In its latest round of funding, the Council has given out $1.2 million worth of grants to support tours and new projects from around Australia. As a result, there will be 170 gigs and five festivals across the country. Ten bands get to tour internationally, 50 composers and songwriters will get help to create new work and 20 new albums will be recorded.
In New Works, Melbourne recipients included new albums for electronic pioneer David Chisholm ($15,000), John Flanagan ($15,000), Kane Ikin ($14,016), Krista Polvere ($12,825), My Disco ($12,550), Halfshark ($10,000), Elissa Goodrich ($8,665), Mark Zito ($7,524) and Superstar ($6,247).
Other Victorian projects included writing and recording an album exploring the multicultural history of the Snowy Mountains Scheme, field recordings and Arabic prayer sample collections within Asia and the Middle East, 10 compositions based on Ancient Greek poetry and creating a world jazz suite derived from the songs of now extinct Australian migratory birds.
From International Pathways, getting aid for touring abroad were Vance Joy ($19,605), Mia Dyson (16,766) and Scott & Charlene’s Wedding ($20,000).
In the Presentation & Promotion category:
Multicultural Arts Victoria Inc ($25,920) for the live performance and broadcast of three new contemporary cross cultural music collaborations in Melbourne.
Melbourne International Jazz Festival Ltd ($21,951) to pay for 10 Australian artists to appear.
David Chisholm ($20,000) to produce the 2014 Bendigo International Festival of Exploratory Music.
Lake Bolac Eel Festival ($16,380) for a new work to be performed.
World music guitarist and composer Matthew Fagan ($15,370) for a ukulele festival for community participation via workshops and performance.
Koné Express ($14,000) to present music with Bassidi Koné from Mali West Africa.
David Chesworth and Sonia Leber ($9,500) to present a new multi channel sound installation at Cockatoo Island for the 2014 Biennale of Sydney.
