Help
Support
Grants, mentoring, rooms and networks for musicians with disability, d/Deaf, First Nations, culturally diverse, women, gender-diverse and LGBTQIA+ musicians.
Open Now
Sat 10 Oct APRA AMCOS: EQUALIZE Sydney 13 Oct Creative Australia: First Nations d/Deaf and Disabilities Project Fund Open First Sounds 31 Oct MusicNSW: Tone Shift 16 Nov Pride Foundation Australia: Small Grants 12 Nov to 16 Dec Createability internships
Musicians with Disability, and d/Deaf Musicians7 First Nations11 Musicians of Colour and CALD3 Women and Gender-Diverse8 LGBTQIA+8 ↑ Musicians with Disability, and d/Deaf Musicians 7
Accessible Arts: Artist Advisory Service
Rolling
Who Artists with disability, or d/Deaf. NSW and ACT. What Free 30-minute consult or email guidance: grant applications, letters of support, auspicing. Also Songsmiths songwriting program (paid, 2026 round closed). Next Level mentorships with $3,000. Access-rider workshop and template. Directory of Auslan and captioning providers. Link aarts.net.au
Createability internships
Opens 12 Nov, closes 16 Dec 2026
Who Deaf artists and artists with disability in NSW. What Paid internships in music, screen and arts organisations. $6,080 for four weeks, $12,160 for eight, ex GST. April to December 2027. Also 2026 hosts included Mushroom Group, triple j and Yours & Owls. Link nsw.gov.au
Club Weld
Rolling
Who Musicians with disability and neurodivergent musicians. Parramatta. What Weekly sessions, professional recording, releases through ABC Music, festival and Opera House slots. Also Cost and NDIS arrangements not listed. [email protected] , 02 9897 5744. Link aceinc.org.au
Creative Australia: Arts and Disability Initiative
Closed 7 July 2026, annual
Who Artists with disability, or d/Deaf. What $30,000 plus up to $3,000 for access costs. Fellowship of $80,000 closed 2 June. Also Access costs can be claimed in their general Arts Projects grants too. Link creative.gov.au
Support Act: Wellbeing Helpline
24/7, free
Who Anyone working in music. What 1800 959 500. Up to 12 counselling sessions a year. National Relay Service; Auslan and Deafblind interpreters bookable. Also Crisis 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. Link supportact.org.au
Sydney Fringe: Limitless
Each September
Who Artists with disability, d/Deaf artists, neurodivergent artists. What A curated festival strand, access masterclasses, and an Access Co-ordinator year-round. Also [email protected] Link sydneyfringe.com
Create NSW: Cultural Access Priority Area Projects
Closed 25 May 2026, annual
Who Priority: 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. Link nsw.gov.au
First Nations 11
Creative Australia: First Nations d/Deaf and Disabilities Project Fund
Closes 13 October 2026, 3pm
Who First Nations artists with disability, or d/Deaf. 18+. What $5,000 to $10,000 for new work, mentoring, residencies, recording. Projects from February 2027. Link creative.gov.au
City of Sydney: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Collaboration Fund
Year-round until the budget runs out
Who Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals, sole traders and majority-Aboriginal groups in the City of Sydney area. What Up to $50,000 a project over 12 months. Decision in about three months. Link cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au
Awesome Black Foundation: Voices Rising Fund
No closing date
Who Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander creators in music and literature. What Up to $60,000 a year shared across selected projects. Link awesomeblack.studio
Sound NSW: First Nations Creative and Professional Development
Closed 21 September 2026, annual
Who Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, 18+, NSW 12 months, one public release, ABN. What Up to $30,000 for recording, release, marketing, mentorships, equipment. Link nsw.gov.au
Create NSW: Creative Nations
Closed 25 May 2026, back around April 2027
Who First Nations applicants, 18+, NSW 12 months, ABN. What $10,000 to $75,000, assessed by a First Nations board. Link nsw.gov.au
NATSIMO: LIFECYCLE grants
Closed 3 May 2026, next round not announced
Who Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander music creators, 18+, ABN. No APRA membership needed. What $20,000 recording, $20,000 touring, $10,000 marketing. Link natsimo.com.au
MusicNSW: First Nations program
Rolling
Who First Nations artists and music workers. What One-to-ones with the First Nations Development Manager, a royalties guide, and a directory of First Nations-led business and legal help. Also Wamarra Music Lab, a free six-week business program in Redfern. Closed 20 September for the October run. Link musicnsw.com
Support Act: First Nations Support Line
Free
Who First Nations people in music and the arts. What 1800 959 500, option 3. Crisis relief grants. Free accredited Mental Health First Aid. Also First Nations Music Industry Review taking submissions until 13 November 2026. Link supportact.org.au
Gadigal Information Service: Kameygal Music Studio
Rates on request
Who First Nations artists. Redfern. What Recording, mixing, rehearsal space, in-house producers. [email protected] . Also Same organisation as Koori Radio, Klub Koori pop-up gigs and Young Black & Deadly. Link gadigalinformation.com.au
First Sounds
Volume 15 taking submissions
Who First Nations artists. What National compilation sent to community radio, run by the CBAA and Amrap with Gadigal. Also Check amrap.org.au for the deadline and submission details. Link cbaa.org.au
Creative Australia: other First Nations funds
Closed for 2026
Who First Nations artists, 18+. What Young People fund $10,000–20,000, ages 18–35. Arts Business fund $10,000–50,000. Space to Create music residency. Fellowships $80,000. Link creative.gov.au
Musicians of Colour and CALD 3
Diversity Arts Australia
Free to join
Who CALD, culturally and racially marginalised, POC, migrant, refugee or Global Majority creatives. What Creative Cultural Diversity Network with online roundtables. Also Ripple: paid internship at $30/hr for people who are culturally diverse and have disability, are d/Deaf or neurodivergent (closed 27 April). Dream Collective: free meetups in Parramatta for First Nations and culturally diverse women. StoryCasters for 18–30s in Western Sydney. Link diversityarts.org.au
Settlement Services International: Arts & Culture Program
No formal application
Who Artists from refugee and migrant backgrounds. What Artistic development, showcases, festival slots. [email protected] . Also New Beginnings Festival in January is cancelled. Link ssi.org.au
Sydney Festival: Festival Commons
Closed 30 August 2026, back mid-2027
Who Indigenous, Black and POC curators, producers and organisers. Four Greater Sydney places. What Ten-day lab inside the January festival. $2,400 plus super. Auslan and captioning available. Link sydneyfestival.org.au
Women and Gender-Diverse 8
MusicNSW: Tone Shift
Closes 31 October 2026
Who Women, trans, non-binary or gender non-conforming. 18+, citizen or PR, NSW 12 months, ABN. What Up to $2,500 for recording gear, studio hire or performance equipment. Link musicnsw.com
APRA AMCOS: EQUALIZE Sydney
Saturday 10 October 2026
Who Women and gender-diverse music makers, 16+. No membership needed. What Free one-day songwriting and production workshop at SAE Chippendale, with Odette and Middleman. Places limited. Link apraamcos.com.au
APRA AMCOS: 23% Mentorship
Closed 3 May 2026, back around April 2027
Who Women and gender-diverse APRA AMCOS members, 18+. What Six months with an industry mentor plus $3,000. Link apraamcos.com.au
SIMA: Young Women's Jazz Workshop
2026 ran 26–27 September, annual
Who Young women and gender-diverse players and singers who read music. What Two-day improvisation intensive ending in a concert. $190. Link sima.org.au
One of One
Annual, around March
Who Women and gender non-conforming people in the music industry. What Breakfasts with awards: $10,000 of business advisory, a $5,000 Mushroom grant, a six-month Unified accelerator. Link oneofone.com.au
Australian Women in Music Awards
Nominations closed 22 June 2026
Who Australian citizens or PR, over 18. Self-nomination allowed, no fee. What Awards across artistry, songwriting, production, heavy music, classical, leadership. Ceremony May 2027. Link womeninmusicawards.com.au
GLOW
Rolling, free
Who Australian and NZ artists, with a focus on female and gender-diverse artists. What Radio airplay, podcasts, artist stories. One song per submission. Link glowmusic.co
Support Act: sexual misconduct, bullying and discrimination guide
Free
Who Anyone in music. What Reporting pathways and where to get help. Helpline 1800 959 500, 24/7. Link supportact.org.au
LGBTQIA+ 8
Pride Foundation Australia: Small Grants
Closes 16 November 2026
Who Individuals, organisations and communities with a project that benefits LGBTQIA+ people. Priority to regional and rural this round. What Up to $1,000. Creative projects encouraged. Access code PFASGP2026. Link pridefoundation.org.au
Inner West Pride Centre
Sliding-scale hire
Who Priority to LGBTQIA+ groups, open to all. Newtown. What Pride 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.Link twenty10.org.au
The Red Rattler
Rates on request
Who Queer-run not-for-profit venue, Marrickville. What 300 standing or 120 seated, pro audio and lighting. 30-capacity studio for unamplified work. Safer spaces policy. Also Currently running a $20,000 fundraising appeal. Link redrattler.org
Qtopia Sydney: Q Spaces
Rates on request
Sydney Fringe: Queer Hub
2026 closed, registrations around March 2027
The Pinnacle Foundation
Next round 1 July to 31 August 2027
Who LGBTQIA+ 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. Link thepinnaclefoundation.org
The Aurora Group: Ignite Pride Fund
Opens September to October; no 2026 dates posted
Who NSW LGBTIQ+ community projects. Framed for organisations: a musician would need a community project, probably auspiced. What Up to $10,000, two of up to $20,000. Link auroragroup.org.au
Midsumma: Homophonic! Pride Prize and Pathways
Prize closed 3 July 2026, annual
Who Australian 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. Link midsumma.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.