Deadline: April 7, 2015
The Music Mobility Fund is a funding mechanism which offers
opportunities for South African musicians to undertake live music tours. Music
professionals are invited to apply for funding from a National Mobility Fund
(for projects in South Africa), and a Regional Mobility Fund (for projects
taking place in other SADC countries).
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 and
Concerts Norway. The project aims to support the growth of the live music
sector in South Africa through research, skills development, competence
building and, through its work with venues and promoters, develop 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 in 2013
and 118 in 2014, and provided support to 30 projects. Live music tour
performances, research-based collaborations and professional creative exchange
have taken place in Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland
and Zimbabwe. Recipients included artists Ihhashi Elimhlope, Maqhinga Radebe,
The Brother Moves On, Bateleur, and businesses Motif Records and The Word N
Sound Company, amongst others.
A full recipient list is available at www.concertssa.co.za, and previous
recipients of the Music Mobility Fund will not be eligible for consideration in
this call for proposals.
Madala Kunene, highly respected KZN-based musician and 2014
Mobility Fund recipient had this to say about his recent tour: “The support of
Concerts SA really helped me lately. I was not able to find opportunities at
the beginning of this year, especially in January – a difficult month for us
artists. Thanks to the Music Mobility Fund, I was able to work at many
different venues across the Western Cape and Gauteng. It was easy to travel
because the Mobility Fund support covered touring costs. Everywhere I performed
people were very happy and very responsive to my music, so I will just add:
power to Concerts SA and The SAMRO Foundation!”
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 six months.
National Projects:
Artists from all provinces are invited to apply for national projects taking
place in one or more provinces. The province(s) in which the project is to take
place must be different to the one in which the artist is based. Successful
applications will not be eligible for additional CSA funding support in the
three 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.
Applicants should complete the application form in English,
and submit it before April 7, 2015, with 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, biography, etc.); budget of the project
(including projected income and expenditure); and a calendar of activities with
tour schedule. SADC regional projects should include a letter from the local
host confirming their support and involvement.
Enquiries and applications should be submitted by e-mail to concertssa@samro.org.za, by fax to
086 500 7028 or by post to Concerts SA, The SAMRO Foundation, 20 De Korte
Street, 4th Floor SAMRO Place, Braamfontein, Johannesburg, 2017.
For more information please visit http://concertssa.co.za, follow on Twitter
at http://twitter.com/ConcertsSA or
like on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ConcertsSA