$5,000 grant available for women and gender diverse artist managers
Applications open now until Wednesday 19 March
The recipient will be announced at the Association of Artist Managers (AAM) Awards on Wednesday 30 April
Applications for the 2025 Lighthouse Award are now open to all women and gender diverse artist managers.
Managers are invited to apply now until Wednesday 19 March for the chance to receive a $5,000 grant to support their business and professional pursuits.
The Lighthouse Award exists to support a forward-thinking manager who is dedicated to Australian music. It was established to encourage women and gender diverse artist managers in memory of pioneering artist manger and mentor, Linda Gebar, who died tragically in 2008 soon after the birth of her second child.
Gebar was one of the few women in artist management in the ‘90s, working with bands like The Killjoys, Frente and The Blackeyed Susans. She also booked the Punters Club, worked at PBS FM, had a record label and worked at APRA AMCOS.
Previous recipients of the award have included Bonnie Dalton, Charlotte Abroms, Jen Cloher, Kristy Gostelow, Lorrae McKenna, Maggie Collins and Simone Ubaldi.
2024 Lighthouse Award recipient, Hayley Ayres from 360 Artist Logistics, explains: “With the Lighthouse Award funding, I was able to invest in specialised music business strategy consultation, which made a huge impact on developing my growth strategy as an independent business.
“I've also been able to hire a part time staff member to take some of the administrative load off me, which has enabled me to focus on broader development and significant portfolio building. So, it's also resulted in a new paid role for someone in music which will extend for years to come and far beyond the initial funding! I just needed that nudge to take the leap more than I knew.”
Karen Don, Head of Membership at APRA AMCOS, adds: “Awards like this are so important in recognising the incredible impact that artist managers are making in our industry. It supports and encourages more women and gender diverse managers to enter the industry and build long-term sustainable careers, following in the footsteps of the incredible people who have come before them.”
Applications are open now until Wednesday 19 March and the recipient will be announced at the Association of Artist Managers (AAM) Awards on Wednesday 30 April in Melbourne.