The Oliver G. & Sarah Sloan Bauman Fund for the Arts is a grant from the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo that funds classical ballet and opera performances in Western New York. Established in 1996 to memorialize Oliver G.

Bauman, the fund prioritizes traditional performances of classical ballet and opera in the English, European, or Russian school traditions, with works presented in their original choreography and language. Awards are structured as matching funds when possible.

Eligible applicants are 501(c)(3) nonprofits located in or delivering services to residents of Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans, or Wyoming County. Up to ,000 total is available, with a deadline of April 13, 2026. Only one open competitive grant with the fund is permitted at a time.

Bauman Fund for the Arts - Grants | Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Oliver G. & Sarah Sloan Bauman Fund for the Arts Perpetuating the Appreciation of Fine Arts The Oliver G. and Sarah Sloan Bauman Fund for the Arts was established in 1996 by Sarah Bauman Baxter as a unique way to memorialize her father by including his name in her own endowment.

Mrs. Baxter and her father shared a love of the classics, including classical languages, ballet and opera. At the end of her life, she translated that love into this bequest which Mrs. Baxter said should help “perpetuate the appreciation of such fine arts as an important and integral part of our culture. ” Applications are submitted electronically online through the Foundant Grant Lifecycle Manager.

No paper, emailed, or pdf applications are accepted. Bauman support shall be in the form of a grant, preferably matching funds. Awards will be prioritized first for performances of “traditional, classical ballet and opera on the living stage, and preferably of the English, European, or Russian schools.

” Qualifying performances should “preserve the originality of their composition, so the ballets are presented in their traditional choreography, and operas are sung in the language in which they were composed (except certain operas which may be customarily be rendered in English and are regarded as ‘traditional’ by the Metropolitan Opera Company of New York).

” In honor of the donor’s original intent, classical is defined as the period up to the start of World War I (1914). If any funds remain after awards have been made to all ballet and opera nonprofits eligible under Tier 1, awards will be prioritized for qualifying performances presented through the encouragement and support of responsible music or theater nonprofits.

Qualifying works shall “preserve the high quality of performance of traditional or classical works” of music, theater, or ballet from the repertories traditionally considered classical for each medium. Total amount available for disbursement in 2026 is approximately $66,000. March 9, 2026: Application available online April 13, 2026 by 4 p.

m. : Application due, no exceptions Late May 2026: Decision notification Grants are awarded only to organizations that have current Section 501(c)(3) status as determined by the Internal Revenue Service. Applicants must be located or delivering services in at least one of the eight counties of Western New York: Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans, and Wyoming.

At any given time, organizations can only have one open competitive grant with the Bauman Fund. Frequently Asked Questions Click here to review frequently asked questions. Please click here to download the detailed Bauman competitive process general information and guidelines.

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