Travel grants for music professionals

The Fund is administered by Concerts SA, a joint South African/Norwegian project housed under the auspices of the Stakeholder Hub within the SAMRO Foundation. Concerts SA receives financial, administrative and technical support from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, SAMRO and Concerts Norway. The project aims to support the growth of the live music sector in South Africa through research, skills development, competence building and, through its work with venues and promoters, develop regular, sustainable performance platforms. It also aims to develop an interest in and appreciation of live music by showcasing music performances and conducting workshops at schools.

Initiated by the British Council’s Connect ZA programme and The SAMRO Foundation, the Music Mobility Fund received 66 applications in 2013 and 118 in 2014, and provided support to 30 projects. Live music tour performances, research-based collaborations and professional creative exchange have taken place in Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland and Zimbabwe. Recipients included artists Ihhashi Elimhlope, Maqhinga Radebe, The Brother Moves On, Bateleur, and businesses Motif Records and The Word N Sound Company, amongst others. A full recipient list is available at www.concertssa.co.za, and previous recipients of the Music Mobility Fund will not be eligible for consideration in this call for proposals.

Madala Kunene, highly respected KZN-based musician and 2014 Mobility Fund recipient had this to say about his recent tour: “The support of Concerts SA really helped me lately. I was not able to find opportunities at the beginning of this year, especially in January – a difficult month for us artists. Thanks to the Music Mobility Fund, I was able to work at many different venues across the Western Cape and Gauteng. It was easy to travel because the Mobility Fund support covered touring costs. Everywhere I performed people were very happy and very responsive to my music, so I will just add: power to Concerts SA and The SAMRO Foundation!”

Designed to help musicians, music industry professionals and organisations build on already established domestic success and develop connections, markets and audiences for their work, the fund provides support towards travel and transportation; per diems; material costs (hiring of backline and sound equipment), accommodation and visas.

The types of projects that may be financed are tours and concerts (performances; regional, country or provincial tours; participation at festivals and showcases, etc.), collaborative projects (artistic collaborations between musicians based in different provinces of South Africa or SADC countries), and professional development projects and visits (for South African music industry professionals to build networks and knowledge in other provinces and in the SADC region). The duration of the project may not be less than four days nor exceed 6 months.

National Projects

Artists from all provinces are invited to apply for national projects taking place in one or more provinces. The province(s) in which the project is to take place must be different to the one in which the artist is based. Successful applications will not be eligible for additional CSA funding support in the 3 provinces.

Regional Projects

Regional projects must take place in one or more of the following SADC countries: Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Applicants will need to conduct their own research and have identified and communicated with a potential partner or host. The partner may be an individual or organisation and must be an established musician or music professional, and must be based in the SADC country (or countries) where the project will take place.

Application process

Applicants should complete the application form in English, and submit it before Tuesday 7 April 2015 with the following mandatory documents: legal documentation of the applicant (ID/Passport copy for individuals and organisation representatives; company registration documents); track record (press coverage, website links, evidence of recognition awards, public appearances or residencies, CV, biography, etc.); budget of the project (including projected income and expenditure); and a calendar of activities with tour schedule. SADC regional projects should include a letter from the local host confirming their support and involvement.

Enquiries and applications should be submitted by email to concertssa@samro.org.za, by fax to 086 500 7028 or by post to Concerts SA, The SAMRO Foundation, 20 De Korte Street, 4th Floor SAMRO Place, Braamfontein, Johannesburg, 2017.