Generations is a fellowship program in partnership with Create NSW, Powerhouse Museum, Blacktown Arts and Vyva Entertainment to support Western Sydney (early career) contemporary musicians and their development within the NSW music industry.
Key information
- Status: Closed
- Grant amount: Each of the successful 3 applicants will receive $25,000 in financial support, mentoring and studio space for 6 months in Blacktown through Blacktown Arts
- Application opened: 31 January 2024
- Application closed: 4 March 2024, 5:00 pm
Program objective
Three early career Western Sydney individuals or groups will be selected for a six-month fellowship during the period May 2024 – 30 December 2025.
Each fellowship will be artist-led and developed in partnership with Create NSW, Powerhouse Museum, Blacktown Arts and Vyva Entertainment.
The aim of the fellowship is:
- To connect emerging musicians in the early stages of their career with established artists supporting intergenerational knowledge and experience within the music industry.
- To provide studio space for administration, meetings, writing, rehearsal, and possible recording opportunities.
- To provide mentors with musicians, songwriters, music producers, agents, label and publishing executives and practical connections with the sector to develop the skills to be entrepreneurs and have autonomy within the industry.
In addition, there may be opportunities to provide performance and program development opportunities with Blacktown Arts and Powerhouse.Image Caption: PA777IENCE at Summer Music at Foodie Fridays by Liza Moscatelli, Mosca Media Australia.
This fellowship program is administered by Create NSW.
This program is funded and administered by Create NSW.
Eligibility
Who can apply
Individuals who are:
- 18 years or above
- residing in NSW over the last 12 months
- an Australian citizen or permanent resident
- living, working or have a strong connection to Western Sydney (refer to eligible locations)
- self-identifies as an early career* contemporary musician, songwriter, music producer, composer
- unsigned and do not have professional representation across a label, management, publishing or booking agents
A group who are all:
- 18 years or above
- residing in NSW over the last 12 months
- Australian citizens or permanent residents
- living, working or have a strong connection to Western Sydney (refer to eligible locations)
- self-identifying as early career* contemporary musicians, songwriters, music producers or composers
- unsigned and do not have professional representation across a label, management, publishing or booking agents
*An early career artist or arts and cultural worker is someone who is at the beginning of their career, has created a modest independent body of work but hasn’t yet established a solid reputation as an artist within their artform.
Location that are eligible include Blacktown, Blue Mountains, Camden, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, City of Parramatta, Cumberland, Fairfield, Hawkesbury, Liverpool, Penrith, Wollondilly
Types of projects funded under this grant
Generations Western Sydney Music Fellowship 2023/24 supports a variety of activity including but not limited to:
- creation of an EP/LP (new work)
- creation of new music tracks
- music videos
- collaborating with other artists
- mentorships with industry professionals
- working with producers
- utilising studio space for experimentation/development
- facilitating recording sessions to connect musicians
- expanding networks
- developing new skills
- engaging professionals
- marketing and promotion
Online Information Session - support for applicants
Applicants are encouraged to attend the online session for information about the fellowship, how to apply, eligibility requirements, resources to support your application, followed by a Q&A.
- Tuesday 20 February 2024 12pm – Register here Generations Online Info Session
When the project can start and end
Fellowships are to be undertaken between 1 May 2024 and 31 December 2025.
The project should be started by 1 May 2024 and the project must be completed by 31 December 2025.
Who can’t apply
- organisations (legally constituted establishments with an ABN)
- individuals and groups whose project has already started, taken place or due to be completed before the funding period starts
- current or recent employees of Create NSW, who have left within the last 12 months
- individuals and groups seeking support for filmmaking, screen productions or film festivals. Refer to Screen NSW regarding film sector funding opportunities.
What costs you can't apply for
You cannot apply to use funds for:
- activities that are carried out to satisfy the course requirements of an educational institution, such as a TAFE or university
- activities that directly support the delivery of an educational program or course
- arts and cultural activities that are led by non-professional artists or organisations
- reimbursement to recover costs of items already purchased (such as flights, accommodation, and materials)
- purchasing musical instruments, artworks, equipment (such as laptops, cameras, technical equipment, or machinery), or vehicles
- capital works (infrastructure/building activities). Refer to Create Infrastructure regarding capital works funding opportunities
- fundraising and donations, awards, competition entry fees or prize money
- repayment of loans regarding funding opportunities
- filmmaking projects, screen productions or film festivals. This does not include videos with direct involvement of artists, musicians, and performers such as music videos, video art and video for performance. Refer to Screen NSW regarding film sector funding opportunities.
Example projects
Please refer to the most recent recipients of the Generations Fellowship:
Western Sydney artists Clarissa Bock (‘PA777IENCE’)
Solomon Toala (‘SOLLYY’),
Inner West artists Jonny Hawkins and Juan Villamor who perform together as 700 Feel
Additional eligibility requirements
- You can only submit 1 application for Generations Western Sydney Music Fellowship 2023/24
Most recent recipients
What your application needs to include
Prepare your application with this checklist
- Read the guidelines
- Check your eligibility
- Answer questions
- If working with Aboriginal communities:
- you are required to provide letters of support and/or confirmation from relevant Aboriginal artists, Elders, Organisations or community members
- Up to 5 demos/samples of work
- Biography/CV for:
- Yourself
- The group members involved (if you are applying as a group)
- Artists or key collaborators involved in the fellowship
- Letters of support from artist/s, organisations and/or communities who can speak to your fellowship's vision and your/the group’s experience
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
Fellowship Information (Merit)
Quality of your/your group's music practice.
Why is this Fellowship important? (Impact)
The potential impact of the fellowship on your/your group's career.
The NSW Government is committed to ensuring fair access by all communities and individuals across the state. If the activity engages with the needs of a community or has outcomes that benefit specific Create NSW priority areas, please include these details. The Priority Areas are:
- NSW Aboriginal people
- People from culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) backgrounds
- People living and/or working in Regional NSW
- People living and/or working in Western Sydney
- People with disability or who are d/Deaf
- Young People under the age of 25
Engagement with a priority area/s is not compulsory.
After the application is submitted
Successful applications will be decided by: Director of Arts
Assessment Stage 1
Your application will be assessed by a Sub-Committee made up of members of the Create NSW Contemporary Music Board plus representatives from the Powerhouse Museum and Blacktown Arts against the published assessment criteria. The Create NSW Artform Advisory Boards consist of representatives from leading NSW arts and cultural organisations, independent organisations, and individual artists. The Sub-Committee:
- will assess and rank all applications against the merit and impact assessment criteria
- may set aside an application if it is assessed as "materially deficient" in any one of the three assessment criteria
- may ask for a Cultural Review from Create NSW Aboriginal staff or the Aboriginal Arts and Culture Artform Advisory Board based on applications with Aboriginal content and engagement.
Assessment Stage 2
Sub-Committee individual assessment scores will be amalgamated and presented at the assessment meeting to determine final recommendations.
The Sub-Committee will consider the assessment criteria, the demographics, distribution, range, and scale of the initial recommendations.
This may include prioritising fellowships with outcomes that address Arts and Cultural Funding Program (ACFP) Priority Areas, to ensure equity across the State and the best outcomes for NSW Government investment.
Create 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
- 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
Assessment Stage 3
Create NSW will consolidate a report on the outcomes based on quality of the applications as assessed by the Sub-Committee, budget allocation, and ACFP Priority Areas.
Note:
- The NSW Government typically receives far more applications than it can support.
- You are not guaranteed funding for a fellowship even if your application meets the assessment criteria.
Consultation
Create NSW may also request further advice and/or clarification from applicants during the assessment process.
Recommendation
Final recommendations are submitted for the consideration of the Director of Arts.
Anticipated assessment outcome date is Notifications are anticipated to happen May 2024.
Support and contact
Create NSW Arts Funding
- Email: arts.funding@create.nsw.gov.au
- Phone: (02) 9228 4578
- Scheduling an online meeting to speak to Create NSW staff using the link to Microsoft Bookings
- Visit our website