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How it works
 

We created the Art Music Fund, in partnership with the Australian Music Centre (AMC) and now SOUNZ Centre for New Zealand Music, in recognition of the limited opportunities for art music composers to have new works performed. We strongly encourage the 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.

In 2025, 11 composers (nine from Australia, two from New Zealand) received a total pool of A$82,500 to create commissioned work that is complemented by an exploitation program. Each recipient receives a grant of A$7,500.

The fund exists to commission new work that is innovative, displays professional compositional craft and represents a benchmark of excellence in its field.

To be considered, your work must have committed partners to ensure the work is presented multiple times with the intention to create a long artistic life for the work and by extension, you, the composer.

The Art Music Fund is assessed by an external panel of musicians. With an aim to represent a complete view of the industry, we are particularly aware of ensuring the panel of experts includes diverse voices across culture, gender, geography, generation, and genre.

Applicants planning to use of Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, Māori, Pasifika or other indigenous cultural content (such as language, titles, traditional instrumentation, narratives or themes) from outside their own cultural heritage must supply supporting documentation that they have consulted with the appropriate communities (or mātanga reo / language and cultural advisors) and have obtained their permissions and support to use their cultural content and intellectual property.

The fund supports a wide range of music styles including notated composition; electroacoustic music; improvised music (including innovative, original jazz); sound art; installation sound; multimedia, web and film sound and music; and theatrical, operatic and choreographed music.

As an applicant, you will be asked to explain how your arts practice aligns with the qualities identified in the Art Music Fund (innovation, compositional craft, and excellence), regardless of style.

It is expected that you will collaborate with ensembles, orchestras, producers, recording companies, broadcasters, festivals and other parties to propose the writing of a work that will be guaranteed multiple exposures by way of performances, recordings, broadcasts or digital dissemination.

Please note: The Art Music Fund is not intended to support popular contemporary music, nor folk music.

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