Pictured: Zaachariaha Fielding, Electric Fields, Photo: Diana Sautelle

Thanks to the generosity of a private philanthropist, Music SA is offering a study scholarship for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person to study the business of contemporary music. Music SA has matched the donation with a paid internship in the Music SA office.

The 2019 scholarship will see the recipient undertake the nationally accredited CUA40915 Certificate IV in Music Industry (business) taught by Music SA, a Registered Training Organisation. Commencing in February 2019, the course runs two days a week over a 12-month period. Coupled with the study scholarship that covers the cost of tuition, Music SA will provide the selected student with the opportunity to work one day a week in the Music SA office.

The aim is to allow a self-managed musician to build knowledge and network with some of the best in the business at major events such as Bigsound, Umbrella: Winter City Sounds and the South Australian Music Awards, alongside the Music SA crew.

General Manager of Music SA Lisa Bishop says of the opportunity: “We are thrilled to be able to offer an Indigenous musician an incredible year of learning and work experience. I’m so grateful to the private philanthropist who has enabled this financial support. The Music SA team is looking forward to welcoming and supporting a new Intern to the team!”

Applications are now open online at the Music SA website www.musicsa.com.au. South Australian residents are encouraged to apply. Applications close January 31 with the recipient to be selected early February.

Trials from award winning duo A.B. Original says the opportunity is something for young artists to jump at: “Calling all self-managed Indigenous Artists – this is the next step you’ve been looking for. Being a part of a network is something that usually comes natural to us where as the ‘industry’ often doesn’t.

Opportunities like this weren’t available when I began writing songs and the impact I could’ve had even earlier with these available are not lost on me, don’t let them be lost on you – make your mark, make a change.” Trials (Daniel Rankine)

Michael Hutchings, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander National Representative at APRA AMCOS added, “Every opportunity counts and this demonstrates that it takes one small partnership between a philanthropist and a not-for-profit company to provide a career defining opportunity. It’s an important practical part of the South Australia music industry’s efforts to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander songwriters.”

In recent years, Nexus Multicultural Arts Centre, Semaphore Music Festival, the Stigwood Fellowship, the Adelaide Fringe and the Music Development Office’s grant program has supported Indigenous contemporary musicians in South Australia including Trials, Electric Fields, Corey Theatre, Jessica Wishart and Nancy Bates, to name a few. SA also has a long tradition of outstanding Australian indigenous music education through the Centre for Aboriginal Studies in Music (CASM).

The Certificate IV in Music Industry (business) course commences in February 2019 through Music SA, located at the St Paul’s Creative Centre in the CBD of Adelaide.

APPLY HERE: 

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Scholarship 2019