Western Australia Minister for Culture and the Arts David Templeman

A New Grants Program That Can’t Be Beat

Victor P Taffa

• $1 Million Contemporary Music Fund Grant Program opening soon
• Funding part of Contemporary Music Fund election commitment

McGowan Government announced a new $1 Million open access grants program, which will strike a chord with Western Australia’s contemporary music artists.

“Contemporary Music Fund Grant Program will give emerging music artists a boost in our rocking local music industry and more opportunities to be heard on a bigger stage.” Minister for Culture and the Arts David Templeman said.

“For contemporary musicians this announcement will be music to their ears, knowing that this opportunity is waiting for them in the new year.”

Opening next month, the Contemporary Music Fund Grant Program will be open to all contemporary Western Australian musicians and music industry professionals. It will assist homegrown contemporary music artists with projects that enable them to produce and promote their work building links nationally and internationally.

It will also aim to improve the representation of Aboriginal, regional, cultural and gender diverse music artists in the industry.

Culture and the Arts Minister David Templeman made the announcement at Perth venue Lucy’s Love Shack, alongside established and emerging local contemporary musicians who welcomed the news.

Grants will be available in 2 categories, depending on the amount requested. Music artists seeking up to $15,000 in funding can apply throughout the year, starting from January 8, 2019.

For applications between $15,000 and $60,000, 3 major grant rounds will be offered with the first set to open on January 22, 2019.

“Grants from this program will go towards supporting Western Australian musicians to do what they love and help activate Perth’s nightlife in the process.” Perth MLA John Carey said.

Grants program is part of the Contemporary Music Fund, a McGowan Government election commitment, which will inject a total of $3 Million into Western Australia’s contemporary music sector over the next 4 years. $2 Million in targeted initiatives will be announced in early 2019.

Contemporary Music Fund Grant Program is administered by the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries.