*Updated 21 November 2023
We're rounding up funding, EOIs and opportunities and grants, and will continue to update this page.
See below for national and state-based opportunities and get tips on how to write a grant application.
Find out if you qualify for Support Act Crisis Relief, and, as always, Support Act's Wellbeing Help Line is open 24/7, 365 days a year. Call 1800 959 500.
State and territory organisations also have funding calendars for their relevant state, which are updated regularly:
| National Opportunities |
|---|
Justin Cosby Scholarship - Australian institute of music |
| Justin Cosby was the co-founder of Inertia Music. His passion was to discover, and be inspired by, great music. This scholarship has been established with funding from Justin’s family, business associates and friends and will provide two thirds of the cost of the degree – which is $45,000 – plus mentoring and internship opportunities for one student per year to undertake a Bachelor of Arts & Entertainment Management, or a Bachelor of Music (Arts Management). |
| Applicants must be commencing an AIM Bachelor of Arts & Entertainment Mgmt or a Bachelor of Music (Arts Management) program in 2024 |
Emerging Artist Grants - The Ian Potter Cultural Trust |
| Grants of up to $15,000 are available to support emerging artists practising in all art forms to undertake professional development opportunities overseas. |
| Applications close Tuesday 23 January 2024 at 5pm AEDT |
Marten Bequest Travelling Scholarship - Creative Australia |
| Instrumental composers aged 21-35 are encouraged to apply for the $50,000 Marten Bequest Travelling Scholarship. Recipients are given the chance to explore, study and develop their artistic gifts through travelling either interstate and/or overseas. |
| Applications close 6 February 3pm AEDT |
Carriage Studios (Melbourne) Artist Residency |
| Carriage Studio is offering 3-day artist residencies to artists & producers based in (or visiting) Naarm/Melbourne. The studio is designed for production, mixing, mastering and overdub recording and is equipped with audio interfaces, microphones, preamps, compressors, MIDI instruments, weighted piano, guitars, extremely high quality monitoring, stream decks; all you need to bring is your laptop. |
| Rolling deadline - monthly residencies |
Support Act - Wellbeing Helpline |
| The Support Act Wellbeing Helpline is a free, confidential phone counselling service, available to anyone who works in Australian music, the performing arts or other creative industries. |
| Ongoing |
Support act - Non-COVID Crisis Relief Grants |
| Crisis Relief Grants are provided through direct payment of bills or other personal expenses related to your crisis, rather than cash grants. If you have already received a Crisis Relief Grant through Support Act, you may be eligible to reapply 12 months following your previous approval. |
| Ongoing |
Association of Artist Managers - Artists Seeking Management |
| If you are an artist seeking management and wish to share your details with the Association of Artist Managers membership network for consideration, we invite you to complete a submission. |
| Submit at any time |
Apply to play at Sofar Sounds |
| Submit an application to become a Sofar artist and be eligible to play Sofar shows in unique venues in more than 400 cities worldwide. Turn listeners into fans, reach new markets and connect with other artists! |
| Ongoing |
Join the Music Producers' and Engineers' Guild of Australia (MPEG) |
| MPEG has been established to represent the commercial interests and community development of music producers and sound engineers throughout Australia via advocacy and engagement. Becoming a member has the following benefits: Help to create a strong supportive community; amplifying your voice to Government and the wider industry; connect and network with other people in your profession; receive access to professional advice and worksheets. |
| Apply anytime |
| New South Wales |
|---|
City of Sydney Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander collaboration fund |
| Supports local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander led projects that build stronger communities. Cash funding up to $50,000 is available, for projects to be delivered within 12 months. Funding supports increased self-determination and equity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through projects that connect people with community, country and culture. |
| Open now until budget is exhausted |
City of Sydney - Quick Response Grants |
| This program accepts applications all year and supports small-scale initiatives for local residents and organisations. This program is open all year for applications until the budget is exhausted. You should submit your application at least 6 weeks before you plan to start your grant activity or event. |
| Ongoing |
Music Open Days at FBi Radio |
| Want to get your music out there but don’t know where to start? Join FBi Radio at their monthly Music Open Day to learn all the ins and outs of how music is programmed on the station. Music Open Day will happen from 3pm to 6pm on the first Monday of every month. You can also submit your music to FBi Radio any time. |
| Ongoing |
Regional Arts NSW - Quick Response Grants |
| Quick Response Grants are delivered monthly from February to November and all applications will be competitively assessed at the end of each month. Applicants will not be advised about their grant application until five days after the end of each month. Individuals can apply for up to $3000, organisations can apply for up to $5000. There is no minimum grant amount. |
| Ongoing |
| Victoria |
|---|
Regional Arts Fund - Quick Response Grants |
| Up to $3,000 for individuals and $5,000 for organisations available. For small arts projects, professional development for artists and arts workers, and community capacity building projects. Rounds are open on the first of every month and close on the last day of every month from February to November. |
| Ongoing |
| Queensland |
|---|
Billy Thorpe Scholarship |
| The annual $15,000 Billy Thorpe Scholarship provides the opportunity for an emerging artist or band to record with an established producer and receive career planning from Chugg Entertainment. |
| Applications close 11:59pm 11 January 2024 |
Carol Lloyd Award |
| The $15,000 Carol Lloyd Award honours the contribution the late Carol Lloyd made to the Queensland music scene and awards $15,000 to support an emerging female-identifying or non-binary singer-songwriter Queensland musicians to record a full-length album or record and tour an EP. |
| Applications close 11:59pm 11 January 2024 |
Grant McLennan Fellowship |
| Applications are now open for one of the ultimate opportunities for rising Queensland musicians, the Grant McLennan Fellowship. Now in its 16th year, the Fellowship honours the musical legacy of the late singer songwriter and The Go-Betweens co-frontman, Grant McLennan. Funded by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland and presented by QMusic, the $15,000 Fellowship offers the recipient an opportunity to travel to New York, London or Berlin to be immersed in a foreign and vibrant musical culture to further develop their artistic skills. |
| Applications close 11:59pm 11 January 2024 |
Dalwood-Wylie Foundation Scholarship |
| The Dalwood-Wylie Foundation Scholarship is funded by the Dalwood-Wylie Foundation and is administered by QMusic. The $15,000 Scholarship will be awarded to a Queensland-based contemporary musician who lives with a disability. The scholarship will enable the recipient to make significant progress creatively and in their music career by providing them with opportunity, tools and resources. |
| Applications close 11:59pm 11 January 2024 |
Dennis 'Mop' Conlan Scholarship |
| The annual $15,000 Dennis ‘Mop’ Conlon Scholarship provides the opportunity for an emerging Indigenous Queensland musician or band to develop and record a song or series of songs, to support and develop their ongoing career in the music industry. |
| Applications close 11:59pm 11 January 2024 |
Performing Arts Market Development Fund - Queensland Govt |
| The Fund supports interstate and overseas opportunities that grow Queensland’s cultural economy, increase exposure, facilitate business and career growth, and expand markets and export revenue potential for Queensland-based musicians, performing artists and organisations. Applicants can apply for up to $80,000 towards eligible costs for showcasing or market attendance activities (applicants can apply for up to 50% of the total project costs directly associated with the interstate or overseas activity.) Applicants can apply for up to $2,000 towards eligible costs for bringing national and international presenters/promoters/reviewers to see Queensland performances. |
| Rolling fund - apply at any time |
Regional councils - regional arts development fund |
| Arts Queensland is proud to partner with local government to support quality arts and cultural experiences across Queensland through the Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF). RADF promotes the role and value of arts, culture and heritage as key drivers of diverse and inclusive communities and strong regions. RADF invests in local arts and cultural priorities, as determined by local communities, across Queensland. RADF is delivered in partnership with 59 Queensland local councils. |
| Various closing dates, check with local council |
| South Australia |
|---|
Live Music Events Fund |
| The Live Music Event Fund aims to elevate Adelaide’s recognition as a UNESCO City of Music through activating our live music events calendar; mitigate the financial barriers experienced by promoters in the first two years of staging a new live music event; attract unique music events to South Australia that generate economic benefit, provide local jobs for musicians and crews, and attract visitors from South Australia’s key domestic tourism markets; provide industry development opportunities or pathways that support the growth of the event into a unique offering for the state that is financially sustainable and not reliant on government funding for viability. |
| EOIS open |
Country Arts SA - Quick Response Grants |
| Regional artists to access professional arts development and training opportunities, or organisations/community groups with small project opportunities that arise at short notice. Individuals can apply for up to $3000 and organisations or community groups can apply for up to $5000. |
| Ongoing - Grant Rounds close on the last day of each month |
Skills Development Assistance Grants |
| Country Arts SA’s Skills Development Assistance Grants (up to $1,500) are available to support artists and arts workers to participate in professional development opportunities. The grants are fast-turnaround and are intended for those who wish to undertake a time sensitive Skills Development opportunity. These grants provide assistance with travel and accommodation costs associated with undertaking professional development opportunities such as workshops, conferences, seminars etc. |
| Ongoing |
Shows on the Road (GAL) |
| Country Arts SA’s Shows on the Road program supports a network of regional presenter groups to present high quality, professional performances in their community. It aims to increase access to the arts in smaller regional communities. |
| Ongoing |
| Western Australia |
|---|
Arts Short Notice Activity Program |
| The Arts Short Notice Activity Program (Arts SNAP) for individuals and groups offers funding for regional, national and international short notice activities for artists and creative industry professionals. Grants of up to $5000 for national and regional opportunities, and up to $10,000 for international, are available for individuals and groups. |
| Applications close 4pm 7 December 2023 |
Contemporary Music Fund Short Notice Activity Program |
| The Contemporary Music Fund (CMF) assists homegrown contemporary music artists with projects that enable them to produce and promote their work, along with building links nationally and internationally. Up to $15,000 is available for international touring/ showcasing. Up to $10,000 for regional and national touring/ showcasing. Up to $5,000 available for professional development opportunities. |
| Applications close 4pm 7 December 2023 |
Quick Response Grants - Regional Arts Fund |
| For regional artists, arts organisations and communities. Up to $3,000 for individuals and $5,000 for organisations is available. |
| Ongoing - closes the final day of each month. |
ARTS under 15-K grants |
| The Contemporary Music Fund Grant Program assists homegrown contemporary music artists with projects that enable them to produce and promote their work, building links nationally and internationally. Grants for Under $15k. |
| Ongoing |
| Northern Territory |
|---|
Arts and culture grants program |
| The Arts and Culture Grants Program offers various grants for projects that explore, develop and profile arts and culture in the Northern Territory (NT). |
| Ongoing |
Career development opportunities for nt's young artists and arts workers |
| Up to $10,000 per applicant is available to support this exciting new employment pathway through a three-month work placement. Grants are open to, artists and arts workers aged 18 to 25 years, seeking paid career development opportunities or arts and cultural organisations looking to host a three-month placements. |
| Ongoing |
| Australian Capital Territory |
|---|
EOIs to participate in live music market research study |
| Researchers at ANU are conducting a study in partnership with MusicACT to examine live music in the Canberra region. This research will deepen an understanding of how artists/musicians attend to their work in the live music industry, and how pay and wages for creative work and performance are accomplished and negotiated. We are on the hunt for professional musicians who would be willing to take part in a relaxed short one-on-one interview to discuss their practice, work and thoughts on the music industry conditions in Canberra. All participants will be given a $20.00 gift card for their participation. |
| Ongoing |
Arts Activities (up to $5k) |
| Requests can be from $500 to $5,000. Given high demand for limited funds, requests for $5,000 need to be thorough applications with significant benefits to the applicant. Applications can be made at any time but must be submitted at least six weeks before the activity start date. Applicants can only receive funding in this category once each calendar year, except in exceptional circumstances. Applicants may also apply to the $5-50k category, for a different activity or another stage of the Up to $5k activity. |
| Ongoing |
| Tasmania |
|---|
Cultural and creative industries expert register |
| People working or engaged within the arts and screen sectors are encouraged to put forward an expression of interest. They are seeking a broad range of candidates in terms of artform area, age, cultural background and career stage from artists, practitioners, administrators and other sector professionals. |
| Ongoing |
Quick Response grants - regional arts tasmania |
| 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. You can apply for Quick Response Grants up to $3,000 for individuals |
| Applications open on the first of each month and close on the last day of that month. |