What is the Music Works Program?
The Music Works Program is a grant opportunity to help contemporary music artists and industry professionals to undertake creative projects with commercial outcomes.
Background
The Music Works program supports and invests in the development of Victoria’s contemporary music industry at all levels. The program is open to Victorian based music industry professionals from all genres and career stages. Priority will be given to projects that intend to actively develop and build the sustainability,resilience, and commercial capacity of the contemporary music sector.
Objectives
The Music Works program aims to strengthen Victoria’s position as a world-leading state for contemporary music through:
- Nurturing the diverse and unique creative talent of Victoria’s contemporary music industry;
- Increasing the range of and demand for Victorian contemporary music offerings for local and international audiences;
- Providing opportunities for artist and business development; and
- Encouraging the resilience, adaptability and sustainability of the industry considering the ongoing impacts of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Program Streams
The program has three streams:
- First Peoples Stream
Applications led by Victorian First Peoples will be assessed in alignment with Aboriginal self-determination by a First Peoples assessment panel. - Deaf and Disabled Stream
Applications led by Victorian deaf and disabled music industry professionals or music industry businesses or organisations will be assessed by a panel of music industry peers with lived experience of Deafness and Disability. - General Stream
All other applications will be assessed by a panel made up of a diverse range of music industry peers.
Funding
Applications will be accepted for requests of between $4,000 to $40,000 for individuals or groups/organisations.
Eligibility
This program will prioritise support to eligible music industry professionals, organisations or businesses who are:
- First Peoples
- Deaf and Disabled
- Culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD)
- From under-represented cohorts (including LGBTIQ+ creatives)
- Regionally based
The Music Works program accepts applications from Victorian based contemporary music industry professionals from all genres and career stages. This may include artists/bands, managers, promoters, labels and other music industry businesses and organisations. Applicants must also meet Creative Victoria’s General Eligibility requirements.
Ineligible applicants include:
- Applicants with overdue Creative Victoria (or former Arts Victoria) acquittals
- Non-Victorian music industry professionals or businesses
- State-owned cultural agencies and organisations funded through Creative Victoria’s Organisations Investment Program (except if acting as an auspice body)
- Organisations who receive operational support through the Creative Enterprises Program
- Applicants who have received funding under the Creative Ventures Program or Creators Fund Program are not eligible to apply for Music Works for the same project or activity.
The program will not fund:
- Competitions, prizes, eisteddfods, awards or fundraising activities
- Tertiary courses over six months in duration or those that are eligible for an Australian Government HELP loan
- Business start-up costs, capital purchases, or recurrent administrative, infrastructure and other organisational costs, not directly associated with the activity
- Activity that does not follow correct protocols when working with First Peoples artists, content and/or communities
- Reimbursement of project expenses already incurred, including grant writing fees
- Activities that do not pay creatives/artists at an industry standard rate
- Projects comprising less than 75% original Australian compositions
- Recordings that are not intended for commercial, physical, or digital release or distribution (except demos)
- Equipment purchases or hire costs that are not directly related to your project or activity, and which do not address the program’s aims and priorities. Any equipment costs included in budgets must be justified in your supporting documentation
- Projects or activities that breach the Victorian Government’s public health measures and restrictions to slow the spread of coronavirus.
Timing
Applications close 30 June 2022.
