These 2 awards have been created for, by and with creatives in their communities, as an artistic intervention to increase visibility, participation, and equity in the music scene towards a new music ecology.
Amplify Award for a Deaf and/or Disabled Musician, presented by Arts Access Victoria
Diaspora Award for a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Musician
Entrants in these categories must:
- have been active between 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024. This can include rehearsing, performing (live or online), writing, collaborating and/or releasing music.
- have recorded audio of at least 1 song or track. This can be a home recording, demo, live performance or previously released single.
- identify as a member of the relevant community. (Groups must be creatively led by members of the relevant community.)
Full eligibility details can be found in the submission form.
Judging for this category is completed by a panel, made up of members of the relevant community, who are paid an honorarium for their contribution.
Acknowledgement for First Nations Artists
With First Nations Artists now winning and nominated across every category, in 2024 the Archie Roach Foundation enabled Music Victoria to focus on making the process more culturally appropriate. This has seen Music Victoria begin the process by developing a guidance group who will set the timelines, eligibility, criteria, and prize for 2024 and offer wrap around support.
“Competition was never something that Dad was keen on.” – Amos Roach
“It’s great Music Victoria is still supporting and honouring Indigenous musicians. Our Songlines always have and always will continue.” – Kutcha Edwards
“We are delighted to see that the Music Victoria Awards will continue to uplift and showcase emerging First Nations talent in Victoria.” – Uncle Robbie, Songlines
“Having a specific First Nations award acknowledges the many barriers First Nations people have to overcome in the industry and generates multiple opportunities for all nominees.” – Bumpy, previous Nominee and Winner.
Music Victoria are delighted to share that after working with closely with Uncle Kutcha Edwards, Uncle Robbie Bundle, Amos Roach, Neil Morris (DRMNGNOW), Allara Briggs Pattison, Candice Lorrae, Amy Dowd (Bumpy), Kee’ahn Bindol, and Charlie Woodes (Charlie Needs Braces) this year’s awards will feature the newly created Footprint Award.
This new Award is for and from mob, acknowledging a musical artist who (perhaps unbeknownst to themselves) has created a lasting legacy through their music, as well as their actions. The winner of the inaugural Footprint Award will be revealed on Thursday October 24.
To be kept across this process of evolution please sign up here.
“We thank all past ARF award entrants, nominees, winners, judges, performers, members and Aboriginal Elders past and present, and the wider First People music community for their ongoing engagement and commitment to continuing culture.” – Simone Schinkel, CEO, Music Victoria
If you are a First Nations artist based in Victoria let us know below:
Entries
Open
9am Monday
1 July 2024
Entries
Close
2pm Friday
19 July 2024
Nominees
Announced
9am Monday
2 September 2024
Public Voting
Closes
12 noon Tuesday
1 October 2024
Awards
Ceremony
6pm Thursday
24 October 2024
Contemporary Music Victoria Inc.
Unit 1, 35 Johnston Street
Collingwood Yards
Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country
Collingwood VIC 3066
Music Victoria advocates, celebrates and supports on the unceded lands of the peoples of the Kulin Nation. We pay our respects to Elders, past and present, as well as to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. We deeply respect the role that music and songlines play and have played in the continuation of their culture for the past 60,000+ years.