New Work – Music (November 2010)

Closing date: 16 November 2010
Decisions advised: March 2011
Projects may start: 18 March 2011

New Work grants support one-off projects that involve the creation or development of music, new musical material or media arts projects.

There are two types of New Work grant:

• New Work (General) - this sub-category is for creative projects including composition, commissioning, songwriting and arranging. Piano reductions of existing Australian works, sound design, or the creative development of a work-in-progress, are also eligible. Performance outcomes are not funded in this sub-category (please refer to Presentation and Promotion)
• New Work (Media Arts) - this sub-category is for one or more of the following stages of a media arts work: Research and development, creative development, production and presentation. Projects may have intended performance outcomes whether real or virtual, but should primarily address the creation of new work.

Defining 'media arts' as used for this category

For the Music Board, the term 'media arts' encompasses artworks created with new technologies, or using innovative adaptations of existing technologies. Media art practices include conceptual, interactive and installation art, and may also involve research and development into new interfaces and innovations in audiovisual and sound engineering.

Recording

Costs associated with the recording, production or promotion of a CD/DVD are not eligible for funding. Development of other creative work in a studio context - for example, radiophonic work or work developed for broadcast - is supported in both sub-categories. Recording outcomes under New Work (Media Arts) will only be considered if the project also has a creative component.

Rehearsals or performances

Rehearsal and performance costs are not eligible under New Work (general) and should be submitted under the presentation and promotion category. Performance outcomes are considered under New Work (Media Arts) as part of a creative project but applicants need to ensure that their application is significantly within the media arts genre (refer to definition above).

Arrangements, including piano reductions of existing Australian work

You must show how projects will provide a significant opportunity for future performances.

Costs

You may apply to the Music Board for professional fees, associated expenses such as on-costs and travel, and a reasonable level of administrative costs. This includes projects that are not fully professional. If you wish to claim administrative costs, you should provide a detailed breakdown of these costs in your project budget.

Composition rates

A guide to the music composition rates that will be considered by the Music Board can be found here. The Music Board recognises that in many cases these rates will represent only a contribution to the composer’s fee. These rates are effective from 2010.

This category is open to individuals, performing groups/ensembles/bands and organisations.

To be eligible, you must meet the general eligibility requirements.

New Work grants are for artists who are Australian citizens or are permanent residents of Australia.

To be eligible for a New Work (Media Arts) grant your application must have a significant media arts component.

Refer to the definition provided above. If you are applying for a commission for performance by companies supported through the Major Performing Arts Board (MPAB), please contact music staff to assess your eligibility.

How often can you apply?

You can apply to this category only once in 2010.

The following buffer periods also apply:

• If you apply for a New Work grant at either closing date in the 2010 calendar year and are successful, you will not be eligible to reapply to this category in the 2011 calendar year. You will be eligible to reapply at either of the 2012 closing dates.
• If you applied for a New Work grant at either closing date in the 2009 calendar year and were successful, you are not eligible to apply to this category at either of the 2010 closing dates. You will be eligible to reapply at either of the 2011 closing dates.

Selection criteria

Applications will be selected that best demonstrate:

• Artistic merit of the project
• The quality of artists
• Good planning and effective use of resources.

You can apply online for all Australia Council grants. If you would like a hard copy application form, contact Australia Council staff on (02) 9215 9000 or 1800 226 912.

You must submit evidence of your eligibility and the required support material as part of the application.

Your support material should be your own work and the work of other key artists involved in the project. Support material should be recent and relevant to the project for which you are applying. All applicants are encouraged, where possible, to include Australian content in the support material submitted.

The Music Board will review no more than a total of 10 minutes of support material for each application submitted.

Examples of work

All applicants must submit up to three examples of their work and that of the key artists represented in a format listed below:

• Up to a total of 10 minutes of audio material, to be uploaded with your application, or submitted in hard copy as a single audio CD; or
• Up to a total of 10 minutes of audio visual material, to be submitted only in hard copy as three identical DVDS or data discs; or
• Up to three URLs linking to audio or visual material.

When uploading support material, please provide details of the contents of the uploaded material in the comments space provided. For audio material, this should include title, duration, composer/songwriter and performer details, and a brief explanation of the material’s relevance to the application.

Additional material to be provided with your application

The following additional material should be submitted with the audio or audio visual material and your application form by the closing date, as relevant to the project.

Please confirm the names and availability of key artists.

Applications for some specific activities require additional material to be submitted.

These are:

• Opera or music theatre applications - a one-page treatment or synopsis of the work, to be uploaded with your application.
• Instrument-making and installation/sound art applications - photographs of recent work, to be uploaded with your application or provided as a URL with examples of the work online.

For proposals that involve companies funded by the Major Performing Arts Board, a letter of agreement between the applicant and the MPAB-funded company must be provided to both the MPAB and the Music Board. For further details please contact MPAB staff directly.

In line with the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts policy and its underpinning principles, the Australia Council requires that applications for projects containing representations of artistic/cultural practice or intended outcomes relating to Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander artists or communities must provide letters from relevant communities or artists. Letters must show clear evidence of support and agreement for the activities undertaken. In preparing your application, you may wish to consult the Indigenous protocol guides in song, performance, writing, new media and visual arts.

Letters of support are not required in this category.

Any material supplied in addition to the required support material will not be considered in the assessment of your application.

Support material formats

Support materials can be submitted in the following digital formats:

• Audio files – .mp3 (192.1 kb/s)
• Documents – .pdf
• Video - must be submitted in hard copy format.

The Music Board does not accept notated scores or video cassettes and will not assess them, if provided.

Please contact Music Board staff with any questions related to support material requirements.

Please submit any hard copy support material to:

Music Board

PO Box 788

Strawberry Hills NSW 2012

Please ensure the support material is clearly labelled, with the applicant’s name, application ID and the category. All hard copy support material must be postmarked no later than the closing date.