Applying for Contemporary Music funding

A Step-By-Step Guide

Step 1: Find the Right Program

In order for the Department of Culture and the Arts to potentially provide funding, we need you to ask yourself some questions.

• What is it I want to do?
• Can I match my project with a Contemporary Music Grants category?
• Am I eligible to apply?
• When are the grant round closing dates?
• Does this leave me enough time to get my application together?
• Have I checked the ‘grants’ section to see what the peer-assessment panels have funded previously?
• Do I have an outstanding acquittal ?

If the answer is ‘I don’t know!’ to any of the above, then call us on (08) 9224 7310 or toll-free 1800 199 090 (Country WA callers only). We’re happy to provide advice.

Good to go? Then ...

Step 2: Get the Application Form

You’ll need a copy of the Contemporary Music Application Form. This form comes with extra information to help you write your best application.

Having trouble? Don’t worry, we’ll post you a copy. Just call the Department of Culture and the Arts on (08) 9224 7310 or toll-free 1800 199 090 (Country WA callers only).

You’ve got the form, so ...

Step 3: Identify the Outcomes

Applying for a Department of Culture and the Arts grant is a competitive process. Your application is going to be assessed by professionals working in the Western Australian contemporary music industry.  To ensure the best chance of success, make sure your project clearly demonstrates significant, achievable outcomes.

The aim of your project need to be in line with the Contemporary Music Grants Program’s funding priorities. Carefully review these to ensure you’re including all the elements needed to make your project competitive.

You’ve got a good handle on what you want to do, for whom and why. So …

Step 4: Prepare a Draft

Using the Contemporary Music Application Form, prepare a first draft of your application (including a budget). Don’t worry if it’s rough, but try to provide as much detail as you can.

 

Less is more. Be as concise as possible. Think of this as a story. Essentially, you’re telling us who you are, what it is you want to do (with a description of your project or event or product as well as the development processes involved), who you’re doing it for (your target market) and why (the significant outcomes that only your project will be able to provide the people of Western Australia).

You’ve written it down and ironed out the kinks, then …

Step 5: Meet with Us

You’ve done your homework. Now it’s time to discuss your application with the Contemporary Music Project Officer.

Try to do this as early as possible prior to the grant round deadline. We’ll be able to spend more time with you and you’ll have more time to refine your application.

Step 6: Budget Time

Having met with the Contemporary Music Project Officer, it’s now time to refine your application and budget. Preparing a budget takes time and involves a lot of detailed planning. When preparing your budget, it is important to provide as much detail as possible.

The Department of Culture and the Arts will not meet 100% of the cost of any arts activity. Your budget should clearly indicate the shortfall between your project’s expenditure (what it’s going to cost) and income (examples include CD and/or ticket sales, in-kind or your own cash contributions). It’s the shortfall or gap between these two figures that will be the amount you will be requesting from the Department of Culture and the Arts.

Further information on preparing budgets, as well as a sample budget, is provided in the Information For Applicants attachment to the Grant Application Form.

Once you’ve contacted us and checked your budget is on track, then...

Step 7: Assemble Your Support Materials

Time now to assemble all of your support materials. The nature and extent of support materials submitted by applicants varies according to the activity area. It is essential that applicants only submit support material that directly relates to their application and readily enhances the panel’s understanding of the proposed activity. Ask the Contemporary Music Project Officer if you are unsure about what materials are appropriate.

Quality, not quantity, is the key.

Support materials can include:

Recordings of your work on CD (nominate the track/s you most want the panel to hear);

• Biographical outlines or CVs of artists and/or company/band profiles (restrict these to one page each as additional pages will not be photocopied);
• Letters confirming participation in the project by all parties involved (including venue/s, other collaborators and funding agencies);
• A small selection of (appropriate) reviews, press reports and articles dealing with relevant previous work;
• A business plan;
• A marketing strategy;
• Letters of support from organisations must be on letterhead;
• Video or DVD (segments of no more than five minutes placed at the beginning of the recording);
• Notes about your budget and quotes for services, airfares etc; and
• A record of meetings, attendees and consultation you have made if your project includes Indigenous people or content.

Step 8: A Final Check

You’re almost done. But before you submit your application to the Contemporary Music Grants Program prior to the grant round closing date, run through this checklist:

• You’ve checked your eligibility and matched your project to the most appropriate grant category;
• You’ve discussed your application with the Department of Culture and the Arts’ Contemporary Music Project Officer;
• Your application is clear and concise. Remember, your application will be assessed by industry peers and they need to know who you are, what it is you want to do (a description of your project/event/product as well as the development processes involved), who you’re doing it for (who is your audience?) and why (the significant outcomes that only your project will be able to provide the people of Western Australia);
• The time-frame you’ve chosen is realistic;
• Your budget is accurate;
• You have letters confirming the participation of all key project personnel; and
• All your support materials are in order.

Step 9: Submit

Submit your finished application (along with all your support materials) to the Department of Culture and the Arts prior to 5pm on the date of the grant round deadline. Applications should be sent by post or hand-delivered to the Department of Culture and the Arts.

 

Submissions via fax, e-mail or electronic submissions are not permitted.

Posted applications must be postmarked and posted to the Department of Culture and the Arts by 5pm on the date of the grant round deadline. Applications should be on standard A4 paper (80gsm).

Late applications will not be accepted and will be deemed ineligible.

The Department of Culture and the Arts will not accept applications where you or those involved in your proposed activity have an outstanding acquittal.

Step 10: Notification

With the exception of Quick Response Funding, turn-around time on grant applications is approximately eight weeks from submission to notification of outcome. If you wish to withdraw your application or make major changes to it at any time, you’ll need to notify the Contemporary Music Project Officer in writing.

The Department of Culture and the Arts will notify you by letter as to whether or not your application has been successful. If successful, the Department will supply a contract that you’ll need to sign and return to us so that funds can be transferred to you by Electronic Funds Transfer or a cheque can be drawn and sent to you. If unsuccessful, we’ll outline the reasons why in writing. If you’d like to discuss the reasons why you weren’t successful in more detail, then contact the Contemporary Music Project Officer.