Overview
Although building a career in the music biz isn't getting simpler, two new opportunities have arrived to lend a helping hand to both talent and venues. Just announced, the latest leg up is the 2026 round of Music Works, now delivered by Music Victoria in partnership with Creative Victoria for the first time. Meanwhile, 10,000 Gigs: The Victorian Gig Fund is back again for the third time, with both grants designed to sustain and grow Victoria's famed music ecosystem.
Now open, Music Works focuses on artists, music workers, and music industry organisations and businesses, offering support for a range of creative and development activities. If you've got an eligible activity scheduled for November 1, 2026–October 30, 2027, it's well worth applying for either the Activation Grants or Project Grants streams.
The Activation stream offers fixed $5000 grants, with funding available for current and emerging opportunities, such as songwriting, composition, recording, marketing, touring, mentorship, professional development and more. Then, the Project stream offers grants between $10,000 and $40,000 to support strategic projects that deliver broader artistic, business, and sector outcomes, including industry development, cross-industry collaboration, and innovative products, services, and technologies.
Opening soon, 10,000 Gigs: The Victorian Gig Fund will help out live music venues wanting to stage paid live music performances by Victorian artists. Open to both licensed live music venues and other venues that host live music gigs, the 2025 iteration of the grant provided metro and regional venues with $5500 to $11,000 to deliver 10 or 20 gigs, respectively. Expect this year's details to be revealed soon.
"Victoria is Australia's independent and live music capital because of the extraordinary artists, venues, festivals and music businesses that make up our music community," says Fiona Duncan, Music Victoria CEO. "Music Works and 10,000 Gigs: The Victorian Gig Fund invests directly in that community, supporting the people and businesses that create great music, present live performances and build sustainable careers."
Since 2015, Music Works has invested almost $13.5 million in more than 950 projects, helping to take the careers of now-established artists like Alice Skye, Kutcha Edwards, Jen Cloher, and Amyl and the Sniffers to greater heights. As for 10,000 Gigs: The Victorian Gig Fund, the program has supported venues such as Yarraville's Kindred Studios, Brunswick's Howler, and Queenscliff's The Blues Train since its launch in 2024.
Music Works is accepting grant applications until 2pm on Wednesday, August 5. Meanwhile, 10,000 Gigs: The Victorian Gig Fund opens soon. Head to Music Victoria to learn more.
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Images: Supplied.