Alex Lahey, The Push, Bandmates, Hysterical Records, among recipients of Victoria’s latest grants
A wide range of artists, associations and projects were recipients of the Victorian Government’s latest round of grants, totalling $550,000 through its $22.2 million Music Works program.
Minister for Creative Industries Martin Foley pointed out, “This latest round of grants will boost our music economy, create opportunities for those who make music and those who work behind the scenes – strengthening our reputation as the heart of live music in Australia.
“Through our ground-breaking Music Works initiative, we are investing in our music industry at all levels.”
Among the major grants were:
Girls Rock Melbourne ($22,500) to deliver a five-day intensive music camp for young female, trans, and gender diverse youth (aged 10-17 years) run by female, trans and gender diverse mentors.
The Push ($28,750) to stage a series of events and activities including a free, inner city, all ages concert, art/photographic exhibition and industry gathering/launch to celebrate the Push’s 30th anniversary and to provide practical experience to emerging music sector workers and artists.
Melbourne Electronic Sound Studio ($30,000) for its Professional Development Program that provides tuition and masterclasses covering electronic music production, facilitation and composition, comprising 12 group workshops and 24 individual sessions
3PBS ($6,000) for Drive Live, a week-long series of live-to-air performances by 15 emerging and established artists.
Bandmates Victoria ($10,000), a City of Maribyrnong initiative that pairs people with disability and/or mental health issues and volunteers to see live gigs together.
Hysterical Records ($8,591) for professional development activities in the US to create and expand opportunities.
Oscar Poncell ($15,801) for mini-documentary series The Chromatic Memory featuring artists from the Multicultural Arts Victoria (MAV) roster, curated with Timber Music Box.
Good Manners Music ($12,000) to present Seasons, a music and arts series of four events in a year – one a season.
Musiktrafik ($3,000) to travel to Poland to attend WOMEX 2017 to represent Victorian artists and to travel to Turkey to meet with Turkish record labels to secure album distribution opportunities for Victorian acts.
Small Island Big Song ($5,000) for composer, film director and producer Tim Cole and producer BaoBao Chen to travel across Asia and Europe for five weeks to present their collaborative video and music project Small Island Big Sound at international forums and to music labels and agents. The project seeks to unite musicians across the island nations of Asia, Pacific and Indian oceans through song and storytelling. It will be presented at WOMEX in Poland. The trip will also include DJ/VJ shows in Asia and Europe.
Mission Songs Projects ($15,000) which revives Indigenous songs from the 20th century,
Mathew Barker ($7,377) for meetings in North America with film and television producers to present his music and pitch for opportunities as a composer and music supervisor
Good Manners Music ($4,000) for meetings in Europe with labels, publishers, booking agents and media to generate new opportunities for acts on its roster
The funding facilitated international touring by Alex Lahey (pictured),City Calm Down, The Teskey Brothers, The Lovely Days, Sara Retallick, Alithia, Albrecht LaBrooy & Sleep D’s and Montero.
There will be local touring by Freya Josephine Hollick, Lamine Sonko & The African Intelligence and Ajak Kwai, John Flanagan Trio, Bill O’Connell (of 15 book stores in regional Victoria), Brian El Dorado & The Tuesday People, and Samsaruh
Grants also went for recording and/or videos and/or promotion for projects by My Disco, Yirrmal, Tigerlilly, Laura Imbruglia, Oh Pep!, RVG, Liz Stringer, Broads, Totally Mild, Do Yo Thangs, Ella Stiles, Miss Eileen and King Lear, Eilish Gilligan, Ella Thompson, June Jones, Hot Topic, Bushwalking, John McAll, Mark Lang, Beatrice Lewis and Eugene Ughetti.
Festivals receiving financial aid, mostly for marketing, were Grampians Music, the LGBTIQ Gaytimes and the one-day NaranaFest showcasing Aboriginal music, culture and art.
The next round of Music Works Grants closes in February 2018 for projects starting from 1 June 2018.
For program details and to see a full list of the latest recipients, visit creative.vic.gov.au/news