Request for Proposals: Music Works Grants (Australia)

Objectives

• Uncovering Talent will:
  • Support musicians, artists and music workers to create and/or release new music.
  • Invest in musicians, artists and music workers to increase their creative and professional capability.
• Music Works Projects will:
  • Support musicians, artists and music workers to create and/or release new music.
  • Enable musicians, artists and music workers to develop/establish new innovative practices/ideas.
  • Support musicians, artists and music workers to collaborate.
  • Assist musicians, artists and music workers to tour their work.
  • Invest in musicians, artists and music workers to expand their business networks and skills.

Focus Areas

• Uncovering Talent: supports musicians, artists and music industry workers who have not received Creative Victoria funding before to undertake creative projects and professional development opportunities, including:
  • Song writing
  • Recording
  • Releasing new music
  • Mentorship and professional development
  • Marketing
• Music Works Projects: is for music industry professionals with a proven track record to undertake creative projects and professional development opportunities including:
  • Recording and releasing new music
  • Developing innovative contemporary music practice including the use of new techniques, instruments and technology
  • Attend national and international conferences and events
  • National and international tour support
  • National and international PR and marketing
  • Film and game soundtrack development
  • Cross-industry collaborations

Funding Information

• Uncovering Talent – $5,000.
• Music Works Projects – $10,000-$20,000.

Ineligible Activities

• Festivals, competitions, prizes, eisteddfods, awards, or fundraising activities
• Activities that do not pay creatives/artists at an industry standard rate
• Activity that does not follow correct cultural protocols when working with First Peoples’ artists, Indigenous Cultural Intellectual Property and/or communities
• Private tuition, training, a certificate, degree, or other courses of ongoing study in government or private institutions. This includes work that will be used for the purposes of academic assessment
• Reimbursement for expenses already incurred, or other retrospective funding
• Business start-up costs, capital purchases or recurrent administrative, infrastructure and other organisational costs not directly associated with the activity
• Equipment purchases or hire costs that aren’t directly related to the applicant’s funded activity, and which don’t address the program’s outcomes. Any equipment costs included in budgets must be justified in your supporting documentation
• Grant writing fees
• Screen-related activities that can be supported through VicScreen’s funding programs (e.g., development, production or release/distribution support, industry placements).
• Projects by or involving Creative Victoria staff

Expected Outcomes

• Victorian musicians, artists and music workers have more creative and professional opportunities.
• Victorian musicians, artists and music workers are improving their career stability.
• Victorian musicians, artists and music workers are growing their reputation within the contemporary music sector.
• Victorian musicians, artists and music workers are taking their creative content to new markets and reaching new audiences.

Eligibility Criteria

• You are eligible to apply if you:
  • Are a Victorian-based individual, collective/group, or micro to small organisation.
  • Have an active Australian Business Number (ABN):
    • If you don’t have an ABN, you can apply for one online or apply through an auspice body with an ABN.
  • Have no overdue Creative Victoria (or former Arts Victoria) acquittals
• For individuals, also:
  • Be an Australian citizen currently residing in Victoria or
  • A Permanent Resident (holding an appropriate visa) who has resided in Victoria for at least two years immediately prior to the date of your application (Note: you may be asked to provide evidence of this)
  • If under 18, be applying through an auspicing body (otherwise you are not eligible)
• For organisations, also:
  • Be a legally constituted organisation that has been registered under law (e.g. an incorporated association or company limited by guarantee or Aboriginal Corporation)
  • Be a micro to small organisation of up to 10 FTE
• For collectives/groups, also:
  • If the group or collective is not a legally constituted organisation, they must apply under an auspice arrangement or have an individual with an ABN apply on their behalf and take responsibility for the grant.
  • If an individual applies on behalf of the collective/group they must meet the eligibility criteria for Individuals.

Ineligibility Criteria

• You are not eligible if you:
  • Are a local government authority or their business units/facilities
  • Are a state-owned cultural agency and organisation, unless if acting as an auspice
  • Are an academic/training institution and/or entity controlled/owned by education institutions, unless acting as an auspice
  • Are a current recipient of the following Creative Victoria programs/rounds (unless acting as an auspice):
    • Creative Enterprises Program
    • Regional Partnerships Program
    • Active Creative Ventures Program recipients (speak to program staff if you’re unsure).

For more information, visit Creative Victoria.