Music Career Building grants are designed to assist artists to take the next step in their career.
Funding is available across three streams:
- Recording
- Product Presentation
- Website and Digital Tools
Recording
Funding is available for the production of quality demo recordings by emerging Victorian songwriters, musicians and bands; and for master recordings of albums by independent Victorian artists for the purpose of commercial release.
Master recordings must include the recording of a minimum of three original compositions.
Product Presentation
Funding is available to support various aspects of the music marketing process.
This may include CD or DVD production and manufacturing, distribution costs, artwork, advertising, publicity, promotional campaigns, or marketing tools such as a photo shoot or video clip.
CD manufacturing projects are capped at a maximum of 500 units.
Websites and Digital Tools
Funding is available to support website development, creation of digital marketing tools and other aspects of a CD or digital music release strategy.
Eligibility
The Music Career Building Grants category accepts applications from:
- Contemporary independent musicians (individuals and groups) living in Victoria.
- Victorian based independent record labels applying on behalf of Victorian artists.
Your application may be seeking support for:
- Multiple activities across the Recording, Product Presentation and Websites and Digital Tools streams (observing the funding limits for each).
- One component of a project.
You may apply for funding for a component of a project that is already underway, however funding will not be provided for activities that will occur prior to the eligible start date.
Closing Dates
- 7 September 2009 for projects commencing after 1 January 2010
- 1 March 2010 for projects commencing after 1 July 2010
It takes approximately 15 weeks from the closing date until funding results are available.
Funds Available
Arts Victoria will not fund the entire cost of a project, you must demonstrate that you are contributing to the total cost yourself.
Arts Victoria's contribution across the three streams is capped as follows:
Recording
- Demo recordings - up to $1,500 per application
- Master recordings - up to $15,000 per application
Product Presentation
- Up to $10,000 per application
Websites and Digital Tools
- Up to $5,000 per application
In the 2007-2008 financial year 278 applications were received and 44 (16%) were funded. The total funds awarded was $288,638 and individual grants ranged from $1,000 to $19,000.
To apply for funding you must:
- Complete the application form which includes a budget. Download the form and full guidelines as a:
- Please complete all relevant sections of the application form; especially Section 8 - Project Details. Here you are required to outline the elements of your project for which you are seeking for funding
- Provide artistic support material relevant to your project (eg DVD, CD)
- Provide supporting documents (eg quotes for proposed costs, press clippings)
- Structure your proposal to clearly and concisely address each of the points specified below. The higher the level of funding requested, the higher the level of detail you will need to provide in your application.
Please note: We no longer require a separate written proposal for Music Career Building Grants. This has been replaced by Section 8 – Project Details.
For all applicants
- Provide a clear description of what you want to do.
- Provide full details and credentials of the artist/s involved and a short background biography of the act, including a summary of performances and any previous recordings or media coverage.
- Explain how this activity will progress your artistic practice and career in the music industry.
- Describe how you will evaluate the success of the project.
For Recording projects
- Provide details of the studio where the recording will take place. Explain why you have chosen to record there.
- Provide the credentials of the engineer and/ or producer with whom you plan to work including details of their previous relevant work.
- What are the next steps once this recording project is completed?
- Document the project release strategy (once the recording is completed) and provide a timeline.
- Confirm who will own the master recording.
For Product Presentation, Website and Digital projects
- For marketing and promotion activities (including distribution, web sites, video clips and digital tools etc), please outline the fundamental needs and intended outcomes of the initiative.
- Highlight where this activity fits into a longer-term strategy for the project
- Document the project release plan or strategy and provide a timeline.
- Describe what is innovative or unique about this activity and how it will enable your project to connect with an audience.
Support Material
All applicants must provide support material. Please keep the following in mind:
- Only supply material that is relevant to the project.
- Do not send us one-off or irreplaceable original material.
- Please note that support material will not be returned.
- You must supply demos of the new material you wish to record. In the case of an album, please supply a selection of up to three tracks. This demo is used to assess the artistic content, so include your strongest work and the best quality recordings you have.
- If relevant, provide a sample of previous recordings - preferably on the same CD as demos.
- You must supply five copies of any audio support material (CD burns may be submitted instead of finished stock of previous works).
- Clearly mark the materials with the applicants name and project title.
- If you are sending press clippings - do not send more than three pieces.
- Resumes must be limited to two pages.
- While all possible care will be taken, Arts Victoria takes no responsibility for loss or damages that may occur to material provided.
- For marketing or promotional activity, website or digital tools, please include copy of a service provider's proposal.
- You must provide quotes for any activity in this application that you are seeking funding.
- Do not send lyrics.
- Do not send band photos
- Audio/ visual material should be of a high quality.
- Any issues with support material should be discussed with the program manager before the closing date.
Applications are competitively assessed and prioritised according to the following criteria:
For Recording:
- The quality of the musical idea, lyrics, musicianship and vocal performance (if relevant).
- The level of originality and innovation demonstrated.
- The potential for significant career and artistic development as a result of the project.
- A minimum of 75% Australian compositions (In some instances material not meeting the 75% Australian content requirement may be considered, but it must represent an outstanding and original musical interpretation.)
- The quality of the written proposal.
For Product Presentation:
- The potential for the act to receive distribution, airplay or media exposure commensurate to the level of funding provided.
- The quality of the written proposal, particularly where detailing the strategic planning, distribution, marketing, and promotional concepts for the product release.
- The real need for Government funding at a reasonable level.
- The extent to which the project will add the quality and diversity of the contemporary music scene in Victoria.
For Websites and Digital Tools:
- The needs and benefits of the project seeking funding.
- The level of creativity or innovation of the project.
- How this will impact on audience development, touring and release strategies.
- A proposal or synopsis detailing the content and components from the project developer.
Priority will be given to projects using Victorian recording studios and other service providers, however projects being undertaken interstate or overseas may be considered. In these cases, you will need to show that the desired outcome could not be achieved in Victoria.
Applications go through a standard assessment process, including review and evaluation by a peer assessment panel.
The current panel members are:
- Andrew Fuller (Chair) - Musician, arts board member and music industry solicitor
- David Chisolm - Composer
- Natalie Bell - Music and youth marketer
- Sonja Horbelt - Drummer, composer and music educator
- Jeff Jenkins - Author, broadcaster and music journalist
- Emily York - Music manager and tour promoter
As a recipient of Arts Victoria funding, you are required to:
- Notify Arts Victoria of any changes to your proposed project
- Publicly acknowledge the support of the Victorian Government using specific logos and text
- Acquit your grant by completing a written report on the outcomes of your funded project.
As a recipient of Arts Victoria funding, you are required to:
- Notify Arts Victoria of any changes to your proposed project
- Publicly acknowledge the support of the Victorian Government using specific logos and text
- Acquit your grant by completing a written report on the outcomes of your funded project.
Logos and Text Acknowledgement
Logos
The Victoria Rocks logo must be included on all promotional materials produced by the grant recipient in relation to the funded activity.
These may include (but are not restricted to):
- Posters, fliers and brochures
- CD package liner notes intended for commercial release
- Sampler CDs
- Advertisements
- Invitations
- Press releases
- Promotional videos
- E-cards, electronic press kits and Websites.
The Victoria Rocks logo is available in a variety of formats, please take note of the guidelines for its use.
Text Acknowledgement
The following text acknowledgement should be use in any speeches, media releases, interviews and other circumstances where a logo may not be possible:
[This project is] supported by the Victorian Government through the Victoria Rocks program
Acquittal Reports
When your funded activity is completed, you must provide Arts Victoria with an acquittal report within 30 days.
Failure to satisfactorily acquit funding will make you ineligible for future Arts Victoria funding and may result in action to recover the grant.
Download the acquittal form as a Word document (610 KB).
Further information about the program can be obtained from:
Jonathan Williamson
T: 03 8683 3140
jonathan.williamson@dpc.vic.gov.au
Sarah-Jane Wentzki
T. 03 8683 3135
sarah-jane.wentzki@dpc.vic.gov.au