Key information
- Status: Closed
- Grant amount: Up to $150,000
- Application opened: 29 September 2025
- Application closed: 27 October 2025, 2:00 pm
Program objective
This funding program is designed for music businesses and organisations with a track record of delivering significant outcomes for contemporary music in NSW, and aims to:
- develop skills and capacity for artists and acts
- upskill industry professionals and music businesses in best practice and emerging trends
- improve industry standards
- build the profile of the NSW music industry
- cultivate innovation, collaboration and partnership
- support industry-led research and advocacy
- strengthen communities.
This program is funded by Sound NSW (Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport).
This program is administered by Sound NSW (Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport).
Eligibility
Who can apply
This program is open to music businesses or organisations.
Funding recipients must be:
- currently based in NSW or deliver a significant contribution to the NSW contemporary music sector
- be an incorporated entity or trust (including a trust with a corporate or individual trustee) and hold an Australian Business Number (ABN), Australian Company Number (ACN), or
- be registered with NSW Fair Trading under the Associations Incorporation Act 2009 or the Co-operatives National Law (NSW) set out in the appendix to the Co-operatives (Adoption of National Law) Act 2012.
Applicants will need:
- an active ABN (that’s your Australian Business Number)
- a bank account with the same name as your ABN.
Applicants must also:
- provide at least a 30% co-contribution to the overall project budget.
For the purpose of this program contemporary music refers to artists and acts performing new and original music.
Artforms not supported through this program are:
- experimental music and sound art
- contemporary classical, opera, choral and ensembles
- music theatre
- working in and with community music groups.
These applicants should refer to Create NSW’s Arts and Cultural Funding Program (ACFP) guidelines.
Please see the FAQ's for further definitions.
Number of applications
- you can only submit one application per round.
Types of projects funded under this grant
Funding can support the following activity:
- skills, training and capacity building programs for artists, industry professionals and music businesses
- programs to upskill industry professionals and music businesses in best practice and emerging trends and technologies including AI, marketing and promotion, cultural literacy and safety
- programs and resources to improve well-being, support workplace and audience safety, accessibility, cultural safety and working with young people
- industry-led marketing campaigns to promote music in NSW
- initiatives that cultivate innovation, collaboration and partnerships locally and internationally
- industry-led research and advocacy.
What costs you can apply for
Funding up to $150,000 can support project costs relating to:
- salaries, wages and fees for staff, researchers, consultants, industry professionals and artists
- venue hire, catering and production costs
- travel and accommodation costs
- marketing and promotion
- administrative costs.
Who can’t apply
- businesses or organisations not based in NSW, unless the proposal demonstrates a direct impact to the NSW contemporary music sector
- applicants who have outstanding acquittals from previous NSW Government funding
- applicants who are not music businesses or organisations
- applicants who are unable to provide at least a 30% cash co-contribution to the overall project budget.
What costs you can't apply for
- program and operational costs for concerts, festivals and live music events
- activities that do not enhance, build and grow NSW’s contemporary music industry or demonstrate a significant benefit to NSW industry
- costs incurred before the advertised activity start date
- activity that has received other NSW Government funding
- the purchase of equipment
- infrastructure and capital works
- activities that directly support the delivery or course requirements of an educational program or course
- fundraising, donations, awards, prize money or competitions.
What co-contributions are required
Applicants must co-contribute at least 30% of the overall project budget. This can include cash and in-kind contributions. Cash contributions include grants from government (local, state or federal), industry bodies, philanthropic contributions or business income. In kind contributions can include any donated goods, services or volunteer work to support a project.
Additional eligibility requirements
The project cannot start before 1 February 2026 and must be completed by 31 January 2027.
What your application needs to include
Prepare your application with this checklist
Grant Application
All applicants must submit the following as part of their application. These materials will all form part of the assessment.
- an outline of your organisation and recent key achievements
- an outline of your project, including how the proposed activity will deliver significant benefits to the contemporary music sector in NSW
- an outline of how your project aligns with one or more of the program objectives
- evidence of your approach to diversity and inclusion
- a budget detailing income and expenditure including details of the minimum 30% co- contribution
- links to examples of previous projects
- letters of support
- confirmation from key personnel involved.
Address the eligibility criteria
Each applicant, as part of an application response, must confirm that they meet the eligibility criteria.
Applicants that do not address the eligibility criteria in full may be excluded from the application process at the department's discretion.
Address the assessment criteria
1. Benefit to the contemporary music sector in NSW
Evidence of the need and impact of the activity.
Tell us in detail about:
- the need for the project and expected outcomes
- the intended beneficiaries of the project, and your experience working with that group
- the impact of the project for the intended beneficiaries.
2. Track record of working with industry
Evidence of previous experience and successful partnerships.
Tell us in detail about:
- your experience working with industry
- evidence of previous successful partnerships.
3. Alignment with program objectives
Alignment with one or more of the program objectives.
Tell us in detail about how your project aligns with one or more of the program objectives:
- develop skills and capacity for artists and acts
- upskill industry professionals and music businesses in best practice and emerging trends
- improve industry standards
- build the profile of the NSW music industry
- cultivate innovation, collaboration and partnership
- support industry-led research and advocacy.
Sound NSW is committed to a diverse contemporary music sector in NSW and encourages applications from First Nations people, people who identify as women and non-binary, people with disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and people from Western Sydney and regional and remote communities.
4. Viability of the activity
Your capacity to undertake this activity, manage the budget and timelines, as well as demonstrate partnership opportunities and investment growth.
Tell us in detail about:
- your previous experience delivering similar activity
- your reach to deliver outcomes across the contemporary music sector in NSW
- key people and partners involved, including confirmation of their involvement
- partnership and investment opportunities within the project
- your budget, including a breakdown of your total costs outlining a minimum 30% co-contribution to the project.
Sound NSW is committed to supporting sustainable business models that stimulate growth and identify strategic partnerships. The value of applicant’s co-contributions will demonstrate the viability of the proposed activity.
Minimum fees for musicians
The NSW Government requires that all musicians involved in publicly funded events receive a minimum performance fee of $250. All applicants must demonstrate they meet this requirement in their proposed budget.
After the application is submitted
Successful applications will be decided by: Secretary Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport (DCITHS).
Eligibility
Applications will be initially reviewed by Sound NSW staff to ensure they meet eligibility requirements, and all application materials are acceptable. Sound NSW reserves the right to seek further information from the applicant to determine eligibility.
Any waiver of the eligibility requirements for applicants will be undertaken in accordance with the Grants Administration Guide and will be informed by whether the eligibility criteria would:
- lead to perverse or unfair outcomes;
- be contrary to policy intent;
- damage the reputation and integrity of the grant program.
Any decision to waive eligibility criteria will be made by the decision maker at their absolute discretion.
If your application is deemed ineligible you will be notified by email within 14 days.
Application Review
After eligibility is confirmed, the application will be evaluated by an assessment panel of at least three industry assessors against the assessment criteria and consistent with these guidelines.
Please note that funding allocation follows a competitive process. Evaluations will consider the assessment criteria outlined above and the availability of funds at Sound NSW.
Successful applications will be approved by Secretary DCITHS, who may delegate to a Deputy Secretary or Executive Director, based on recommendations from industry assessors.
Application Outcome
Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application within twelve weeks of the closing date.
Sound NSW will provide feedback to unsuccessful applicants. The format of this feedback may vary depending on the quantity of applications and the resources available.
Successful grant applications
If your application is successful, you will be sent a funding agreement (contract), generally within one month of notification. This outlines the conditions of funding, how you will be paid and your grant reporting requirements.
Contracts will not be issued, and payments will not be made, until all Sound NSW and Create NSW outstanding acquittals have been submitted.
Sound NSW staff will review required reporting, outlined below, and may contact you for additional information as part of this process.
Payment will be dependent on when the signed Funding Agreement has been returned to Sound NSW, as well as any special conditions, variations or outstanding acquittals being satisfactorily completed.
Acknowledgement of Sound NSW
As a recipient of Government funding, you will be expected to acknowledge the support from Sound NSW in all publications, promotional and advertising materials, public announcements, and professional development activities.
Reporting
Successful applicants will be required to provide a project and financial acquittal at the end of the funding period.
Program evaluation
The Program will be evaluated to measure how well the outcomes and objectives have been achieved.
We may collect and use information from your application and reports for this purpose. We may also interview you or ask you for more information to help us understand how the Program impacted you and to evaluate how effective the tour was in achieving its outcomes.
We may contact you up to three years after you receive the final grant payment associated with the grant round for more information to assist with this evaluation. Sound NSW and the NSW Audit Office reserves the right to undertake an audit of Program funding and support within seven years.
Support and contact
Sound NSW staff are available to provide technical advice and general information to potential applicants on the interpretation of these guidelines, including the types of activity eligible for funding and support with the online application process.
Sound NSW staff cannot help directly with your application. To maintain a fair and equitable process, staff cannot edit or correct any applications or provide advice on the content or choices required against the Assessment Criteria.
For further information or clarification, please contact:
- Tino Mjawe, Manager, Music Investments and Partnerships
- Email: info@sound.nsw.gov.au
- Phone number: (02) 9566 8804
Schedule and online meeting to speak to Sound NSW staff using the link to Microsoft Bookings
Visit our website: Sound NSW
For further information please read the frequently asked questions
Image: EMC - The Gathering 2024. Photo by Thanadol Sinnjuthawong
Complaint handling
Details on how we handle complaints, access to information and your private information is available at:
https://www.create.nsw.gov.au/about-us/feedback-complaints-privacy-and-government-information
Access to information
The Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (GIPA) provides for the proactive release of government information by agencies and gives members of the public an enforceable right to access government information held by an agency (which includes Ministerial offices). Access to government information is only to be restricted if there is an overriding public interest against disclosure.
The NSW Legislative Council has the power to order the production of State papers by the Executive Government. Standing Order 52 provides that the House may order documents to be tabled by the Government in the House. The Cabinet Office coordinates the preparation of the papers – that is, the return to order.
The return to order may contain privileged and public documents. Privileged documents are available only to members of the Legislative Council.
Note that documents submitted as part of a grant application may be subject to an application under GIPA or an order for papers under Standing Order 52.
Further information on how DCITHS holds information, and how to access it, is available at https://www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/dciths/policies-plans-and-procedures/access-to-information/agency-information-guide
Conflict of interest management
Any conflicts of interest will be managed in accordance with NSW Government Grants Administration Guide.
A conflict of interest, or perceived conflict of interest, may be identified if staff, any member of a committee or advisor and/or you or any of your personnel:
- has a professional, commercial, or personal relationship with a party who can influence the application selection process, or
- has a relationship with or interest in, an organisation, which is likely to interfere with or restrict the applicants from carrying out the proposed activities fairly and independently, or
- has a relationship with, or interest in, an organisation from which they will receive personal gain because the organisation received a grant under the grant program.
If you identify an actual, apparent, or perceived conflict of interest at any time, you must inform Sound NSW immediately. Staff can be contacted 9.00am - 5.00pm Monday to Friday via info@sound.nsw.gov.au or 02 9372 8662.
NSW Government staff, committee members and other officials including the decision maker must declare any conflicts of interest and ensure they are managed as per the DCITHS Code of Ethics and Conduct and the Grants Administration Guide.