Suburban, Remote Artists Get Contemporary Music Boost | Mirage News

• Latest Contemporary Music Fund Targeted Initiatives to provide mentoring and recording opportunities for emerging artists
• $185,000 allocated to Nannup Music Festival’s Remote Aboriginal Artist Development Program
• $108,000 allocated to the GRID Series for a 2025 Outer-Perth edition of its national program

Two major mentoring and development programs being supported through the Cook Government’s Contemporary Music Fund (CMF) will provide emerging remote and outer-metro artists with the chance of a lifetime.

Successful applicants will get intensive mentoring, recording and performance opportunities to help build their careers.

Coinciding with the beginning of national Ausmusic Month, the CMF has allocated $185,000 to Nannup Music Festival’s Remote Aboriginal Artist Development Program, which will support emerging Aboriginal music acts from remote WA regions over a two-year period.

Selected acts will receive mentoring by a steering committee, a professional recording opportunity, the release and promotion of several singles, plus the opportunity to perform at the Nannup Music Festival.

The CMF has also allocated $108,000 to the GRID Series, a national artist development program supporting outer-metro and regional emerging artists around Australia. Recent initiatives have taken place in Geelong, Outer South East Melbourne, Western Sydney and South West Brisbane.

The 2025 GRID Series Outer-Perth edition will target artists in Joondalup, Mandurah, Rockingham, Baskerville, Armadale, Byford, Darlington, Glen Forrest, Mindarie, Kelmscott, Midland and their surrounding suburbs.

The Series will provide four selected music acts with an intensive eight-month program to kick-start their professional careers.

The successful applicants will receive a fully-produced, mixed and mastered single, intensive one-on-one mentoring, a documentary on their personal story as artists and the opportunity to perform at local venues, Always Live (Victoria) and Perth Festival.

The CMF assists homegrown contemporary music artists with projects that enable them to produce and promote their work, along with building links nationally and internationally. More information is available at https://www.dlgsc.wa.gov.au/funding/arts-funding/contemporary-music-fund-grant-program

As stated by Culture and the Arts Minister David Templeman:

“I’m delighted to announce these latest Contemporary Music Fund Targeted Initiatives supporting our homegrown artists during Ausmusic Month.

“These two initiatives will give a leg-up to the next generation of talented artists through amazing opportunities to perform and record their music, as well as getting invaluable mentoring and visibility.

“I cannot wait to see what incredibly talented, remote Aboriginal music acts will be unearthed and supported by Nannup Music Festival’s Remote Aboriginal Artist Development Program.

“Emerging artists in Perth’s outer suburbs will also get the chance to kick-start their careers with intensive support and opportunities through the 2025 GRID Series Outer-Perth edition.”

As stated by Warren-Blackwood MLA Jane Kelsbie:

“This opportunity for emerging remote Aboriginal music acts is very exciting.

“The Nannup Music Festival is one of the South West’s best-loved – providing a rich tapestry of entertainment with emerging artists on the bill alongside award-winning artists.

“I love that we – the Cook Government – are investing in homegrown talent and helping to grow the industry for remote Aboriginal artists in tangible ways with mentoring, recording, and performing opportunities.”

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