Key information
- Status: Closed
- Grant amount: $25,000
- Application opened: 15 September 2025
- Application closed: 15 October 2025, 2:00 pm
Program objective
Grants are available for two early career musicians or bands from Western Sydney to support participation in a six-month fellowship. Funding will support artist-led projects developed in partnership with Sound NSW, Powerhouse Museum, and Blacktown Arts, and includes mentoring and project development opportunities.
The aim of this funding program is to:
- connect emerging musicians in the early stages of their career with established industry professionals supporting intergenerational knowledge and experience within the music industry
- provide studio space for administration, meetings, writing, rehearsal, and possible recording opportunities
- give fellows practical industry connections that help them develop entrepreneurial skills and work independently, including building relationships with musicians, songwriters, producers, agents, record labels, and publishing executives
- in addition, there may be opportunities to provide performance and program development opportunities with Blacktown Arts, Sound NSW and Powerhouse.
This program is administered by Sound NSW (Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport).
Eligibility
Who can apply
You must:
- be over 18 years of age
- be an Australian citizen or an Australian permanent resident
- be an individual/group that lives, works, or has a strong connection to Western Sydney
- self-identify as an early career contemporary musician, songwriter, music producer or composer.
- be unsigned and not have professional representation across label, management, publishing or booking agents.
For the purpose of this grant Sound NSW considers Western Sydney to be areas within the following councils:
- Auburn Council
- Camden Council
- City of Blacktown
- City of Blue Mountains
- City of Campbelltown
- City of Canterbury Bankstown
- City of Fairfield
- City of Hawkesbury
- City of Liverpool
- City of Parramatta
- City of Penrith
- Cumberland City Council
- Wollondilly Shire Council
Types of projects funded under this grant
- Creation of an EP (new work)
- Development of new music tracks
- Mentorships with industry professionals
- Music production
- Songwriting
- Utilisation of studio space for experimentation and development
- Facilitating recording sessions to connect musicians domestically and internationally
- Expanding industry networks
- Exploring technology and AI in music
- Skills development
- Marketing and promotion
Who can’t apply
You are ineligible to apply for the Generations - Western Sydney Music (Early Career) Fellowship funding if:
- Your proposed activity is already taking place
- You are applying on behalf of an organisation
- You have received funding from Sound NSW, Powerhouse Museum & Blacktown Arts for the same fellowship
- You are applying for film-making, screen production, mainstream animation, or film festivals (see screen.nsw.gov.au for funding opportunities in this area)
- You do not live, work, or have strong connection to Western Sydney.
What costs you can't apply for
- TAFE or University fees and/or related research and development or other formal qualifications
- Recovering costs of items and materials already purchased
- Capital works
- Domestic or international touring
- Fundraising, Awards or Competitions and/or prize money
- Repayment of loans
- Any costs incurred before the advertised activity start date
- Filmmaking, screen production, mainstream animation or film festivals
- Activity that has received other NSW Government funding.
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:
- 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 (Written or Audio Form).
- A proposed budget outline, specifying how the fellowship funding will be allocated
- Up to 5 DEMOS of your work (Via Soundcloud, or other URL, or WAV/mp3 files).
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 by a Powerhouse Museum staff member, Blacktown Arts staff member and a representative from the Sound NSW industry assessor pool. All assessments will be based on the following weighted assessment criteria.
Criteria 1 - Fellowship Information (Merit)
- We request information about you and your musical career, including your current stage of development, inspirations, and influences.
Supporting Materials
Please upload supporting materials to accompany your application, including up to five (5) demos of your work. These can be provided via SoundCloud, other URLs, or as WAV/mp3 files.
Criteria 2 - Importance of the Fellowship (Impact)
Please detail how the Generations - Western Sydney Music Fellowship will benefit you at this stage of your career. Specifically, we are interested in understanding:
- Outlining the benefits of the opportunity for professional development and career progression.
- Providing a clear rationale for pursuing the opportunity.
- Submitting a proposed budget that outlines how the funding will be allocated.
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 and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
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 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.
Apply now
After the application is submitted
Successful applications will be decided by: Emily Collins, 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. 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
After eligibility is confirmed, the application will be evaluated by an assessment panel of assessors from Sound NSW, Powerhouse Museum and Blacktown Arts against the weighted assessment criteria.
Sound NSW will prepare written advice on the merits of the proposed funding, in accordance with the Grant Administration Guidelines, and seek approval from the designated decision maker Head of Sound NSW.
Application Outcome
Applicants will be notified of the outcome within eight weeks of the closing date.
Funding Payment
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, Powerhouse Museum and Blacktown Arts
As a recipient of Government funding, you will be expected to acknowledge the support from Sound NSW, Powerhouse Museum and Blacktown Arts in all publications, promotional and advertising materials and public announcements.
Reporting
Successful applicants will be required to provide an activity 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 can give technical advice on using SmartyGrants. General guidance on these guidelines, including what types of activities can be funded, and support with the application process will be provided by the Powerhouse Museum.
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 read the frequently asked questions.
Alternatively, please contact:
Nikki Brogan
Manager, Program Curatorial - Powerhouse Museum
Email: nikki.brogan@powerhouse.com.au
Phone: (02) 9125 6278
Image by Justin Cueno - FRIDAY at Powerhouse Lane Parramatta, October 2024
Information Sessions:
Session 1, In-person
The Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts Centre, 78 Flushcombe Road Blacktown, NSW 2148
Tuesday, September 30th, 6pm – 7:30pm
Hear from alumni fellow FRIDAY* and get practical tips from the team at Sound NSW, Powerhouse, and Blacktown Arts in a relaxed setting at The Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts Centre.
Get your free tickets: Generations - Western Sydney Music Fellowship Information session Tickets, Tue, Sep 30, 2025 at 6:00 PM | Eventbrite
Session 2, Online
Wednesday, 1st October, 11am – 11:45am
Sound NSW is hosting this online information session to help interested artists learn more about the program and navigate the application process. A recording of this session will be available on the Generations application page after the event.
Register your attendance: Generations – Western Sydney Music Fellowship Online Information Session
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.