Touring and Travel - FAQs

We encourage you to apply as soon as your tour is booked, confirmed and you have all the required information ready for an application. The table below shows the latest date we can accept applications, and the corresponding activity start date. 

Due to the Christmas and New Year office closure period, we can't offer a December closing date. Applications for activity in January and February 2025 will need to be submitted by 4pm on Friday 29 November. The earliest date a tour can commence is 8 January 2025.

For exceptional international opportunities (excluding tours) Sound NSW may consider supporting applications outside this schedule.

An exceptional circumstance relates to international activity that will provide significant benefit to the applicant’s career, business, or the NSW music industry. The opportunity must be urgent, does not fit the programs assessment timelines, and can only be offered in a particular timeframe.

Proof of the immediate impact for the applicant is required before consideration.

Please speak to Sound NSW staff for further advice. 

If you are from regional and remote NSW and you are successful, you will automatically qualify for an extra $500 per person to help support additional travel costs. 

Regional NSW is defined as the areas outside Greater Sydney. Sound NSW defines Greater Sydney as including the local government areas of the Northern Beaches and Hornsby Shire to the North, Hawkesbury City to the North-West,  City of Blue Mountains to the West, Wollondilly Shire to the South-West and Sutherland Shire to the South. 

Artist refers to any musician, performer or producer who is recording or performing new and original contemporary music.

Act refers to two or more artists working together to record or perform new and original contemporary music (eg a band or group). 

Industry professional refers to an individual that works with artists and acts performing new and original contemporary music. Applications from industry professionals should demonstrate how the opportunity benefits their career and long term business outcomes. 

Music business refers to a business that works with artists and acts performing new and original contemporary music.

Yes. But you can only receive one of each type each financial year. So, if you receive a domestic travel grant this financial year, you can't apply for another domestic travel grant this financial year. 

No. Showcase performances will count as a single event. But if there are other dates around the showcase performance it could count towards a tour. 

You can receive a maximum of one domestic activity grant and one international activity grant through this program per financial year. If you have received the maximum number of grants during this timeframe, you won't be eligible again until the following financial year (1 July to 30 June). 

No. We would consider this as two separate tours, and you can only receive one grant for international activity.

Yes. As long as you are performing your own new and original contemporary music that you can evidence in your application.

We can't fund performance fees as part of this program. We can only fund travel and accommodation costs, which does include per diems, but not artist fees. 

This could include an itinerary from a booking agent or direct invitation to perform from a festival, venue or promoter. Emails or screenshots of conversations confirming this are fine.