Key information
- Status: Closed
- Grant amount: Not applicable
- Application opened: 17 July 2026
- Application closed: 31 July 2026, 2:00 pm
Program objective
The NSW Music Prize is a prestigious celebration of the rich creativity and artistic contributions of NSW artists. There will be three awards:
- NSW Music Prize
- NSW First Nations Music Prize
- NSW Breakthrough Artist of the Year.
The purpose of this Expression of Interest (EOI) is to convene:
- a Nominations Committee and Judging Panel
- a First Nations Nominations Committee and Judging Panel.
Committee and judging panel members will use their music industry expertise to nominate, assess and discuss NSW contemporary music artists or acts, releases and their impact over the last 12 months.
A description of the roles and responsibilities of each judging group can be found below:
The Nominations Committee will consist of 20 members. Their role is to submit nominations for the NSW Music Prize and the NSW Breakthrough Artist of the Year which will result in a list of finalists.
The Judging Panel will consist of 5 members. Their role is to review the list of finalists for the NSW Music Prize and the NSW Breakthrough Artist of the Year and select the winner for each category. They are a separate group from the Nominations Committee.
The First Nations Nominations Committee will consist of 5 members. Their role is to submit nominations for the NSW First Nations Music Prize which will result in a list of finalists.
The First Nations Judging Panel will consist of 3 members. Their role is to review the list of finalists for the NSW First Nations Music Prize and select the winner for the category. They are a separate group from the First Nations Nominations Committee.
The Nominations Committees and Judging Panels will reflect a diversity of skills and experience and will understand the contemporary music sector, in particular the NSW music landscape and activity over the last 12 months. They will be well positioned to critically assess music releases, growth and impact on community.
Applications are invited from artists and music industry professionals. Sound NSW is committed to ensuring cultural, geographical, gender, age and genre diversity on the Nominations Committees and Judging Panels and encourages all interested applicants to apply.
For more information please see the FAQs.
This program is administered by Sound NSW (Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport).
Eligibility
Who can apply
To be eligible to apply individuals must be:
- an active member of the Australian contemporary music sector
- an Australian resident or citizen (living abroad is acceptable)
- aged 18 or over.
Types of projects funded under this grant
Not applicable
Who can’t apply
You are ineligible to apply if you:
- don’t hold Australian residency or citizenship
- are 17 years or under.
Additional eligibility requirements
The Nominations Committee and Judging Panel will include Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander representation, however all members of the First Nations Nominations Committee and First Nations Judging Panel must identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
What your application needs to include
Prepare your application with this checklist
To apply for this EOI, you will need to provide:
- a short biography outlining your music industry experience
- your reasons for applying for the NSW Music Prize Nominations Committees and Judging Panels, while addressing the assessment criteria
- an up-to-date resume or CV
- two professional referees.
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
Applications will be assessed against the following assessment criteria:
- understanding of the contemporary music sector and the NSW music landscape
- current knowledge of NSW contemporary music artists or acts and related activity, including music releases over the last 12 months
- demonstrated experience in music curation and critical assessment of artists and releases
- strong communication and collaborative skills, with the ability to work constructively across diverse groups.
Sound NSW will assess applications and make final selections based on the eligibility and assessment criteria. Consideration will also be given to reflect a broad and diverse representation of the contemporary music sector including gender, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, age and career stage, people with disability, people from Western Sydney and regional and remote communities.
Start the application
Online Platform
Sound NSW uses the secure online grants system, SmartyGrants, to manage all its applications. All EOI applications must be submitted via the online portal. You will receive an email confirmation of your application from SmartyGrants when your application has been accepted.
Note: If you are a new applicant to SmartyGrants, you will need to register and create a password. If you are already registered, you can log in with your existing username and password.
Late Submissions
Late submissions will generally not be accepted. However, consideration may be given to requests where the applicant can demonstrate significant issues outside of their control.
Where these issues prevent an application being made on time, you must make a request in writing to the Sound NSW team at info@sound.nsw.gov.au on or before the application closing date with supporting evidence.
Note: If you are a new applicant to SmartyGrants, you will need to register and create a password. If you are already registered, you can log in with your existing username and password.
Apply now
After the application is submitted
Successful applications will be decided by: Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy.
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.
If your application is deemed ineligible you will be notified by email within 14 days.
Application Review
If eligibility is confirmed, the application will be evaluated by an assessment panel of Sound NSW staff against the assessment criteria and consistent with these guidelines, to make final determinations of the Nominations Committees and Judging Panels.
Assessment panel members will ensure the selection of Nominations Committees and Judging Panels are reflective of the diversity of the contemporary music sector in NSW, with a deep understanding of current industry activity.
Assessment panel members will be provided with the application(s) and each Assessment panel member will score the applicants responses against each criterion using the scoring methodology provided, prior to a formal panel meeting.
Assessment panel scores will be collated and discussed at an assessment panel meeting. Panel members will agree on final consensus scores for each applicant and each criterion. Applications must rate Claims fully substantiated against all criterion, to be recommended to the designated decision-maker.
The assessment panel will make their recommendations to the designated decision-maker and successful applications will be approved by the Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy, based on the assessment panel’s recommendations.
Please note that appointments to the Nominations Committees and Judging Panels follows a competitive process.
Application Outcome
Applicants will be notified of the outcome within eight weeks of the closing date.
Assessment process considerations
Sound NSW may, at its sole discretion and at any stage of the application process, do all or any of the following:
- require additional information from an applicant
- may request applicants to provide clarification or additional information regarding the eligibility criteria
- change the scope of the requirements of these guidelines
- vary, amend (including by replacement), or terminate the application process
- re-open an application after the closing date, provided it doesn’t give the applicant an advantage over other applicants
- consider any non-conforming or late application.
Nominations Committee and Judging Panel members
If your application is successful, you will be invited to join the NSW Music Prize Nominations Committees or Judging Panels for the period of the 2026 NSW Music Prize. Members will engage with Sound NSW to fulfill the requirements of their role and be paid a fee. NSW Public Service employees do not receive a fee.
Support and contact
For further information or clarification, please contact:
- Celline Narinli, Music Programs Manager
- Email: info@sound.nsw.gov.au
- Phone number: (02) 9372 8752
Visit our website: Sound NSW
Schedule and online meeting to speak to Sound NSW staff using the link to Microsoft Bookings
For further information please read the frequently asked questions frequently asked questions.
Image: 2025 NSW Music Prize red carpet. Photo by Charlie Hardy
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.