The Victorian Government is supporting musicians, bands and music businesses to get back on their feet and back on stage, with grants to recharge Victoria’s famed live music scene.
Minister for Creative Industries Danny Pearson has announced that applications for a fresh round of grants through the Music Works program are now open.
“These grants are part of our unprecedented investment in Victorian music, helping reinvigorate Victoria’s celebrated creative industry,” said Minister for Creative Industries Danny Pearson.
“We’re putting the right measures in place to ensure live gigs can safely return to our stages and Victorian music can ring out across the state and around the globe.”
Grants of between $4,000 and $40,000 are available for activities including recording and releasing new music, presenting music events, marketing and business development.
This is the second Music Works grant round for 2021. Earlier this year $850,000 was awarded to 44 music projects involving 1,000 music industry professionals across the state.
Supported projects, which have been underway since July, include new recordings by singer-songwriter Angie McMahon and indie pop artist Feign Jima.
Management company Look Out Kid has also benefitted from the program and is engaging a US publicist to promote its artist roster, including new albums by Courtney Barnett and Briggs.
Other previously funded projects include the Archie Roach Foundation’s Singing Our Futures mentoring program, which is recording and releasing new music from emerging First Nations artists.
$10.8 million was provided in the Victorian Budget 2021/22 to extend the initiative for four years.
Applications for the new round close at 3:00pm – Thursday 25 November. For more information or to apply for Music Works grants, visit: www.creative.vic.gov.au for details.
Image: William Elm at Blak Sounds 2019, VMDO First Peoples – photo by Jacinta Keefe