10 acts land $50k worth of Vic Govt’s quick response grants

Image: Stonefield were given $10k from the Vic Government

Ten recipients share $52,032 in the January round of Creative Victoria’s Music Works Quick Response Grants – with 50% of the split going to women in the biz.

Most are for next month’s South By Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, Texas.

All-female rock outfit Stonefield ($10,000) will take in SXSW as part of their first North American tour. The trek, of eight shows between March 10 to 25, includes three festival slots.

Also scoring $10,000 are Oh Pep! aka Olivia Hally and Pepita Emmerichs, to return to tour the USA (where they already showcased at Americana Music Festival and CMJ) and attend SXSW, before returning for seven dates which includes a spot at the Port Fairy Folk Festival.

Folk singer songwriter Krista Polvere gets $4900 towards attending the five day Folk Alliance International Conference from mid-February.

Folk pop performer Demi Louise, who’s dropping the track Taxi Driver this month, will use her $2000 towards attending SXSW again and exploring songwriting collaboration opportunities overseas.

$5000 goes to Role Model Artists, an artist management company within Mushroom Group, to attend SXSW and seek international opportunities for their roster which includes Bliss N Eso, Slum Sociable, Lurch & Chief and Pearls.

The Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society receives $3000 to present Dreamboogie and Miss Whiskey at The International Blues Challenge in Memphis.

Audio visual director Justin Dwyer’s grant of $4,645 is for sessions and workshops at the electronics and visual arts Banff Convergence Residency in the US between March 7 to 25

$5000 goes to jazz pianist and composer Nicholas Marks to attend specialised intensive mentorships in advanced composition and improvisation in Tel Aviv and New York.

Artist manager Brent Hayhurst is covered for $4,937 to attend the Folk Alliance International Conference in Kansas, for professional artist management development and to represent Mark Lang of Skipping Girl Vinegar.

Composer and performer Jennifer Kingwell will use her $2,550 bequest to present her original production The Lotus Eaters at Adelaide Fringe 2016.

Launched in 2015 as part of the Victorian Government’s Music Works initiative, Quick Response Grants help to fill the gaps in contemporary music funding to attend trade fairs and conferences, speaking engagements, participation in skills development workshops, and local and international touring opportunities.