Pearl Scott, a 32-year-old singer, songwriter, and producer from Dorchester is one of 23 New England-based musicians who will share in a $40,500 grant aimed at helping them make ends meet while they focus on their music careers.

Club Passim, an intimate folk music venue located in Harvard Square, has funded the awards through the Iguana Music Fund, an annual grant program established to help musicians overcome financial limitations. 

“For the last eight years, I have been administering our grant programs, which includes the Iguana Fund,” said club manager Abby Altman, who noted that the club’s involvement goes back 17 years. “The Iguana Fund is such a cool thing,” she said, “and I love that we get to do this.”

Since its establishment in 2008, the Fund has distributed around $630,000 in annual grants. Over the past year, more than 200 musicians applied, but only 23 were selected, and each was awarded $500 to $2,000.

“To apply, you have to be an artist with strong ties to New England,” said Altman. “Mostly that means people are living and working in New England, but it can also be people that went to Berklee or grew up here, and now they’ve moved. But most of the folks that receive funding are living, working, and performing in New England.”

While there is no application fee, the musicians must have that tie to the area and explain how the funds will help them complete a project that will advance their careers. “We’re really interested in funding artists that need a little bit of help to get their project started,” Altman said.

Scott is an Indiana native who moved into Savin Hill two years ago and came to “love the sense of community” that people bring to Dorchester. “I immediately felt like I had a lot to give and offer this space. [It] was exactly what I needed to feel like I can make this a home, I can put down roots here and build something really special.”

Scott’s earliest performances were in her family’s living room before she took to the stage as she got older as a part of choir and musical theatre performances. She then went on to minor in music at Indiana University Bloomington before joining the US Army.

“I was a vocalist in the Army bands for four years,” Scott said. “That trained me in a different way. I was not an artist there. I was a soldier meant to follow orders.”

Scott came to Boston after her service was completed. She described her current style as a “fusion. There’s definitely a blend. I don’t think I could define it by a genre. I’m an emotive artist, a lot of my emotions and my traumas and my healing comes through music via the avenue of jazz and R&B.”
Scott notes that at Passim she has had the opportunity to share her thoughts and beliefs with passionate listeners while being supported by an amazing music community. She is especially grateful for Altman and Passim managing director Matt Smith. 

“Every time Abby and Matt are involved in anything, I know I am going to feel safe, loved, and welcomed in the space,” said Scott. “They’ve been huge in facilitating, just nurturing me as an artist and making me remember who I am and the stories I need to tell.”

In December, Scott was told of her $2,000 award, which she plans to use to record an album and produce visuals for some of her songs. “The hope is to have an album that’s represented in all mediums,” she said.

“Because I’m still new to Boston, I’m still putting down my roots and figuring out who my community is,” she added. “I’ve built some wonderful connections so far but there is more to be had, so my goal is to find and to use local artists in the project.”

On May 12, Scott will join the 22 other musicians at Passim for the 2024 grant recipient showcase at 7 p.m.