Key information
- Status: Opening soon
- Grant amount: $25,000
- Application opens: 19 October 2026
- Application closes: 16 November 2026, 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.
The Generations Fellowship is funded by the NSW Government and administered by Sound NSW, Powerhouse Museum and Blacktown Arts.
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 individual/group that lives or has a strong connection to Western Sydney
- self-identify as an early career contemporary musician, songwriter or music producer
- be unsigned and not have professional representation across label or publishing.
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 grant Sound NSW considers Western Sydney to be areas within the following councils:
- 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
Artforms not supported through this program are:
- experimental music and sound art
- contemporary classical, opera, choral and ensembles
- music theatre.
These applicants should refer to Create NSW’s Arts and Cultural Funding Program (ACFP) guidelines.
Please see the frequently asked questions for further definitions.
Types of projects funded under this grant
- developing new music
- collaboration with other artists
- recording (including mixing, mastering)
- marketing and promotional activity
- expanding industry networks
- career development opportunities, including participation in mentorships, workshops, camps and residencies
- exploring technology and AI in music.
What costs you can apply for
Funding of $25,000 can support:
- producer and artist collaborator fees
- studio, recording, mixing and mastering costs
- digital marketing, publicity services, photography and content creation
- fees to attend or participate in workshops, camps, mentorships, residencies and other career development opportunities including exploring technology
- the purchase of equipment essential to your music career, including instruments, hardware and software (up to $5,000).
Who can’t apply
- applicants who do not live or have a strong connection to Western Sydney
- applicants not recording or performing new and original contemporary music (eg cover bands)
- applicants with professional representation across label or publishing
- previous recipients of the Generations - Western Sydney Music Fellowship
- applicants who have received funding from Sound NSW, Powerhouse Museum & Blacktown Arts for the same activity
- applicants working in film-making, screen production, mainstream animation, or film festivals (see screen.nsw.gov.au for funding opportunities in this area).
What costs you can't apply for
- TAFE or University fees and/or related research and development or other formal qualifications
- capital and infrastructure works (eg building a studio)
- tours or performances at music industry events – this activity can be supported through the Touring and Travel Fund
- repayment of loans
- activity that has taken place or 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 outline of your career development plan, including specific goals
- an outline of the fellowship activity, including how the 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 three examples or demos of your work (via URL or file upload)
- links to social media platforms
- letters of support.
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 assessment criteria.
1. Merit (50%)
Evidence of previous work, your career development plan, a clear outline of the fellowship activity and your capacity to undertake the activity.
Tell us in detail about:
- your current stage of development and career development plan
- the activity you hope to undertake through this fellowship
- your budget, including a breakdown of your total costs and any other investment in the project
- letters of support.
2. Impact (50%)
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 fellowship to your career development
- the rationale behind the timing and its potential impact on long-term career sustainability
- how this contributes to a diverse contemporary music sector in NSW.
Sound NSW is committed to a diverse contemporary music sector in NSW and encourages applications from Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander 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 (plus superannuation). 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.
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.
Sound NSW reserves the right to seek further information from the applicant to determine eligibility.
Application Review
After eligibility is confirmed, the application will be evaluated by an assessment panel of assessors from Powerhouse Museum, Blacktown Arts and a representative from the Sound NSW industry assessor pool, against the assessment criteria.
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 , who may delegate to an Executive Director, 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 funds at Sound NSW.
Application Outcome
Applicants will be notified of the outcome within eight 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.
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
- request further advice and/or clarification from applicants during the assessment process.
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.
Publication of grants information
The Grants Administration Guide (Guide) requires that certain information is published in relation to grants awarded no later than 45 calendar days after the grant agreement takes effect (see section 6.5 of the Guide and Appendix A to the Guide).
This information is also open access information under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (NSW) (GIPA Act), which must be made publicly available unless there is an overriding public interest against disclosure of the information.
In accordance with these requirements, relevant information about the grants awarded will be made available on the NSW Government Grants and Funding Finder as soon as possible after the funding agreement is executed. However, if due to the commercial-in-confidence nature of the information provided, the amount of funding provided will not be published.
All records in relation to this decision will be managed in accordance with the requirements of the State Records Act 1998 (NSW).
- If you agree we will publish your name, your LGA, primary location, artform, project title and description and amount of funding for media and communication purposes
- This is subject to privacy legislation.
Acknowledgement of NSW Government, Sound NSW, Powerhouse Museum and Blacktown Arts
As a recipient of Government funding, you will be expected to acknowledge the support of the NSW Government through 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 project 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, please contact:
- Nikki Brogan
- Manager, Program Curatorial - Powerhouse Museum
- Email: nikki.brogan@powerhouse.com.au
- Phone: (02) 9125 6278
For further information or clarification read the frequently asked questions.
Image: 2026 Generations recipients - Xiao Xiao and RISSA. Photo by Matt Wlson.
Complaint handling
Details on how we handle complaints, access to information and your private information is available at:
Privacy, information access, funding feedback, complaints - Sound NSW | NSW Government
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.