It continues to be a challenging time for the music industry with limited opportunities due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
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:
MusicNSW Funding Calendar
Music Victoria current grants
QMusic Funding Calendar
MusicSA Opportunities
West Australian Music grants and funding
Music Tasmania funding opportunities
MusicNT
MusicACT
| National Opportunities |
PLAYING AUSTRALIA: REGIONAL PERFORMING ARTS TOURING FUND |
| The Regional Performing Arts Touring program (Playing Australia) supports performing arts to reach regional and remote communities across Australia. Grants are available to support the net touring and other designated costs associated with tours. There is no limit on the amount that can be requested. |
| Applications close Tuesday 6 September 2022 (for projects starting after 1 December 2022) |
needle in the hay vinyl comp - happy mag |
| Needle in the Hay is an annual competition and event run by Happy Mag which campions and empowers emerging Australia bands and musicians at a time when they need it most in their career. With a prize pool of over $30,000 including gear and plug-in packages, the competition has been carefully curated to give artists the shot in the arm their projects need. |
| Applications close 28 October 2022 |
Credit maker program 2022 - AGSC |
| Credit Maker is a high calibre new initiative that will support 12 female practitioners across directing, cinematography and composing to attain a career defining credit on a scripted production; to elevate their career trajectory; and, to bring change in female Head of Department (HoD) representation in the sector. Credit Maker is supported by Screen Australia’s Gender Matters umbrella in partnership with the Australian Directors Guild, the Australian Cinematographers Society and the Australian Guild of Screen Composers. |
| Closing date announced in the future |
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 |
Artology presents Fanfare Competition and the NEW 'To Country' Program |
| Calling for short orchestral compositions created by young Australians aged 12-23. Fanfare replaces the traditional cue bells in professional venues with 30 sec fanfares by young people. The new 'To Country' program asks young people to create a one minute musical acknowledgement to country. Entrants participate in mentoring workshops and a performance outcome with leading youth orchestras around Australia. |
| Applications close 6 June 2022 |
| New South Wales |
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NSW Event Saver Fund |
| The purpose of Event Saver is to provide financial support to organisers of Major Events scheduled to be held between Wednesday 15 December 2021 and Saturday 31 December 2022 where an event is cancelled or Significantly disrupted as a direct result of Public Health Orders (PHO). |
| Stage One Expressions of Interest close 30 September 2022 |
PPCA PERFORMERS TRUST FOUNDATION GRANTS |
| Established in 1975, the PPCA Performers' Trust Foundation provides grants to promote and encourage music and the music-related performing arts. Grants are provided for: Performances at concerts at or for charitable institutions such as hospitals or homes for the aged; Scholarships for the promotion and encouragement of musical and theatrical education; The promotion and encouragement of the performing arts to the general public; The aid or assistance of any beneficiary who is unable to adequately maintain themselves by their own exertions and other income. |
| Ongoing |
21/22 Small Project Grants (QuICk Response) |
| Small Project Grants (Quick Response) support the creation, development and presentation of new work and professional development opportunities for NSW-based professional artists and arts and cultural workers. This quick response grant offers grants from $500 to $5,000 towards projects. |
| Applications close 30 May 2022 |
| Northern Territory |
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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 |
NTRA Quick Response Grant |
| The NTRA Quick Response Grant category supports creativity, innovation, participation, and access to arts and cultural activities which contribute to the sustainable cultural, social and economic capacity, and well being of individuals and community. |
| Ongoing: Rounds are open on the first of every month and close on the last day of every month. |
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 |
| Queensland |
|---|
Queensland Arts Showcase program |
| The Queensland Arts Showcase Program (QASP) supports vibrant and accessible arts and cultural experiences for Queensland by individuals, organisations or collectives. The program supports creative development, and public or digital presentation, creates employment opportunities and/or collaboration between artists and/or government or business, and extends artists’ and/or organisations’ practice, audiences and markets. |
| Applications close 17 June 2022 |
Touring Queensland Fund |
| The Touring Queensland Fund (TQF) supports the delivery of high quality, tour-ready work to and from regional Queensland communities with demonstrated community interest and demand. |
| Applications close 20 May 2022 |
| South Australia |
country arts SA - quick response grant: regional arts fund |
| Arts South Australia is currently accepting expressions of interest from prospective peer assessors for opportunities in the financial years 2022–23 and 2023–24. Peer assessors are co-opted to provide expertise on current and contemporary arts practice in Australia. |
| Applications close 4 July 2022 |
| Victoria |
Melbourne Prize for Music |
Launched in 2004, the Melbourne Prize Trust recognises and rewards excellence and talent, inspires creative development and enriches public life by providing career development opportunities to Victorian sculptors, writers and musicians. The annual Melbourne Prize is one of the most valuable creative development initiatives of its kind in Australia and runs in a three-year cycle, this year, the Melbourne Prize is for music. There are 3 categories: Melbourne Prize for Music 2022 – $60,000 |
| Entries close 11 July 5pm AEST |
2023 Touring EOIs - Regional Arts Victoria |
| The Arts & Education program is seeking a limited number of 3-5 companies to be part of the 2023 program. The Arts & Education Program engages young people from primary years to VCE, and consists of performances, residencies and workshops which can take place online or in person in schools, community halls, galleries and performing arts centres, or feature in local events such as festivals, school holiday programs or camps. |
| Expressions of Interest close 9am Monday 30 May 2022 |
2023 Annual Arts Grants |
| What creative work would you develop or present with the support of an arts grant? Whether you compose, paint, sculpt, dance, write, perform, film or produce work unlike anything else, grants of up to $20,000 are available to make your project happen. Grants are available to artists and small to medium arts organisations from all backgrounds and abilities in three categories: arts projects, Aboriginal arts projects, arts residencies. |
| Applications close 5pm Wednesday 15 June 2022 |
Ballarat creative inspiration grant |
The Creative Inspiration Grant program a quick response fund that offers small grants to artists and arts groups to support their practice or to kick start an idea. An initiative of the City of Ballarat, and administered by Regional Arts Victoria, the Creative Inspiration Grant will have three funding rounds that distribute $1000 grants to artists to fund small opportunities that will take place in the City of Ballarat. |
| Applications close Friday 2 June 2022 |
| Western Australia |
Drug Aware YCulture Regional |
| Through Drug Aware YCulture Regional individuals aged 12 - 26 can apply for up to $4,000 if living in regional WA or up to $6,000 if you live in remote WA, or above the 26th parallel, to support you in delivering your arts project. |
| Applications close 30 November 2022 |
CONTEMporary music fund |
| 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. |
| Ongoing |
| Australian Capital Territory |
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arts act - arts activities funding |
| Arts Activities funding is available to ACT-based artists at all stages of their careers and to organisations providing the Canberra community with opportunities to engage in the arts. It supports artists, groups and arts organisations to undertake a broad range of activities including artform-based projects, mentorships, residencies, professional or skills development and opportunities for the community to actively engage in the arts. |
| Ongoing |
ACT Arts peer register |
| artsACT engages members of the community with specific artform interest, knowledge and experience as artform peers. Peers provide advice and assist in the assessment of applications across a range of funding categories. |
| Applications close 31 December 2022 |
| Tasmania |
Grants and Funding for Individuals and Groups |
| This program supports individuals and groups to take up activities that further their careers, enrich their artistic practice and contribute to Tasmania's arts sector. |
| Applications close 4 July 2022 |
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 |
Aboriginal Arts Program |
| This program supports Tasmanian Aboriginal people to share their culture, stories and heritage through traditional and non-traditional arts and cultural activities. |
| Applications close 4 July 2022 |