Call for proposals: Concerts SA’s Music Mobility Fund

The funding, administered by Concerts SA, comes in two forms: National Mobility Fund (for tours in South Africa), and a Regional Mobility Fund (for tours taking place in SADC countries, except South Africa). Concerts SA, a joint South African/Norwegian project housed under the auspices of the Stakeholder Hub within the SAMRO Foundation.

The programme is open to individuals and organisations:

• Who can demonstrate a track record in the music sector;
• Whose work will benefit from launching better networks – either musically/creatively or in terms of developing an audience for their work;
• Who feature the creation of new opportunities for artists and arts professionals either in South Africa or host countries;
• Who have not received support through the Mobility Fund in the two previous funding rounds (April 2016 and October 2016).

Grants are available to:

• Individuals: musicians, managers, promoters, producers, agents, groups (one member will need to take the lead and have the main responsibility for managing the grant process). All people participating in the project must be over 18 years old, and hold a valid passport (only applicable for Regional touring).
• Organisations: music organisations and businesses (both for-profit and non-profit), record labels, agencies, forums, associations, partnerships, local, regional and national organisations, groups of organisations (one will need to take the lead and have the main responsibility for managing the grant process).

In order to be eligible for a grant, you must:

• Be a South African citizen living (or organisation operating) in South Africa;
• Be established in South Africa;
• Be directly responsible for the preparation and management of the project (not an intermediary).

 The types of projects that may be financed are:

• Tours and concerts: performances; country and regional tours; participation at festivals and showcases, etc. (where you are able to demonstrate that such performances will develop your professional or creative practice).
• Collaborations: artistic collaborations between musicians that lead to live music performances.
• Performance-based workshops.

The requirements for the National Mobility Fund are:

• Mobility: while artists from all provinces are invited to apply for national projects taking place in any South African province(s), the bulk of the activities must take place outside the province where the artist is based. The tour schedule must include one activity in Gauteng, the Western Cape or KwaZulu-Natal.
• No double-dipping: the project will not be eligible for additional Concerts SA funding through its partner network of venues and promoters.

The requirements for the Regional Mobility Fund are:

• Local partners: the applicant will need to conduct his/her own research and have identified and communicated with a potential partner or host based in the country he/she wishes to work in. The partner may be an individual or organisation and must be an established musician or music professional.
• SADC countries: the project must take place in one or more of the following countries – Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. While activities in South Africa may be included as part of regional projects, the bulk of the activities must take place outside of South Africa.

The duration of the project may not be less than four days, nor exceed three months. Projects may start before the end of March and must be completed by 15 June 2017.

Non-eligible types of project include: academic research projects; scholarships and fellowships for studies or training courses; fund-raising events, such as charity galas; projects supporting political parties or religious faith; recording of albums; and music education projects.

Applicants may request:

• Up to R45,000 ($3,380) for SADC regional projects
• Up to R 30,000 ($2,253) for national projects

This amount must not exceed 80% of the total costs of the project. In exceptional cases, the grant may cover the entire eligible costs of the project if this is deemed essential to carry it out, and does not exceed the maximum funding that may be requested. If that is the case, the applicant must justify the request for full financing in the grant application form. Projects requesting amounts higher than the limits stated above will not be considered. Applicants are encouraged to seek additional funding and sponsorship for their project.

The items that the fund will:

• Cover are: travel and transportation; accommodation; daily needs (per diems); hiring of backline and other music & sound equipment; artwork design; travel insurance; visas.
• Not cover are: musicians and artists fees; hiring of venues and other spaces; buying assets, such as equipment, computers, software and instruments; general running costs and overheads; costs that are already covered by other funding.

Application process

Application forms must be completed in English and submitted with the following mandatory documents:  

• Legal documentation of the applicant: ID/Passport copy (for individuals and organisation representatives); registration documents (for companies)
• Track record of musician or music professionals involved in the project: biography, EPK, CV, press coverage, web links, evidence of recognition awards, public appearances, etc.
• Budget: projected income and expenditure.
• Tour schedule including calendar of activities.
• Letters from hosts, partners and stakeholders confirming their involvement with the project.

The Music Mobility Fund is a tour support mechanism, which offers opportunities for South African musicians to undertake live music tours. The project aims to build a vibrant and viable live music circuit in southern Africa. It also aims to develop an interest in and appreciation of live music by showcasing music performances and conducting workshops at schools.

All applications should be submitted to the following address: 20 De Korte Street, 4th Floor SAMRO Place, Braamfontein, Johannesburg, 2001. Enquiries and submissions should be submitted by email to concertssa@samro.org.za, by fax to 086 500 7028 or by post to SAMRO Foundation. Applications submitted elsewhere will not be considered. For more information, and to download the application form, please visit the Concert SA’s website.

The deadline for the submission of applications is midnight Sunday 26 February 2017. Successful applicants will be announced before the end of March 2017. Only complete applications will be considered. You may submit multiple applications under this call, but may only be awarded one grant per Fund. Note that proposals will not be returned.