The Music Mobility Fund is a funding mechanism which offers opportunities for South African musicians to undertake live music-related projects. Music professionals are invited to apply for funding from a National Mobility Fund (for projects in South Africa, specifically KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape and Gauteng), and a Regional Mobility Fund (for projects taking place in SADC countries, except South Africa).
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 Foundation and Rikskonsertene. The project aims to stimulate live music in South Africa by finding and implementing ways to create 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 and provided support for 14 projects in 2013: live music tour performances, research based collaborations and professional creative exchange took place in Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Zimbabwe and the UK. Recipients included artists like Derek Gripper, Maqhinga Radebe, bands such as The Brother Moves On, Bateleur, and businesses like Motif Records and The Word N Sound Company, among others.
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
While artists from all provinces are invited to apply, national projects must take place in one or more of the three provinces where Concerts SA currently operates (Gauteng, Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal). The province(s) in which the project is to take place must be different to the one in which the applicant 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 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, etc.); budget of the project (including projected income and expenditure). SADC regional projects should include a letter from the local host confirming their support and involvement. to download application forms, please click here
For more information and to download the application form please visit
http://www.samrofoundation.org.za. Also, follow us at http://twitter.com/ConcertsSA and like us
on facebook.com/ConcertsSA.