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Programs by Community

Grants, mentoring, rooms and networks for musicians with disability, d/Deaf, First Nations, culturally diverse and LGBTQIA+ musicians. Programs for women and gender-diverse musicians are on their own page, linked below.

Open Now

Musicians with Disability, and d/Deaf Musicians 7

Accessible Arts: Artist Advisory ServiceRolling
  • WhoArtists with disability, or d/Deaf. NSW and ACT.
  • WhatFree 30-minute consult or email guidance: grant applications, letters of support, auspicing.
  • AlsoSongsmiths songwriting program (paid, 2026 round closed). Next Level mentorships with $3,000. Access-rider workshop and template. Directory of Auslan and captioning providers.
  • Linkaarts.net.au
Createability internshipsOpens 12 Nov, closes 16 Dec 2026
  • WhoDeaf artists and artists with disability in NSW.
  • WhatPaid internships in music, screen and arts organisations. $6,080 for four weeks, $12,160 for eight, ex GST. April to December 2027.
  • Also2026 hosts included Mushroom Group, triple j and Yours & Owls.
  • Linknsw.gov.au
Club WeldRolling
  • WhoMusicians with disability and neurodivergent musicians. Parramatta.
  • WhatWeekly sessions, professional recording, releases through ABC Music, festival and Opera House slots.
  • AlsoCost and NDIS arrangements not listed. [email protected], 02 9897 5744.
  • Linkaceinc.org.au
Creative Australia: Arts and Disability InitiativeClosed 7 July 2026, annual
  • WhoArtists with disability, or d/Deaf.
  • What$30,000 plus up to $3,000 for access costs. Fellowship of $80,000 closed 2 June.
  • AlsoAccess costs can be claimed in their general Arts Projects grants too.
  • Linkcreative.gov.au
Support Act: Wellbeing Helpline24/7, free
  • WhoAnyone working in music.
  • What1800 959 500. Up to 12 counselling sessions a year. National Relay Service; Auslan and Deafblind interpreters bookable.
  • AlsoCrisis relief grants pay bills directly. You need five years in the industry and a current crisis. A chronic condition on its own does not qualify.
  • Linksupportact.org.au
Sydney Fringe: LimitlessEach September
  • WhoArtists with disability, d/Deaf artists, neurodivergent artists.
  • WhatA curated festival strand, access masterclasses, and an Access Co-ordinator year-round.
  • Also[email protected]
  • Linksydneyfringe.com
Create NSW: Cultural Access Priority Area ProjectsClosed 25 May 2026, annual
  • WhoPriority: disability or d/Deaf, CALD, First Nations, LGBTQIA+, Western Sydney, regional, ages 18–25. NSW 12 months, ABN.
  • What$10,000 to $75,000. 10% co-contribution.
  • Linknsw.gov.au

First Nations 11

Creative Australia: First Nations d/Deaf and Disabilities Project FundCloses 13 October 2026, 3pm
  • WhoFirst Nations artists with disability, or d/Deaf. 18+.
  • What$5,000 to $10,000 for new work, mentoring, residencies, recording. Projects from February 2027.
  • Linkcreative.gov.au
City of Sydney: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Collaboration FundYear-round until the budget runs out
  • WhoAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals, sole traders and majority-Aboriginal groups in the City of Sydney area.
  • WhatUp to $50,000 a project over 12 months. Decision in about three months.
  • Linkcityofsydney.nsw.gov.au
Awesome Black Foundation: Voices Rising FundNo closing date
  • WhoAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander creators in music and literature.
  • WhatUp to $60,000 a year shared across selected projects.
  • Linkawesomeblack.studio
Sound NSW: First Nations Creative and Professional DevelopmentClosed 21 September 2026, annual
  • WhoAboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, 18+, NSW 12 months, one public release, ABN.
  • WhatUp to $30,000 for recording, release, marketing, mentorships, equipment.
  • Linknsw.gov.au
Create NSW: Creative NationsClosed 25 May 2026, back around April 2027
  • WhoFirst Nations applicants, 18+, NSW 12 months, ABN.
  • What$10,000 to $75,000, assessed by a First Nations board.
  • Linknsw.gov.au
NATSIMO: LIFECYCLE grantsClosed 3 May 2026, next round not announced
  • WhoAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander music creators, 18+, ABN. No APRA membership needed.
  • What$20,000 recording, $20,000 touring, $10,000 marketing.
  • Linknatsimo.com.au
MusicNSW: First Nations programRolling
  • WhoFirst Nations artists and music workers.
  • WhatOne-to-ones with the First Nations Development Manager, a royalties guide, and a directory of First Nations-led business and legal help.
  • AlsoWamarra Music Lab, a free six-week business program in Redfern. Closed 20 September for the October run.
  • Linkmusicnsw.com
Support Act: First Nations Support LineFree
  • WhoFirst Nations people in music and the arts.
  • What1800 959 500, option 3. Crisis relief grants. Free accredited Mental Health First Aid.
  • AlsoFirst Nations Music Industry Review taking submissions until 13 November 2026.
  • Linksupportact.org.au
Gadigal Information Service: Kameygal Music StudioRates on request
  • WhoFirst Nations artists. Redfern.
  • WhatRecording, mixing, rehearsal space, in-house producers. [email protected].
  • AlsoSame organisation as Koori Radio, Klub Koori pop-up gigs and Young Black & Deadly.
  • Linkgadigalinformation.com.au
First SoundsVolume 15 taking submissions
  • WhoFirst Nations artists.
  • WhatNational compilation sent to community radio, run by the CBAA and Amrap with Gadigal.
  • AlsoCheck amrap.org.au for the deadline and submission details.
  • Linkcbaa.org.au
Creative Australia: other First Nations fundsClosed for 2026
  • WhoFirst Nations artists, 18+.
  • WhatYoung People fund $10,000–20,000, ages 18–35. Arts Business fund $10,000–50,000. Space to Create music residency. Fellowships $80,000.
  • Linkcreative.gov.au

Musicians of Colour and CALD 3

Diversity Arts AustraliaAsk to join
  • WhoCALD, culturally and racially marginalised, POC, migrant, refugee or Global Majority creatives.
  • WhatCreative Cultural Diversity Network with online roundtables.
  • AlsoThe fuller list for culturally diverse artists is on the Culturally Diverse Artists page. Ripple, a paid internship at $30 an hour for people who are culturally diverse and disabled, closed on 27 April. Dream Collective: free meetups in Parramatta for First Nations and culturally diverse women. StoryCasters for 18–30s in Western Sydney.
  • Linkdiversityarts.org.au
Settlement Services International: Arts & Culture ProgramNo formal application
  • WhoArtists from refugee and migrant backgrounds.
  • WhatArtistic development, showcases, festival slots. [email protected].
  • AlsoNew Beginnings Festival in January is cancelled.
  • Linkssi.org.au
Sydney Festival: Festival CommonsClosed 30 August 2026, back mid-2027
  • WhoIndigenous, Black and POC curators, producers and organisers. Four Greater Sydney places.
  • WhatTen-day lab inside the January festival. $2,400 plus super. Auslan and captioning available.
  • Linksydneyfestival.org.au

LGBTQIA+ 8

Pride Foundation Australia: Small GrantsCloses 16 November 2026
  • WhoIndividuals, organisations and communities with a project that benefits LGBTQIA+ people. Priority to regional and rural this round.
  • WhatUp to $1,000. Creative projects encouraged. Access code PFASGP2026.
  • Linkpridefoundation.org.au
Inner West Pride CentreSliding-scale hire
  • WhoPriority to LGBTQIA+ groups, open to all. Newtown.
  • WhatPride Hall, 100–130 capacity with stage and AV. Rainbow Room, 30. Fee waivers available. $500 bond, $20m public liability.
  • Also[email protected], 02 8594 9555.
  • Linktwenty10.org.au
The Red RattlerRates on request
  • WhoQueer-run not-for-profit venue, Marrickville.
  • What300 standing or 120 seated, pro audio and lighting. 30-capacity studio for unamplified work. Safer spaces policy.
  • AlsoCurrently running a $20,000 fundraising appeal.
  • Linkredrattler.org
Qtopia Sydney: Q SpacesRates on request
Sydney Fringe: Queer Hub2026 closed, registrations around March 2027
The Pinnacle FoundationNext round 1 July to 31 August 2027
  • WhoLGBTQIA+ students 18–26, citizen or PR, full-time at a public TAFE or university, any field.
  • What$9,000 first year, $6,750 returning, plus a mentor.
  • Linkthepinnaclefoundation.org
The Aurora Group: Ignite Pride FundOpens September to October; no 2026 dates posted
  • WhoNSW LGBTIQ+ community projects. Framed for organisations: a musician would need a community project, probably auspiced.
  • WhatUp to $10,000, two of up to $20,000.
  • Linkauroragroup.org.au
Midsumma: Homophonic! Pride Prize and PathwaysPrize closed 3 July 2026, annual
  • WhoAustralian composers who identify as LGBTIQ+. Pathways: emerging LGBTQIA+ artists with disability, or Deaf or neurodivergent, 18+.
  • What$2,500 commission for a short vibraphone work. Pathways is a nine-month mentorship; register interest.
  • Linkmidsumma.org.au

Support Act, APRA AMCOS and MusicNSW have nothing aimed at culturally diverse musicians. Creative Australia, Create NSW, Sound NSW and the City of Sydney have no LGBTQIA+ stream. Create NSW's Cultural Access round names every group on this page and comes back in April. Grants, mentoring and networks for women and gender-diverse musicians are on the Women and Gender-Diverse Musicians page.

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