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MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP // Up to 25 opportunities available

The Management Workshop is a one-stop shop for practical strategies to manage artists in the establishment phase of their career. Now in it’s sixth year, the workshop has hosted some of Australia’s leading emerging managers. The Management Workshop provides a platform for strategic advice and ways to enhance opportunities for bands and solo artists forging pathways in the music industry.
In an industry where no manual exists to guide you, the most effective way to learn is by sharing knowledge and seeking out those who have gone before. Providing access to an unrivalled list of industry experts from managers to publishers, lawyers, publicists, promoters and media representatives, the Management Workshop provides an opportunity for managers to come face to face with leaders in their field.

The Seed Management Workshop has been invaluable to me in my aspirations to become the best music manager I can be. The information and knowledge shared by the speakers and recipients is not information young managers can easily gain access to anywhere else. I was lucky enough to attend both as a recipient in 2007 and a speaker in 2010, and both experiences were more rewarding than anything else I’ve participated in. I’m so grateful to John, Danielle and all the other contributors to The Seed for giving me the chance to have access to what has been vital to my growth as a music manager. – Jodie Regan, Tame Impala

For young music managers like myself, The Seed Management Workshop was a defining moment in the development of my career. This is not only of benefit to me, but also the careers of the artists I work with and in turn to the broader Australian music community. I would encourage anyone seeking the grueling task of developing a career in artist management to get involved in all The Seed has to offer. A truly outstanding opportunity. – Rowan Brand, Boy and Bear

Applications will be accepted from managers, self managed solo musicians or band members who are managing their own band. The Seed will provide and arrange transport, accommodation and meals for all successful applicants. Should you be successful all you need to do is get yourself to your closest major airport!

BONUS:
For the 4th year running The Seed, in partnership with The Falls Music and Arts Festival (Lorne, VIC) and Southbound (WA) will offer one lucky band the opportunity to perform at both festivals. If your application to attend The Management Workshop is successful, the act that you manage will automatically be eligible for this opportunity. Falls and Southbound will provide and arrange transport, accommodation and a performance fee for the successful band.

SELECTION CRITERIA:
The selection panel will be looking for:
-    Managers who work with quality acts that have strong artistic merit,
-    Managers and Artists with a proven dedication to their careers.
-    The potential of the Manager and Act to contribute to the Australian music scene.
-    Managers who’s previous work displays good planning and effective use of resources.

ELEGIBILITY GUIDELINES:
You must be 18 years of age at the time of your application. You must be an Australian citizen.
You must be a bona-fide practicing artist or arts worker.

APPLICATIONS ARE ACCEPTED ONLINE VIA SONICBIDS.COM. PLEASE READ HOW TO APPLY

PUBLICISE IT // Grants of up to $5000 // Up to 3 opportunities available

In line with The Seed Fund’s focus to continue to support artists throughout their careers, this is a new category to nurture Managers (and the Act/s they manage) who have previously attended The Seed Management Workshop.

As publicists play an increasingly important role in the overall promotion of independent emerging artists. THE SEED is seeking to fund managers (including self-managed artists) to contract a publicist for a promotional campaign up to the value of $5000. The campaign must be in support of a new Australian release (EP or Album only) or a campaign involving an Australian release and associated tour.
Applications will only be accepted for bands from managers (including self managed artists) who have attended the Seed workshop in the last five years, whether you are still managing the same act or not. Applications must be submitted on behalf of the band you are currently managing. Managers will be responsible for contracting the publicist and providing a letter of support that details their commitment to the upcoming campaign. Campaigns should begin after June 2011.

SELECTION CRITERIA:
The selection panel will be looking for:
-    Campaigns supporting music with strong artistic merit,
-    Campaigns that display good planning and effective use of resources.
-    Managers and Artists with a proven dedication to their careers.

ELEGIBILITY GUIDELINES:
You must continue to be a bona-fide practicing artist or arts worker.
You must be a band manager who has attended the Seed Management Workshop in the past – (2006 to 2010)
You must be submitting an application in support of an Australian album/EP release and associated national tour – or Australian album/EP release only.

APPLICATIONS ARE ACCEPTED ONLINE VIA SONICBIDS.COM. PLEASE READ HOW TO APPLY

ART FOR THE PUBLIC // Grant of up to $7,500 // 1 opportunity available

In an exciting brand-new partnership, The Seed and Next Wave are linking arms to develop a visual arts project for the public realm, in the next Next Wave Festival (3 – 20 May 2012). Next Wave is Australia’s leading contemporary arts organisation for young and emerging artists, presenting a development program and biennial festival of genre-busting, ambitious new ideas. The Seed aims to assist Australian artists from any background, creating art and music across any genre, to establish themselves as self-sustained, professionals. Together, we believe Australia has a dynamic and unique arts community, and by empowering artists to create life-long careers we enhance Australia’s cultural life.

The Seed will invest funding of up to $7,500 to support the development of one new large-scale work for public space in Melbourne. Next Wave will support the creative development and delivery of this work, assisting with conceptual development, as well as with venue liaison, marketing, publicity, risk management, the brokerage of new partnerships, and more. Together, The Seed and Next Wave will help artists to take creative risks, to establish a critically-engaged professional practice, and to launch their work into a wider artistic and public domain.

The Seed and Next Wave are seeking innovative, ambitious visual arts projects that provoke social commentary and which demonstrate a rigorous exploration of how artists, art and audiences can explore big, urgent ideas.

SELECTION CRITERIA:
The selection panel will be looking for:
•    Projects with strong artistic and conceptual merit, that are contextualized within a broader artistic and cultural framework
•    Projects that display good planning and effective use of resources
•    Projects that demonstrate a sophisticated and interesting response to the 2012 Next Wave Festival theme: “The space between us wants to sing” (downloadable here)
•    Projects that demonstrate a sophisticated awareness of political, environmental, cultural and economic concerns currently affecting contemporary Australian society.

ELEGIBILITY GUIDELINES:
Artists must be between 18 and 30 years of age as of 1st January 2011. You must be an Australian citizen.

PREVIOUS EXAMPLES:
Head here to view  some of the public visual arts projects Next Wave presented as part of the 2010 Next Wave Festival.
If you would like to speak to us before you submit your application please call the Next Wave offices on: 03 9329 9422 to arrange a time.

APPLICATIONS ARE ACCEPTED ONLINE VIA SONICBIDS.COM. PLEASE READ HOW TO APPLY

SKINNYFISH // Up to $18,750 in performance fees to be paid to remote Indigenous Musicians

SUPPORTING TOP END INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY BANDS, BY GENERATING PAID PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES AND ENCOURAGING POSITIVE OUTCOMES IN COMMUNITY LIFE THROUGH MUSIC.

The Seed is happy to confirm a continuing partnership with Skinnyfish Music that enables us to roll out this initiative. Skinnyfish Music is a record label, distributor and publisher of Indigenous music. Based in Darwin, they have been in operation for over 10 years and have worked with many incredible artists such as Gurrumul, Saltwater Band and Nabarlek to name just a few.

Through existing and established festivals and events, this partnership will create paid performance opportunities for community bands in and around their homelands.

Rewarding musicians with a fee for performing instills value in playing music as a serious lifestyle choice and a way to earn money from their craft. The Seed and Skinnyfish Music seek to create a positive focus within communities to support their musicians and create role models for the younger generations to look up to. This is the belief that community performance is a vital, viable and serious part of the Australian Music Industry. Just as pubs or local venues provide the breeding and nurturing ground for urban musicians and bands to flourish, so too does the community circuit in remote areas provide an opportunity for musicians to hone their skills and develop their craft.  Live performance within communities’ nurtures fans and performers and has an extensive positive social impact.
“We started out playing at community festivals, they are important to us. In the early days we could see that the kids loved our music and we could see that we were like role models to those kids. There was no humbug in the community while the festival was on and everyone was listening to the music. It is important to me to play in communities it gives all the kids some hope, some fun and they feel proud of their own culture.” - Manuel Dhurrkay – Saltwater Band.

Some great feedback from the 2010 pilot of this initiative:

“It is great to be recognized as a serious band. This means a lot (to us) to be recognized by Skinnyfish and John Butler (The Seed).” – Isaac, Young Guns

“This is the first time we have been paid for performance and it feels good to be appreciated.” – David Djingala, Island Band

STAY TUNED FOR AN EXPANSION TO THIS ONE IN THE COMING MONTHS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SKINNYFISH AND APRA.

HOW TO APPLY