MUSIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICE
Export Contribution Fund
South Australian musicians will have access to an Australia-first initiative to support their journey to specific international music events throughout 2024.
Through an Export Contribution Fund, the South Australian Government’s Music Development Office and Sounds Australia will provide a non-competitive $3,000 contribution to travel costs for eligible artists who receive an official invitation to showcase at Folk Alliance International (Kansas, USA), SXSW (Austin, USA), The Great Escape Festival (Brighton, UK), Americanafest (Nashville, USA) and The Reeperbahn Festival (Hamburg, Germany).
If you are officially selected to showcase at any of these events, Sounds Australia will be in contact with you to organise the payment of funding. There is nothing extra you need to do.
This partnership recognises the increasing barriers to market entry for South Australian export-ready artists and is aimed at easing their financial burden, allowing them to make the most of their international opportunities.
Apply to showcase:
Folk Alliance International 2024
SXSW 2024
The Great Escape Festival 2024
Americanafest 2024
The Reeperbahn Festival 2024
Please note that Sounds Australia does not play any role in selecting artists for these showcase festivals.
Project Support Grants
The next round of applications will open in April 2025 for activity from 1 July 2025 – 30 June 2026.
The MDO Project Support Grants (PSGs) supports local musicians and music businesses with creative and business development projects. The PSGs offer two streams of funding to support musicians to continue their creative development and to help sustain music businesses in the South Australian contemporary music sector.
Stream A: Creative Development
grants of up to $15,000 to support recording and performing artists, songwriters, producers and artist managers (on behalf of their artists) in the creation and/or release of new original music composition or content.
Stream B: Business Development
grants of up to $15,000 to support recording studios, promoters, record labels, booking agents, live music venues, artist managers, self-managed artists and other music entrepreneurs, businesses or organisations with their efforts to facilitate the creation, presentation, production or delivery of original music.
More information: https://mdo.sa.gov.au/projectsupportgrants
COUNTRY ARTS SA
Project Grants
Grant round opens 8.30am (ACST), Wednesday 5 February 2025 and closes 11:29pm (ACST), Thursday 20 March 2025. The activity will commence no earlier than Tuesday 1 July 2025.
Project Grants will fund high-quality arts projects benefitting regional or remote artists, arts workers, audiences and communities. The focus of the project could include any area of creative practice, multiple artforms or cross-disciplinary practice.
How much can I apply for?
You can apply for Project Grants of up to $30,000. There is no minimum grant amount
What can I apply for?
Project grants fund high-quality projects benefitting regional or remote artists, arts workers, audiences and communities. Focus of the project can include any area of creative practice, multiple artforms or cross-disciplinary practice.
Project Grant funds may be spent on:
- Artist Fees
- Travel costs (including international)
- Materials
- Venue Hire
- Equipment Hire
- Insurance
- Project administration costs
- Disability access costs
Grant round opens 8.30am (ACST), Wednesday 3 July 2024 and closes 2:00pm (ACST), Thursday 15 August 2024. You will be notified three months from the close of round. The activity will commence no earlier than Monday 1 January, 2025.
More information: https://www.countryarts.org.au/available-grants/project-grants-round-two/
Quick Response Grants
Quick Response Grants will fund professional development opportunities for artists and arts workers or small project opportunities. The program supports immediate need that arises where the activity is unable to be planned for or supported in other funding rounds, for example taking up professional development, skills development or small project opportunities at short notice.
Who can apply?
Regional artists to access professional arts development and training opportunities, or organisations/community groups with small project opportunities that arise at short notice.
To be eligible you must:
- be an individual/sole trader, Australian incorporated organisation or local government organisation with an active Australian Business Number (ABN) registered to a regional South Australian location
- not have any outstanding reports, acquittals or serious breaches relating to any Australian Government funding
- not be based in metroplitan South Australia
Please ensure you satisfy all the eligibility criteria. If you are unsure, contact a member of the Country Arts SA team.
How much can I apply for?
Individuals can apply for up to $3000 and organisations or community groups can apply for up to $5000.
More information: https://www.countryarts.org.au/for-artists/grants/
Photo: Wanderers, SXSW 2022