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 2023.
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 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.
There will be two rounds of the program in 2024.
An April 2024 round will support activity from 1 July 2024 – 30 June 2025.
An October 2024 round will support activity from 1 January 2025 – 31 December 2025.
Subscribe to the MDO enews for direct notifications.
Next round key dates:
- Applications open – 11 April 2024
- Information session – 17 April 2024 (A link to the Eventbrite for this session will be available soon)
- Applications close – 3 May 2024
- Notification of recipients – late June 2024
- Eligible start date for activity – from Monday 1 July 2024
More information: https://mdo.sa.gov.au/projectsupportgrants
COUNTRY ARTS SA
Project Grants
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.
Who can apply?
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?
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
Please check with a Country Arts SA Grants officer for eligibility of other expenditure not listed here.
Project Grant money cannot be spent on:
- Touring projects from major cities such as tours of performances and exhibitions
- Curriculum based activities including for primary, secondary or tertiary courses
- Competitions, prizes or awards
- Ongoing activities of collecting institutions
- A project principally benefitting a major city or metropolitan location
- A funded activity that will commence before funding is approved
Grant round opens 8.30am (ACST), Wednesday 3 July 2024 and closes2:00pm (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/
Artist Development Professional Grants
Country Arts SA’s Artist Professional Development Grants are available to support artists and arts workers to participate in professional development opportunities. These grants can contribute to costs associated with undertaking professional development opportunities such as workshops, conferences, seminars etc. The grants are fast-turnaround and are intended for those who wish to undertake a time sensitive professional development opportunity.
Who Can Apply?
To be eligible you must:
- be an individual artist/arts worker over the age of 18 with an active sole trader 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 metropolitan South Australia
If an individual doesn’t have an ABN, the applicant may have a legally incorporated organisation auspice the grant, however Country Arts SA encourages individuals to register as a sole trader and obtain an ABN.
Please ensure you read the Guidelines and satisfy all the eligibility criteria. If you are unsure, contact a member of the Country Arts SA team.
How Much Can I Apply For?
- Up to $1500 per application for applicants located in regions MM2 – MM5
- Up to $2000 per application for applicants located in regions MM6 – MM7.
The applicant is expected to cover any additional costs associated with participating in the professional development opportunity through their own contributions or other funding sources.
What Can I Apply For?
Artist Professional Development Grant funds may only be spent on:
- Professional Development costs – Fees for workshops, masterclasses, conferences, unaccredited courses, seminars, shows, mentors etc
- Travel costs – Flights, bus, train or tram fares, fuel, taxis (or ride share) fares
- Accommodation – Up to $160.00 per night
- Meals and incidentals – Up to $75 per day
Applications close 30 June 2024
For more information: https://www.countryarts.org.au/available-grants/skills-development-assistance-grants/
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