MDO Project Support Grants — October 2026 round (South Australia)

South Australia's Music Development Office runs two parallel streams here, each worth up to AUD 15,000, and you pick one per round rather than applying to both. Stream A is for the musicians themselves: recording and performing artists, songwriters, producers and managers applying on an artist's behalf, funding things like studio time, engineer and producer fees, touring travel, equipment upgrades and marketing for original material. Stream B is for the businesses around them, among them studios, labels, promoters, booking agents and venues, funding staging equipment, new business-model costs such as licensing or legal advice, and professional development like mentorship or conference attendance.

To qualify you need to be South Australian and have been operating in the state for at least six months, hold an active ABN, be solvent, and be working with original music rather than covers, tribute acts or DJ sets of other people's tracks. There is no fixed match requirement, but the guidelines encourage applicants to bring their own cash or in-kind contribution and to flag clearly in the budget which parts of the project could be cut if the award comes in partial. Applications go through the SmartyGrants portal and need a biography, a clear project plan with timeline and budget, evidence of audience reach, and references or supporting material if you have them. An industry panel weighs creative and professional merit, how realistic the budget and plan are, how much the project would advance your career or business, and overall value for money. This round opened 6 October and closes 4 November 2026 for activity in 2027.