Don’t fret, with a number of extremely supportive organisations and funding pools out there, you don’t need to do it all on your own.

Have you got a fantastic project or idea in the works? There are a series of grant and funding opportunities available to help you reach your goals, and overcome the often too-real financial challenges of creative industries. It can be daunting space to navigate, so we’ve collated some of the key opportunities available to contemporary artists, organisations and businesses.

We’re here to help you with the process, so WAM members are eligible for a one-on-one sessions with our WAM Development Manager, Georgia Kennedy. If you’re interested, you can contact our Membership Officer Delilah Walsh on membership@wam.org.au to chat further and arrange a meeting.

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TYPES OF GRANTS (Note: this is not a comprehensive list, grants and funds are constantly being updated, please let us know if we are missing a great grant or funding opportunity you know of!)

AUSTRALIA COUNCIL FOR THE ARTS
More info

The Australia Council grants model supports a diverse range of artists, artistic practice, organisations and arts activity.

Contemporary Music Touring Program View
The Contemporary Music Touring Program (CMTP) supports national touring activity undertaken by Australian musicians performing original contemporary music. The next round closing dates are:

• Tuesday 7 September 2021 at 3pm AEST, for projects beginning after 1 December 2021

• Tuesday 1 March 2022 at 3pm AEDT, for projects beginning after 1 June 2022.

Playing Australia: Regional Performing Arts Touring Fund View
The Regional Performing Arts Touring program (Playing Australia) supports performing arts to reach regional and remote communities across Australia. Grants are available to support the net touring and other designated costs associated with tours. There is no limit on the amount that can be requested. The next round closing dates are:

• Tuesday 12 October 2021, 3pm AEDT – for projects starting after 1 January 2022.

DEPARTMENT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, SPORTS AND CULTURAL INDUSTRIES
More info

Culture and the Arts’ funding programs aim to stimulate and support the development, growth and viability of the arts, culture and creative industry sectors in WA. The programs assist emerging and established artists, creative practitioners, arts workers, groups and organisations to undertake and deliver a broad range of projects and activities across multiple art forms and disciplines.

Arts 15k-plus View
The Arts 15k-plus grant program offers between $15,000 and $60,000 funding for artists, creative industry professionals and organisations to deliver a one-off project or a program of activity.
The program supports the development and growth of a vibrant sector that promotes the participation and active engagement of Western Australian communities in high quality arts and cultural experiences.

Arts Organisations Investment Program View
The Arts Organisations Investment Program is an open and competitive multiyear funding program to support Western Australia’s arts, cultural and creative sector organisations. The objective of the Arts Organisations Investment Program is to invest in a portfolio of small to medium organisations that collectively present high quality and diverse acts, suport sector development and creative economy.

Arts U-15k View
The Arts U-15k grant program offers up to $15,000 for artists and creative industry professionals to deliver a one-off project or a program of activity. The program supports the development and growth of a vibrant sector that promotes the participation and active engagement of Western Australian communities in high quality arts and cultural experiences. Available for Organisations & Individuals.

Contemporary Music Fund View
The Contemporary Music Fund Grant Program will assist homegrown contemporary music artists with projects that enable them to produce and promote their work, building links nationally and internationally. The program provides funding support to the WA contemporary music sector across a range of activities.

Playing WA View
Supporting touring performing arts shows to regional and remote Western Australia. Playing WA supports the costs of touring WA-produced performing arts shows to regional and remote towns and communities in Western Australia.

Getting the Show Back on the Road View
Getting the Show Back on the Road+ (GTSBOTR) aims to reduce the financial risks associated with running ticketed events in Western Australia (WA) during a COVID-19 impacted period. The program focus is on reducing the financial impact of gross box office lost due to COVID-19 lockdowns or significant disruption due to partial lockdowns, and to encourage the safe continuation of public ticketed events.

DRUG AWARE YCULTURE METRO View

Are you aged 12 – 26 and looking to develop skills and experience in your creative field? You can make new contacts, work with people in the industry and learn more about arts management by challenging yourself to build your own project from the ground up. Apply for a Drug Aware YCulture Metro Grant, secure up to $3000 and make your project idea a reality.

EXPORT MUSIC DEVELOPMENT GRANT (EMDG)View

The Export Market Development Grants (EMDG) scheme is a key Australian Government financial assistance program for aspiring and current exporters. Administered by Austrade, the scheme supports a wide range of industries. On 3 October 2019, the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham, announced Ms Anna Fisher will undertake a review of the Export Market Development Grants (EMDG) scheme and Australian Government financial assistance to SME exporters.

• encourages small- and medium-sized Australian businesses to develop export markets

• reimburses up to 50 percent of eligible export promotion expenses above $5,000 provided that the total expenses are at least $15,000

• provides up to eight grants to each eligible applicant.

• More info here and here.

HEALTHWAY View

Healthway offers a number of different grants for health promotion projects in Western Australia. Health Promotion Project Grants support a range of activities and campaigns designed to promote and encourage healthy lifestyles. These grants are available to support clearly defined health promotion activities and programs, particularly those focusing on Healthway priority health issues of tobacco control, reducing harm from alcohol, preventing overweight and obesity, and promoting good community and individual mental health. Healthway has identified priority areas for health promotion projects as well as target groups which include children, young people and disadvantaged groups. Applications for innovative, sustainable projects that reach these target groups are particularly encouraged.

Organisations may apply for grants to fund new approaches to promoting healthy lifestyles through changing community attitudes and behaviour, and creating environments that support people to make healthier choices.

• Health Promotion Under $5,000 Grants

  Grants offered to support community-based incorporated organisations to pilot or deliver small health promotion programs and activities, typically over a three to twelve month period. Applications must be received at least three calendar months prior to the commencement of the project.

• Health Promotion Over $5,000 Grants

  Grants are offered to incorporated organisations to pilot or expand an evidence-based and innovative health promotion program. Projects may vary in size and can address health issues at a population or state level. Projects can be up to three years and applications must be received at least four calendar months prior to the commencement of the project.

• Aboriginal Health Project Grants

  These grants are offered to incorporated organisations and community groups to run innovative health promotion programs with Aboriginal people. Groups can apply for up to $10,000 to run the program. Applications must be received by Healthway a minimum of four calendar months prior to the commencement of the project.

LOTTERYWEST View

Supports a wide variety of not-for-profit, community-based proposals that enhance the lives of Western Australians across the State, including music events, festivals and more.

PPCA PERFORMERS’ TRUST FOUNDATION View

The PPCA Performers’ Trust Foundation provides grants to promote and encourage music and the music-related performing arts. The grants provided are non-recurring (i.e. one-off grants rather than a periodical payment) and are determined by the four trustees of the trust. A grant under the PPCA Performers’ Trust Foundation can be used for costs associated with: Tuition fees; Travel costs (hire, airfares, petrol); Accommodation; Venue hire/ PA hire.

REGIONAL ARTS WA View

Country Arts WA is the leading peak arts body entrusted with the governance and delivery of arts and cultural funding throughout regional and remote Western Australia, and has managed devolved funding on behalf of the State and Federal Governments since 1996. There are a range of funds and grants available throughout the year for projects of varying size and scope.

• Drug Aware YCulture Regional

  Are you aged 12-26, living in regional WA and looking to run your own arts project in your community to develop skills and experience in a creative field?

  Through Drug Aware YCulture Regional you can apply for up to $4,000 if living in regional WA or up to $6,000 if you live in remote WA, or above the 26th parallel, to support you in delivering your arts project.

• Next Level Regional Regional Grants

  The Next Level Regional Grants support young and emerging regional artists and arts workers aged between 18 and 26 and is intended to support young emerging artists and arts workers, to undertake a self-directed program that builds their capacity to develop and sustain a career in regional Western Australia.

SUPPORT ACT

MusicKeeper and CrewKeeper Crisis Relief Grants
As the names suggest, these one off cash grants of $2,000 ($2,700 for families with dependent children) are intended to cushion the blow for artists, crew and music workers from all genres who have been receiving Jobkeeper and Jobseeker payments and who remain largely unable to earn income due to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions.

WOMEN NATION FUND View

The Women Nation Fund is a global, early-stage fund investing in female-founded live music businesses.  Its purpose is to provide access to capital for underrepresented female entrepreneurs in the Concert Promotions, Events and Festival space. Businesses will be evaluated by a team of International Live Nation female executives with domain expertise across promotion, booking, technology, ticketing and PR/marketing.