Chitra. Photo by Izzie Austin

Entries are now open for The UpStart Award, offering a $10,000 grant to emerging Victorian songwriters

The UpStart Award is an annual grant of $10,000 to an emerging Victoria singer-songwriter.

The annual award is funded by a music-loving family in Melbourne and the winner will be decided by a panel of local artists and music experts.

You might still be busking, you may have recorded a few tracks, or you might be playing pub gigs; but you’re not on the map yet. Well, then this could be the award for you.

Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.

The award will be adjudicated by a panel consisting of Victorian artists Angie McMahon and Shane Howard, and a range of industry experts from community radio, retail, and streaming services.

Applications opened on Friday July 14 and close at midnight August 31. The winner will be announced in mid-November.

Entrants for the UpStart Award must be individual songwriters; no bands. If you are in a band, the application may be submitted (and therefore awarded to) the band’s songwriter.

Their definition of an emerging artist means you are not signed to a major record company and you have not played major venues regularly. You are in the development stage of your music career.

Plus, you need to live in Victoria and have lived here for the last two years.

Previous winners include:

• 2017 Jade Imagine
• 2018 Ryan Downey
• 2019 Gena Rose Bruce
• 2020 Chitra Ridwan
• 2021 Georgia Delves (Georgia State Line)

All entries should be sent to info@upstart.org.au. For more info, head to their website here.

WORDS BY STAFF WRITER