Arts Writer
PLANNING a music tour but unsure how to fund it? Apply to Concerts SA’s Music Mobility Fund, which will select new projects to support in April. This tour funding mechanism offers opportunities for professional local musicians to undertake live tours in the country, as well as other SADC countries.
The fund provides support for gigs, collaborations and performance-based workshops. The deadline for submissions is April 3. Tours should take place between late April and October 30.
Since it was initiated in 2013, the venture has supported more than 70 tours, featuring artists such as Wendy Oldfield and Paul Hanmer, Ihashi Elimhlophe, Pops Mohamed and Dave Reynolds, Carlo Mombelli, Morayks and Thandi Ntuli.
These projects have fanned out to Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zimbabwe, spanning genres from jazz to indigenous music, from folk to hip-hop and kwaito.
The Fund is administered by Concerts SA, a joint SA/Norwegian project housed within The SAMRO Foundation. Working with musicians, promoters, venue owners and music sector stakeholders, the project aims to build a vibrant and viable live music circuit, and it also seeks to develop an appreciation of music by conducting workshops at schools.
Legendary Tananas guitarist Steve Newman says, “The Concerts SA Mobility Fund has been a blessing to touring musicians like me, enabling the trio to play around the country. Touring can be expensive and the Mobility Fund has made this easier because they covered travel expenses, accommodation, food and hiring of extra sound gear. It is fairly easy to apply for funding and once done, it becomes easier, especially for an independent artist not playing mainstream repertoire. I would encourage musicians wanting to tour to apply.”
Unlearning Ensemble leader Sibusile Xaba says: “As independent artists, touring is important for various reasons. Firstly it allowed us the opportunity to present our music in different countries, expanding the number of people who appreciate our music. Secondly, it is a great platform where independent artists are able to gain a chance in sharing ideas, information and skills with fellow artists from different places, allowing one the opportunity to learn not only music, but humanity, culture, environment, agriculture, diversities, similarities, linguistics, history, justices and injustices, amongst many other elements which I believe contribute greatly in moulding the artist one is or becomes. It can help activate alternative spaces which can be used as ‘unconventional’ art spaces. The fund provides support towards travel and transportation, as well as per diems, material costs.”
Artists can apply for national projects in any South African province(s). The bulk of the activities must take place outside the province where the artist is based.
l Email concertssa@samro. org.za, fax 086 500 7028, post Concerts SA, c/o SAMRO Foundation, 20 De Korte Street, 4th Floor SAMRO Place, Braamfontein, Johannesburg, 2001. www.concertssa.co.za/call-out-music-mobility-fund-2016-april