Apply Now: OMG Contemporary Music Opportunity (Australia)

The OMG Contemporary Music Opportunity from Music Australia (Creative Australia) provides funding of up to $20,000 for short-notice, career-defining opportunities that arise outside regular grant rounds. It supports emerging, breakthrough, and established contemporary music artists with offers made at short notice (within 3 weeks). Applicants must contact a Music Australia Officer to open the application form and must confirm eligibility before applying. Opportunity at a Glance

- Funding organisation: Music Australia (Creative Australia)

- Opportunity name: OMG Contemporary Music Opportunity

- What it supports: “I can’t believe it” last-minute contemporary music opportunities that are 100% confirmed

- Funding amount: $3,000 to $20,000 (within the total “up to $20,000” structure)

- Eligible applicants: Practising Australian contemporary music artists (individuals or groups) and, in some cases, organisations/businesses applying on behalf of artists

- Eligible location(s): Applicants must be Australian citizens or Australian permanent residents (country of activity not specified in the source)

- Key short-notice requirements: Offer made within 3 weeks; activity must start between 2 and 8 weeks from submission

- Application access: You must contact Music Australia before making an application to confirm eligibility

- Deadline: Not specified in the source (the page indicates you must contact a Music Australia Officer to open the application form)

About the Opportunity

The OMG Contemporary Music Opportunity aims to support Australian artists when unique, career-defining opportunities arise at short notice, outside existing grant rounds. The opportunity is designed for contemporary music offers that are unexpected and can be confirmed quickly with documentation. It can support solo artists and groups, including instrumentalists, bands, ensembles, DJ/producers and electronic artists, producers, songwriters, and composers. Funding and Benefits

- Minimum/maximum grant amount: You may apply for a minimum of $3,000 and up to a maximum of $20,000.

- Funding focus: The grant is for costs directly associated with the confirmed opportunity (not open-ended activities).

Eligible activity cost examples Eligible costs may include, but are not limited to: - Artist and creative worker fees (musicians and crew) - Artist management costs directly related to the activity (management expense must be no more than 50% of the total budget request, and cannot be the main activity applied for) - Flights, accommodation, per diems, and ground transport - Travel insurance - Freight or baggage costs - Childcare, carer, and access costs Access costs The source encourages applicants to ensure work is accessible to everyone. Budgets may include accessibility-related costs such as: - performances using Auslan - translation, captioning, and audio description - temporary building adjustments - materials in other formats For d/Deaf applicants or applicants working with d/Deaf artists or artists with disability, the opportunity allows access costs such as interpreter/translation services, specific technical equipment, and support worker assistance. Applicants are directed to contact Music Australia to discuss needs. What is not eligible (cost/payment restrictions)

You cannot apply for:

- international or domestic showcase conference events - costs relating to international artists, producers and other creatives - manufacture of albums and merchandise - passport application costs - international relocation expenses - capital expenditure (e.g., studio infrastructure and instrument purchases) Who Is Eligible? Who can apply

Eligible applicants include:

- current practising solo artists, instrumentalists, bands, ensembles, DJ/producers and electronic artists, producers, songwriters, and/or composers individually or in groups - organisations and music businesses applying on behalf of their artists Citizenship/residency requirement

Applicants must be:

- Australian citizens or Australian permanent residents Contemporary music definition (mandatory) Your activity must meet Music Australia’s definition of contemporary music: > “Australian contemporary music is any genre or subgenre of music currently composed, written, produced by Australians and licensed, recorded, presented, and distributed through commercial and non-commercial activity. For the purposes of Music Australia’s investments, the focus is on musical works that are new, original and relevant to contemporary Australia.” Short-notice and confirmation requirements (mandatory) Your application must meet all of the following: - the offer has come at short notice (within 3 weeks) - the activity must start between 2 and 8 weeks from the date you make the submission - the offer/opportunity must be 100% confirmed and guaranteed with supporting documentation - the opportunity must be new and have arisen unexpectedly - all other avenues of funding support must be exhausted, not open, or not accessible at the time of making the OMG application (including grant programs managed by Music Australia, Creative Australia, or any State or Territory arts funding body) - you cannot apply for an activity that has been unsuccessful in a previous funding round managed by Music Australia or Creative Australia - the opportunity must be a career milestone with undeniable career impact (examples are provided in the source’s FAQ section, but the source here does not reproduce those examples) Who can’t apply

You cannot apply if:

- you have already received OMG funding in the same financial year (1 July – 30 June) - you have already submitted an application to OMG that is currently being reviewed - you are a Music Australia Council member - you have an overdue grant report - you owe money to Creative Australia Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants, the source specifies: - opportunities must be clearly professional/export-oriented, not primarily