The Voices Rising Fund is a new initiative from the Awesome Black Foundation, designed to elevate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices by supporting the creation of publishable works across literature and music of all styles and genres. This includes, but is not limited to, works in music, poetry, novels, non-fiction, photography and other media forms for any audience. The focus is on enabling culturally significant projects to move from concept to publication, bridging the gap between creation and commercial distribution. Rather than relying on traditional advance payments to artists, the Voices Rising Fund invests directly in the development of these projects, providing resources and support to bring them to fruition. Awesome Black acts as a cultural and creative intermediary, ensuring artists, publishers, and labels work together in a collaborative and equitable way. In return, Awesome Black will maintain a small royalty share in the completed project, to be negotiated at the time of contracting, which will be invested in future Voices Rising Fund projects.
How It Works
The Voices Rising Fund is open for applications year-round with no closing date. Assessments will take place twice annually, with a maximum of $60,000 distributed across a minimum of two projects per year. The amount allocated to each project will be determined by Awesome Black, with the funds being allocated to each artist and costs associated with their project. The assessment panel is selected by Awesome Black and comprises: - Representatives from major and independent music labels and literary publishing houses. - First Nations arts workers and curators. - Members of the Awesome Black team. Following assessment, successful applicants will be notified of their project’s approval. Awesome Black will facilitate negotiations between the artist and the publisher/label to agree on the terms of project delivery. As a stakeholder, Awesome Black will remain involved throughout negotiations to ensure alignment with the Fund’s goals and values.
Please note: unsuccessful applicants will not receive feedback on their applications.
ELIGIBILITY
Applicants can be of any age and career stage, and must be Australian citizens of Australian Indigenous/Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander heritage. Applicants should be recognised by their community and/or have tribal affiliation. While a Certificate of Aboriginality is not required, Awesome Black will undertake due diligence to verify applicants’ identities and affiliations if deemed necessary.
The project you are pitching must be publishable once completed, for example as an album or book.
Applicants should ideally have prior experience within the creative industries, however, first-time creators may be selected where there is a clear strategic, creative or cultural opportunity.
Awesome Black reserves the right to reject submissions from applicants whose cultural heritage cannot be substantiated, or if their previous or proposed work and/or affiliations are incongruous with the values of Awesome Black.
IF YOU ARE SUCCESFUL
After assessment, if you are successful you will receive a written Letter of Offer from Awesome Black. The Letter of Offer will set out the amount of the funding, the payment terms and any other key conditions attached to the funding. Successful applicants will then be required to enter into a funding agreement with Awesome Black. This agreement will set out terms attached to the funding including but not limited to reporting, project completion, payment milestones and copyright ownership.
With the support of Awesome Black, you will also be required to enter into a publishing/recording contract with a publisher(s) or record label who will manage the development and release of your work. You will be required to meet all deadlines, submissions and requirements determined by the publisher and Awesome Black.
As a recipient of the Voices Rising Fund, you will be expected to acknowledge the support from Awesome Black in all publications, promotional and advertising materials, public announcements, and professional development activities relating to this project to the best of your ability.
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how to apply
There is no closing date for the Voices Rising Fund. Applications will be reviewed twice per year and applicants may submit their proposal at any time. Applicants should consider the timeframe for their own project and consider when it is most appropriate to apply. Applications will be reviewed by March and September each year.
Artists should apply with as much information as possible about their project or idea in the form of a pitch, including information about the artist and project, the audience of the project and its position in the market (point of difference, uniqueness).
Your application must also include the relevant supporting materials.
For music:
- A maximum of 3 links to previous works, performances, demos or recordings of the project you are pitching.
For fiction and poetry:
- A synopsis and completed manuscript. - You can also include a maximum of 3 links to previous work.
For non-fiction:
- A synopsis and completed manuscript or at least 3 sample chapters. - You can also include a maximum of 3 links to previous work.
For graphic novels:
- A synopsis, a full script, a storyboard of at least one chapter and ten sample illustrations. - You can also include a maximum of 3 links to previous work.
For photography:
- A storyboard or project concept and 3 links to previous work including a portfolio (maximum 10 images).
Please note, support material must be provided as links to files only, e.g. Google Drive, Dropbox. Ensure that files are viewable without a password or subscription, i.e. not Spotify links. Zip files will not be accepted.
We respect each other, the different mobs we come from, and the different ways we do things, making sure that everything we do is right for each individual and their personal cultural connections.
