The 2023 Art Music Fund will provide 11 grants of $7,500 - increased from $5,000 per grant.
Since 2016, the grants have funded the composition and creation of new works.
To apply, please follow the AU or NZ guidelines. Applications close 16 February.
Australian and New Zealand art music composers are invited to apply for a $7,500 (AUD) Art Music Fund grant to help them bring exciting new works to life. Eleven grants will be allocated to nine Australian and two New Zealand composers, respectively.
The Art Music Fund, now in its eighth funding round, is an initiative of APRA AMCOS, in partnership with the Australian Music Centre and SOUNZ Centre for New Zealand Music.
The funding, which increases this year from $5,000 per recipient to $7,500, is available for the creation of commissioned work that is innovative, displays professional compositional craft and represents a benchmark of excellence in its field. The intention is to support composers to create works with a long artistic and performance life - whether it is presented in a concert hall, via live stream, filmed, as a recording, installation or other formats.
Applications close 16 February 2023 at 5:00pm AEDT.
Recent Art Music Fund-supported world premieres include Thomas Meadowcroft’s Another Children’s Television and Forward Through Circles by Yarn/Wire at Columbia University’s Miller Theatre in New York City; Stephen de Filippo’s Spectral Breathing Apparatus was premiered by Niamh Dell at the Audible Edge Festival of Sound, Old Customs House, Fremantle. The fund has supported Sandy Evans' acclaimed Bridge of Dreams, Lisa Cheney's charming The Owl and the Pussycat and Eve de Castro-Robinson's powerful climate piece Clarion, to name but a few.
"The Art Music Fund has a history of positive outcomes in the creation of powerful new work, and for the creators themselves. We are proud to support this initiative and look forward to seeing the inspiring creativity of art music creators in Australia and New Zealand in 2023," said Catherine Haridy, CEO, Australian Music Centre.
"SOUNZ is excited to be partnering with APRA AMCOS and the Australian Music Centre for the second year in a row to support this wonderful opportunity for composers. We are delighted that the grants have increased by 50% which I’m sure will be much appreciated by those applying for this commission. We are looking forward to the new works that result from these grants," said Diana Marsh, Chief Executive, SOUNZ Centre for New Zealand Music.
“The Art Music Fund has a legacy of funding brave new Australian and New Zealand music that seeks to express the important stories of our time and place. Previously commissioned works have been heard by audiences across the globe and championed by performers, presenters, and broadcasters to become important musical landmarks. APRA AMCOS is pleased to increase the funding available this year to continue to support these new works and their creators, and we're excited to hear what our communities wish to create," said Cameron Lam, Art Music Lead, APRA AMCOS.
APRA AMCOS created the Art Music Fund, in partnership with the Australian Music Centre and now SOUNZ, in recognition of the limited opportunities for art music composers to have new works performed. We strongly encourage support of these partner organisations, who champion the work of art music composers, by becoming either an AMC Financial Member or a Friend of SOUNZ.
Please read the full guidelines for AU or NZ before you apply. Applications close 16 February.