Live Music Australia

Funding applications for Round 5 are now open and will close on 17 November 2022.

We expect to notify applicants about the outcome of the grant round approximately 12 weeks after the closing date.

Program background

The Live Music Australia program is part of the Australian Music Industry Package, announced on 30 March 2019. The program is designed to bring more live music to Australian communities and will fund applications that support quality original Australian live music that is professionally staged.

About Round 5 of the grant program

Four funding rounds have been administered so far, focusing on support for small to medium live music ‘brick and mortar’ venues around Australia.

Changes to the program for Round 5 will provide targeted funding for music festivals, recognising their important role in the Australian music ecology. Festival organisers will be able to apply for funding for assistance for a range of eligible activities.

It is anticipated that Round 6 of the program will open in early 2023 and will again target support for live music venues.

Under both funding rounds eligible spending has been expanded to include activities focused on business stability such as assistance with the increasing costs of business administration and insurances, in recognition of the significant pressures and rising costs of doing business in the music industry.

To receive funding under Round 5 of the Live Music Australia program you will need to demonstrate your commitment to hosting a primarily music focused festival, committed to presenting original Australian live music acts. Multi-disciplinary arts or food festivals in which music as secondary function are not eligible to apply. Festivals that use multiple venues in a geographical area are eligible to apply, as are festivals that run over a longer period of time than one weekend a year. 

Eligible activities:

• Funding is available for activities that support your festival to be able to proceed in 2023. Activities should be designed to enhance the quality of audience experience by making it increasingly accessible to all patrons and delivering to more diverse audiences.

Grants may support activities including, but not limited to:

• purchasing / hiring essential equipment for staging performances (such as PA, lighting)
• carrying out small building alteration work to enable live music performance (such as sound attenuation, disability access), if the infrastructure is owned by the festival organisation e.g. a permanent festival site
• live music programming and promotion, including artist fees and technical staff
• professional development, including upskilling venue staff
• adaptive ideas or capacity building that supports the festival to be more accessible, safe and present diverse Australian live music and improve regional touring circuits
• administration costs directly related to the festival including insurances directly related to the live music event
• marketing to engage core audience as well as identify and implement special initiatives to improve audience diversity
• dedicated new stage areas to create inclusive safe spaces for performers and audiences, including youth, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, women, gender diverse artists and artists with disability.

Program guidelines

Guidelines for Round 5 of the Live Music Australia funding program have been specifically revised for Round 5 – Festival focus. Program Guidelines and Frequently Asked Questions are available on the GrantConnect website. All applicants are encouraged to read the revised guidelines.

Further information

• Live Music Australia Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Contact

Contemporary Music Team
Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts
GPO Box 594
Canberra ACT 2601
Phone: 02 6271 1711
Email: music@arts.gov.au

How to apply

• Visit the GrantConnect website to view the program guidelines and frequently asked questions. You will need to register and create a password to access the GrantConnect site.
• Complete a SmartyGrants application form available through the APPLY NOW button below, or through the GrantConnect website. You will need to register and create a password to access the SmartyGrants site.
• You can preview the application form prior to submitting an application.
• You can save an incomplete application and come back to it at a later time, as long as you submit by the closing date. Incomplete applications left in SmartyGrants after the closing date will not be assessed.