Showcase and Conference Contribution Funding

The Music Development Office recognises the value of showcasing opportunities and delegate attendance for artists and music businesses at international and national music conferences.

Showcasing performances can significantly increase an artist's profile amongst new audiences and foster engagement with industry representatives who may further their career such as managers, booking agents and record label A&R scouts. Also, attendance as a music conference delegate can provide new insight into industry issues and significantly increase an artist or business’s networks and further their professional development.

For South Australian artists who are selected for these coveted performances, and/or industry who seek to participate in these valuable conferences, they may face the financial burden of travelling great distances to attend these national or international events.

To address these barriers to market, the Music Development Office offers a range of funding opportunities:

Export Contribution Fund (in partnership with Sounds Australia) – for artists who are officially invited to showcase at a selected range of international events.

The National Contribution Fund (three streams) -

Showcases - for artists who are officially invited to showcase at BIGSOUND
Industry - for music professionals attending major Australian music events who can show the experience will significantly support their professional development.
Regional and Remote Delegate Bursary – for artists and businesses from regional areas who may significantly benefit from attending the Regional and Remote Music Summit.

In partnership with Sounds Australia, the Export Contribution Fund provides a non-competitive $3,000 contribution to travel costs for eligible artists who receive an official invitation to showcase at Folk Alliance International (Kansas, USA), SXSW (Austin, USA), The Great Escape Festival (Brighton, UK), Americanafest (Nashville, USA) ,The Reeperbahn Festival (Hamburg, Germany), and the International Indigenous Music Summit (Toronto, Canada).

If you are officially selected to showcase at any of these specific international events, or if you seek more information on the eligibility of an event not listed above, please contact Sounds Australia directly.

Sounds Australia

In Australia, the leading opportunity for showcasing work is the annual BIGSOUND conference in Brisbane.

The National Contribution Fund – Showcase stream (NCF-S) will offer $1,000
to artists who can demonstrate official selection for this national showcasing opportunity, to support travel costs.

In Australia, major music industry events such as BIGSOUND help music professionals build networks, develop career opportunities, and access support for the artists they represent.
The National Contribution Fund – Industry Stream (NCF-I) may provide up to $500 towards travel costs for South Australia-based music professionals attending these events. Applicants must demonstrate that attendance will significantly support their professional development. Applications are assessed on an as-needed basis, and are scheduled to open in 2027. Contact the MDO for details.

Note:

For attendance at the Regional and Remote Music Summit, see the NCF-R stream dedicated to this.
For Indie-Con / A2IM Indie Week Australian version, see the official AIR (Australian Independent Record Labels Association) website for information on discounts available to South Australian delegates.

The National Contribution Fund - Regional and Remote Delegate Bursary stream (NCF-R) supports artists and businesses from regional areas who may significantly benefit from conferences that focus on the issues faced by remote/non metro parts of the sector.

Note: In 2026, the Regional and Remote Music Summit is being held in Mt Gambier. Travel bursaries to support attendance at this edition of the summit are being delivered in a partnership between Music Australia and non-profit body AMIN (Australian Music Industry Network), a national coalition linking state and territory peak music bodies. In South Australia, bursaries for the 2026 event are being distributed through MusicSA. Contact MusicSA for further details.