student tickets (matching what the students themselves pay), as an important component of the Tonhalle Orchestra audience development.
www.tonhalle.ch

Robert Walser Archive, Zurich: for the purchase of important documents by the Swiss writer Robert Walser (the only existing handwritten manuscripts of two of his novels) and his brother Karl Walser (original book illustrations). The purchase price was matched by the Cultural Department of the Swiss Government and individual contributions.

UNITED KINGDOM

Pavilion Opera Education Trust, London: The Pavilion Opera Education Trust presents fully costumed opera performances "as musically and dramatically as possible" for schools in depressed areas of London and other cities in the UK. The International Music and Art Foundation has contributed annual grants since POET's founding in 1991 to match privately raised funds.
www.pavilionopera.com

UNITED STATES

Glimmerglass Opera, Cooperstown, New York: for ongoing support, especially for the Young American Artists Program, established in 1988 to provide training and performance experience for talented young singers beginning professional careers.
www.cooperstown.net/glimmerglass/glyartists.html

Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, Deerfield, Massachusetts: for the restoration and adaptation of the "Old Town Hall" building as a cultural and performing arts center, with funds also coming from the Massachusetts Historical Commission and the Association members. This is recognized as an "Official Save America's Treasures Project". www.deerfield-ma.org

TRUSTEES

Brigitte Feger, Lic.iur.

Liechtenstein

Walter Feilchenfeldt, Lic.oec.

Switzerland

Kurt Kimmel

Switzerland

Nicholas Thaw, BPS Arch

Allied Member: AIA, ASID.

United States of America

International Music and Art Foundation

Legal Domicile (Registered Office)

P.O. Box 39

FL-9490 VADUZ, Liechtenstein

We welcome contact by e-mail: (trustees@imaf.li)

and discourage contact through any other means.

Unsolicited applications as a rule will not be responded to.

The International Music and Art Foundation, or individual Trustees, are members of the European Foundation Centre (www.efc.be), Grantmakers in the Arts (www.giarts.org), Association of Small Foundations (www.smallfoundations.org), and the Philanthropy Roundtable (www.philanthropyroundtable.org).