Key information
- Status: Open
- Grant amount: Up to $5,000 per person
- Application opened: 28 November 2025
- Application closes: 24 April 2026, 12:00 pm
Program objective
Funding can support travel and accommodation costs for:
Artists and Acts
- domestic tours
- domestic professional development opportunities, including performance at significant music market events, attendance at events, workshops, camps, mentorships and residencies
- significant international professional development opportunities, including performance at significant international music market events, attendance at workshops, camps, mentorships and residencies.
For domestic tours and performance at music markets, funding can support up to six people per touring party. This includes the artists and a maximum of two people with roles that support the artists to undertake the tour. These support roles include:
- one operational crew member (e.g. tour manager or key technical production crew)
- one support person for people with disability, family or cultural needs.
Music Industry Professionals
- domestic professional development opportunities for music industry professionals working in contemporary music to attend significant music market events and/or identified business opportunities
- significant international professional development opportunities for music industry professionals working in contemporary music to attend international music market events and/or identified business opportunities.
This program is open for applications until 24 April 2026, with applications assessed monthly. Applications submitted by 12pm (midday) on the last Friday of each month (excluding December) will be grouped together for assessment. Applicants will be notified of the decision within 4 weeks of this date.
Please see the frequently asked questions for definitions and a list of submission dates and activity start dates.
This funding aims to:
- increase domestic performance opportunities for NSW artists
- support professional development for NSW artists and music industry professionals
- strengthen the live music ecosystem
- grow music audiences for NSW artists.
This program does not support international touring. Please see the International Touring program for support for significant international touring opportunities.
This program is administered by Sound NSW (Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport).
Eligibility
Who can apply
The fund is open to artists, acts and music industry professionals, as well as music businesses applying on behalf of an artist or act.
Funding recipients must be:
- 18 years or older
- currently living in NSW (minimum 12 months)
- performing or working in contemporary music.
Applicants will need:
- an active ABN (that’s your Australian Business Number)
- a bank account with the same name as your ABN
- or a funds administrator to help you out.
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 | NSW Government (ACFP) guidelines.
Please see the FAQ's for further definitions.
Number of applications
You can receive a maximum of one grant through the Domestic Travel and International Professional Development program and one grant through the International Touring program per financial year (based on closing date).
Types of projects funded under this grant
Funding can support travel and accommodation costs only, for:
- domestic tours by artists and acts
- performance at significant domestic and international music market events by artists and acts
- domestic and international professional development opportunities for artists and acts including attendance at significant music market events, workshops, camps, mentorships and residencies
- music industry professionals to attend significant domestic and international music market events and/or identified business opportunities.
What costs you can apply for
Funding supports travel and accommodation costs only.
Travel and accommodation costs can include flights, trains, buses, car hire, petrol, tolls, airport transfers, travel insurance, visas, per diems and accommodation.
Funding can support up to $5,000 per person for domestic and international travel activity.
Artists, acts and industry professionals from regional and remote NSW can request an extra $500 per eligible touring party member, to help support additional travel costs. You just need to allocate this additional request into your grant request and justify it with eligible travel costs in the expenditure table of your budget.
Who can’t apply
- applicants who do not live in NSW, or who have lived in NSW less than 12 months
- applicants not performing new and original contemporary music (eg cover bands)
- applicants who have outstanding acquittals from previous NSW Government funding.
What costs you can't apply for
- international tours - this activity can be supported through the International Touring program.
- artist fees, rehearsals, equipment purchase, marketing and promotion costs, industry event fees or passes
- domestic tours that don’t include at least three performances in different locations, outside the artist’s place of residence
- performance at significant music market events or attendance at professional development opportunities within the artist’s place of residence
- attendance at significant music market events or business development opportunities within the music industry professional’s place of residence
- travel and accommodation costs incurred before the advertised activity start date
- activity that has received other NSW Government funding.
Please see the frequently asked questions for a list of submission dates and activity start dates.
Additional eligibility requirements
- applications for a domestic tour require confirmation of at least three performances, in different locations
- applications for performance at a significant music market event require confirmation of invitation to perform
- applications for professional development opportunities require an invitation or evidence of the activity
- applications for music industry professional travel support require an invitation to an industry event or evidence of business opportunity
- this is a travel fund and supports travel to new destinations. You cannot apply for funds to support a tour or activity that includes your city/town.
What your application needs to include
Prepare your application with this checklist
All applicants must submit the following as part of their application. These materials will all form part of the assessment.
Artists and Acts
- an artist’s bio
- an impact statement outlining how the proposed activity will benefit your career development and identify the importance of undertaking the activity now
- a tour plan including itinerary and promotional activity
- a budget detailing income and expenditure
- links to examples of your music - up to 5 mins of audio or video that highlight your previous work
- links to social media platforms
- confirmation of at least three performances, in different locations (for a domestic tour)
- invitation to perform at a significant music market event (for professional development opportunities)
- evidence of the professional development activity (for professional development opportunities).
Music Industry Professional
- industry professional CV
- an impact statement outlining how the proposed activity will benefit your career/business development and identify the importance of undertaking the activity now
- a budget detailing income and expenditure
- invitation to attend a significant music industry event or evidence of a business opportunity.
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 (including written responses, supporting documentation) will be assessed against the following weighted criteria.
1. Artist Experience (30%)
Evidence of previous tours, industry relationships and audience engagement.
Tell us in detail about:
- your career to date
- the key achievements of previous tours
- the key artists, industry and support people involved
- audience engagement in domestic and/or international territories (territory relevant to professional development opportunity), including details of growth in engagement across online/social media platforms
2. Impact on career (40%)
The benefit to career development, the significance of the opportunity and how this activity contributes to a diverse contemporary music sector in NSW.
Tell us in detail about:
- the benefits of this activity to your career development
- the rationale behind the timing and its potential impact on long-term career sustainability
- how it will develop domestic/international networks, audiences and profile
- how this contributes to a diverse contemporary music sector in NSW.
For international professional development opportunities:
- provide evidence of the relevance of the opportunity to your stage of career
- outline your existing networks in the international market and evidence of international audience engagement including links to social media platforms.
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.
3. Viability of the activity (30%)
Your capacity to undertake this activity, the itinerary and how the budget will be managed.
Tell us in detail about:
- your previous experience specific to the activity
- an itinerary, including evidence of confirmed shows and/or business meetings
- your promotional plans including any key partners
- your budget, including a breakdown of your total costs and any other investment in the project.
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.
Start the application
Sound NSW uses the secure online grants system, SmartyGrants, to manage all its grant programs. All Touring & Travel Fund 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: Head of Sound NSW
Eligibility
Applications will be initially reviewed by Sound NSW staff to ensure they meet eligibility requirements, and all application materials are acceptable. 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 industry assessors against the weighted assessment criteria and consistent with these guidelines.
Sound NSW aims to allocate:
- 15% of the program budget to applications from First Nations artists, acts and industry professionals
- 50% of the program budget to applications from women and non-binary artists, acts and industry professionals.
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 for the award of a grant.
The assessment panel will make their recommendations to the designated decision-maker and successful applications will be approved by the Head of Sound NSW, based on recommendations from industry assessors.
Please note that funding allocation follows a competitive process. Evaluations will consider the assessment criteria outlined above and the availability of Sound NSW funds.
Application Outcome
Applications submitted by 12pm (midday) on the last Friday of each month (excluding December) will be grouped together for assessment. Applicants will be notified of the decision within 4 weeks of this date.
Sound NSW will provide feedback to unsuccessful applicants, where requested.
Assessment process considerations
Applicants should note that:
- The NSW Government typically receives far more applications than it can support.
- You are not guaranteed funding even if your application meets the published criteria.
- If you are successful, your application may not be funded to the amount you requested.
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
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 and public announcements.
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:
Sophie McComish
Music Liaison, Sound NSW
Email: info@sound.nsw.gov.au
Phone:(02) 9372 8662
Schedule an online meeting to speak to Sound NSW staff using the link to Microsoft Bookings.
For further information read the frequently asked questions.
Image: Eliza & the Delusionals performing live at the Howler in Melbourne. Photo by Lizzie Wilkie
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.