Current Grants & Opportunities for Artists – Updated Regularly

GYROstream

February 19, 2025

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min read

Last updated February 19, 2024.

At GYROstream, we’re all about helping artists take their careers to the next level. Whether you’re looking for funding, recognition, or performance opportunities, there are plenty of options available in the Australian and New Zealand music industries right now. Check out the current grants and competitions below, and be sure to keep an eye on this post for regular updates!

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APRA AMCOS Regional Sessions

The Regional Sessions is a one-day event series across regional NSW, offering workshops, panels, and networking for songwriters, producers, and composers. Each event features an ‘In Conversation’ keynote, a ‘Songwriter Speaks’ panel, hands-on workshops, and a curated performance. Presented by APRA AMCOS with Sound NSW, it showcases artists like L-FRESH the LION, Jem Cassar-Daley, Ben Lee, Dallas Frasca, and Dobby, helping music creators refine their craft and expand their networks.

Locations & Dates:

Bellingen – Thursday 20 February 2025
Newcastle – Saturday 22 February 2025
Orange – Tuesday 25 February 2025
Albury – Thursday 27 February

📝 Find out more here.

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Music Australia International Conference Contribution - Managers

Designed to ease the financial burden for selected managers who are attending major international music conferences, the round 2 covers conferences taking place between April 1, 2024 and June 30, 2024

💰 Up to $5,000
🗓 Closing date: Round 2, March 1 2025
📝 Find out more here.

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City of Melbourne Quick Response Arts Grants

A $5,000 grant is available for fast-turnaround projects taking place between April 17 and November 30, 2025.

💰 $5,000
🗓 Closing date: March 2 2025
📝 Find out more here.

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Australian Association of Managers Award Nominations

The 2025 AAM Awards honour the outstanding contributions of Australian artist managers, recognising their dedication, passion, and global impact in shaping the success of Australian talent both locally and internationally. Nominations across six categories are now open for AAM members.

🗓 Closing date: March 3 2025
📝 Find out more here.

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WAM Song of the Year Award Nominations

WAM (West Australian Music) have just opened applications across 17 categories for their Song of the Year awards. WA songwriters + artists of any age or skill level can submit songs written between March 2024 and February 2025. ⁠

🗓 Closing date: March 3 2025
📝 Find out more here.

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Victorian Music Development Office - Leg Up!

The VMDO is offering 20 grants of up to $1,000 each, dedicated to supporting investments that enhance financial management. This funding can be used for essential tools such as hardware, software, platform subscriptions, or professional financial advice—enabling recipients to make strategic micro-investments that are often deprioritised in favour of other expenses.

💰 $1000 + additional perks
🗓 Closing date: March 3 2025
📝 Find out more here.

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Arts Projects for Individuals and Groups

Up to $50,000 for a range of activities and projects, both national and international, across all art forms.

💰 Up to $50,000
🗓 Closing date: March 4 2025
📝 Find out more here.

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ACT: Arts Activities Funding

Arts Activities Funding offers two grant types for Canberra artists, groups, and organisations: under $5k for smaller projects and $5–50k for larger initiatives like new works or community engagement.

💰 Up to $50,000
🗓 Closing date: February 28 2025

💰 Up to $5,000
🗓 Closing date: May 19 2025
📝 Find out more here.

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Contemporary Music Touring Program

The CMTP funds Australian musicians touring original music nationally, prioritising regional/remote areas. Grants range from $5,000–$50,000 for tours with at least three locations outside their hometown.

💰 Up to $50,000
🗓 Closing date: March 4 2025
📝 Find out more here.

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NT Arts Projects Grants

The Arts Project Grant supports arts projects in the Northern Territory (NT) that showcase NT arts, create employment for NT artists, or enhance community access and participation.

💰 $30,000 per application to develop, present, promote or tour your art
💰 $15,000 per application as an early career artist to develop, present, promote or tour your art.
🗓 Closing date: March 5 2025
📝 Find out more here.

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Early Career Fund - Toi Tipu Toi Rea

Funding for artists and practitioners at the early stage of their career, to develop new work, new skills and to share their mahi with their communities.

💰 Up to $10,000
🗓 Closing date: March 6 2025
📝 Find out more here.

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SOUND NSW Contemporary Music Development Grants

Sound NSW have just announced a range of new Contemporary Development Grants for 2025. Grants are available across four streams; First Nations Creative and Professional Development, First Nations Industry Development, Recording, Content and Promotion, and Industry Development.

💰 $30,000 - $100,000
🗓 Closing date: March 10 2025
📝 Find out more here.

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NZ Creative Fellowship Fund

Funding for artists and practitioners to spend time developing their artistic practice and new work‍

💰 $25,000 or $50,000
🗓 Closing date: Round 1, March 13 2025
📝 Find out more here.

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NZ Creative Impact Fund

Funding for artists and practitioners to create, share and present work that enriches audiences and encourages understanding and participation.

💰 Up to $50,000 or between $50,000 and $125,000
🗓 Closing date: March 20 2025
📝 Find out more here.

Global Professional Development Award

The American Australian Association and APRA AMCOS offer a US$10,000 award to emerging or mid-career Australian artists, songwriters, or producers (APRA AMCOS members) for U.S.-based career development projects.

💰 $10,000USD
🗓 Closing date: March 31 2025
📝 Find out more here.

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WA: The Contemporary Music Fund

The Contemporary Music Fund (CMF) supports local contemporary music artists in producing, promoting, and expanding their networks both nationally and internationally.

💰 Up to $15,000
🗓 Closing date: June 5 2025
📝 Find out more here.

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Create NSW: Touring & Travel Fund

This quick response funding program is designed for domestic and international touring and travel activity for NSW contemporary music artists, acts and music industry professionals.

💰 $2,500 - $5,000
🗓 November 28, 2025
📝 Find out more here.

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Regional Arts NSW: Quick Response Grants

Quick Response Grants are now available monthly from February to November, with decisions announced five days after each month’s end. Individuals can apply for up to $3,000; organizations up to $5,000.

💰 Up to $5,000
🗓 Ongoing fund.
📝 Find out more here.

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Regional Arts Victoria

Quick Response Grants assist with unplanned professional development or small projects, providing up to $3,000 for individuals and $5,000 for organizations to seize opportunities at short notice.

💰 Up to $5,000
🗓 Ongoing fund.
📝 Find out more here.

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Destination NSW Regional Event Fund: Event Development

The Regional Event Fund's Event Development stream provides grants of up to $50,000 for events previously supported by the Flagship Event stream. These grants aim to enhance tourism and increase overnight stays. Applications remain open until all funds are awarded.

💰 Up to $50,000
🗓 Ongoing fund.
📝 Find out more here.

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Support Act Crisis Relief Grants

Crisis Relief Grants are available to musicians, managers, crew, and music workers facing financial hardship due to illness, injury, mental health, age, or other crises affecting their ability to work. Approved grants cover bills or personal expenses related to the crisis through direct payments, rather than cash.

‍🗓 Ongoing grant.
📝 Find out more here.

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Carriage Studio Artist Residency

Carriage Studio is offering 3-day residencies for artists and producers in or visiting Naarm/Melbourne. The space is fully equipped for production, mixing, mastering, and overdub recording, featuring audio interfaces, microphones, preamps, compressors, MIDI instruments, a weighted piano, guitars, high-quality monitoring, and stream decks. Just bring your laptop, and you're ready to create!

‍🗓 Ongoing opportunity.
📝 Find out more here.

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The Australian Cultural Fund

The Australian Cultural Fund (ACF) serves as a fundraising platform dedicated to supporting Australian artists. Artists can utilize the ACF to present their projects, launch fundraising campaigns, and encourage art enthusiasts and supporters to contribute. Remarkably, every dollar donated goes directly to the artists' creative endeavours.