NSW Provide $65,000 To Develop Local Indigenous Musos

Indigenous artists from NSW will have the chance to further develop their careers, with the State government announcing a new $65,000 grant to assist five musicians from the local community.

The initiative will be produced by APRA/AMCOS in conjunction with the government and will provide support through workshops, consultation and mentoring, plus offer a more widespread promotion of work to one urban-based and four regional-based musos.

Minister for Arts Troy Grant said he hoped the initiative would help bring more indigenous artists into the mainstream music industry.

"Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander musicians are increasingly gaining international recognition for their work, but there are still challenges to overcome for many Aboriginal musicians," Grant said. "There's no reason why Aboriginal musicians from NSW can't emulate the success of musicians such as Dan Sultan, Gurrumul, The Last Kinection and Jessica Mauboy."

Mauboy herself – who last week performed at the enormous Eurovision event – said the grant was a "great opportunity" for emerging Indigenous artists, particularly those in the regional areas of NSW.

"I am thrilled APRA/AMCOS and the NSW Government are running this project for Aboriginal musicians," the singer said.  "It's great regional areas are being targeted; they often don't get the same opportunities as people in the city. This project will build confidence in young musicians and that's key to writing a song, getting up on stage and being heard."