SPEAK: INDIGENOUS HIP HOP COMPETITION TOTAL FUNDING $25,000

Impossible Odds to record 5 track EP
Impossible Odds are an Indigenous Hip Hop act from Brisbane, they will travel to Sydney to record a 5 track EP with Tony Buchen in his studio. The grant will cover all costs, including Tony’s fee, studio hire, mixing and mastering, travel, accommodation, per diems, artwork and the production of 1000 copies once the EP is completed.

SOCIAL ACTIVISM THROUGH THE ARTS TOTAL FUNDING $27,250

Cultural Arts Tour [Funding grant $5,000] -Indigenous Students from the Yarrabah State School in QLD will travel to Melbourne to undertake a cultural dance tour under the guidance of Paul Sampson. Performances will take place in Federation Square in Melbourne, the Royal Melbourne Zoo and various schools in the local area. Read More

Growing up two ways [Funding grant $4,350] -Malcolm McKinnon will record a documentary to pass on stories of life at Finnis Springs Aboriginal Mission whilst imparting hands on skills in digtial story telling to Reg Dodd, leader in the Marree Arabunna community. The aim is to produce a series of stories in digital multi-media for exhibitions at the Aboriginal Cultures Gallery at the South Australian Museum, the Arabunna Community Centre and Museum and on line through the Museum's 'Speaking Land' website. The final product will also be utilised as a curriculum resource in Aboriginal Education within schools and TAFE colleges by the South Australian Department of Education & Children's Services.

Anmatjere Man [Funding grant $5,000] – Based in Alice Springs Tony Scrutten and Anna Cadden of PAW Media will produce a documentary exploring the life of Anmatjere Man, Charlie Jungarrayi Cotpot, his extraordinary life and his positive influence for Anmatjere people today. The documentary will be broadcast on ICTV (Indigenous Community TV) and PAW Media will host community screening events in Anmatjere communities and submitted to various programs at the ABC.

StepUp [Funding grant $3,400] - Pip Denis and Karen Therese of the PACT Theatre Company in Erskineville will co-ordinate StepUp. StepUp will operate on a cyclic 3 tier mentoring structure. Professional Indigenous Artists will work with emerging artists (18-26yrs). The emerging Artists will then mentor & share their skills with 8-18yr olds from the Redfern Community Centre. This process will culminate in a high calibre presentation of new contemporary Aboriginal artworks, participation in Gathering Ground for The Sydney Festival 2008 & a tour of the StepUp program for presentation in the Nextwave Festival in Melbourne 2008.

Biripi and Worimi Boys [Funding grant $5,000] – Taree, NSW, Shivanii Cameron to produce a documentary about the Indigenous bush regeneration team and the cultural canoe ecotourism enterprise of the Purfleet-Taree local Aboriginal Land Council. Filming will take place betwen July and December 2007. The film will be launched in Taree, submitted to film festivals nationally and internationally, included in the Moving Lens/Rainforest Rescue national film tour in 2008, distributed to conservation councils and Aboriginal Land Councils.

The Nuclear Posters [Funding grant $4,500] - Lou Smith and Tom Sevil from Breakdown Press in Carlton, VIC will produce a collection of political posters designed by Australian Artists and writers that educate and raise awareness on the issues of Uranium mining, Nuclear testing, Nuclear weapons, Nuclear waste and a sustainable Nuclear free future. Posters to be printed and made available for sale via bookshops, stalls, websites and community organisations. Exhibitions and other distribution to take place across the East Coast of Australia.

PROFESSIONAL & SKILLS DEVELOPMENT TOTAL FUNDING $22,774

Eleanor Betts [Funding grant $3,000] - Eleanor from Pennant Hills, NSW will travel from Sydney to Vienna to undertake Cello lessons with Michael Williams. Michael has played as principal Cello of the Australian Chamber Orchestra and has maintained a very successful career in both Europe and Australia.

Tom Vincent [Funding grant $1,420] - Tom Vincent is a recording artist and composer from North Hobart in Tasmania. Tom will undertake private tuition in audio computer recording, sequencing and editing with local audio engineer George Goerss.

Steve Falk [Funding grant $2,200] - Steve Falk is a freelance musician from Melbourne who will travel to Tokyo to undertake a graduate course for international Marimba students. Keiko Abe from the Toho Gakuen School of Music will be conducting the master classes.

Geoff Slingsby [Funding grant $3,000] - Geoff Slingsby is one member of ‘Brittle, an energetic punk rock band from Ballina in NSW. All 3 members, Geoff, Ben and Billy will undertake music mentorships with teachers of their chosen instrument – Geoff will have drumming lessons with David Sanders, Billy will have Bass Guitar lessons with Michael Porter, Ben will have Guitar lessons with Michael Porter also, and then all 3 will have vocal lessons with Leigh Carriage. 

Dana Ogle [Funding grant $3,000] - Dana Ogle is a musician from Perth and has been an accompanist at WAAPA for contemporary dance techniques improvisation since 1998. Dana will travel to Chennai, Southern India to undertake lessons with Guru Tanjore K. Murugaboopathi in South Indian percussion instrument, Mridangam.

Glen Donnelly [Funding grant $2,800] - Glen Donnelly is a Violin and Viola player from NSW who has been playing since he was 8 years old. Glen will travel to Siena, Italy to undertake a 10 day course of Viola master classes with some of Europe's leading ensemble Artists such as Paul Silverthorne and Andriy Viytovych. 

The Funky Turtles [Funding grant $2,554] - Ballarat based band, the Funky Turtles will travel to Melbourne to undertake songwriting sessions with Rebecca Barnard. Rebecca has been singing and performing since she was 14, she formed Rebecca’s Empire who had much Australian success. Sessions will take place at the Footscray Community Arts Centre and will build on songwriting skills on an individual and group level. 

Simone Walters [Funding grant $2,800] - Simone Walters is a professional musician who has played Bassoon with the Melbourne, Queensland, Tasmanian and West Australian symphony orchestras. Simone will undertake Bassoon lessons with Matthew Wilkie at his home studio in Sydney. During his career, Matthew has held many successful orchestral positions and was appointed principal Bassoon with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in January 2000.

MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP TOTAL FUNDING $35,000

The management workshop is an initiative of the JB Seed Fund for 2007. This program aims to address the lack of practical strategies and their implementation when managing a band or performer in the establishment phase of their career. This workshop brings together a group of significant professionals in the music industry, including Philip Stevens - John Butler’s manager, Correne Wilkie - The Cat Empire’s manager, Brett Oaten - music industry lawyer, Simon Moor - Sony A&R and publishing, Kylie Greenlees and Sebastian Chase from MGM distribution, Richard Kingsmill from triple j, Sally Howland from APRA, Paula Jones from Jones PR, Russell Thomas an independent radio promoter, to name a few! All of these representatives from the music industry will share their knowledge and offer strategic advice on ways to enhance performers’ opportunities in the music industry. The JB Seed Initiative: Management Workshop will be delivered in a three-day intensive workshop format, complemented by customised personal advice.

Open to managers, band members who are managing themselves, and established arts workers who are considering arts management as a serious career option. The program will assist successful applicants with transport to and from the workshop, accommodation and food.

The following applicants have been funded to attend the workshop;

• Michael Thornely from Brisbane manages local Hip Hop acts, 2 x MusicOz Awards winners “The Optimen”, world beatbox champion and MC “Tom Thum” (also known as “Tommy Illfigga”) and emerging act “Pure Product”. The Optimen and Tom Thum currently have national airplay in triple j and all three acts are signed independently. Michael has been managing for over a year
  
• Jason Banicevic from Parramatta, NSW manages Matt Tonks. Matt Tonks was the MusicOz Best Alternative Artist of the year in 2006. Jason has been a musician for 15 years and has taken up management in the last couple of years.
  
• Jodie Regan based in Fremantle, WA manages The Kill Devil Hills – multi WAMi Award winning 6 piece band. The KDH recently won the ‘Best Blues N Roots” WAMi for the third year in a row and have a very strong underground following all around the country. Jodie also manages Mink Mussel Creek – WAMi Award winning 5 piece. Jodie has been managing since November 2004.
  
• Liam Griffin , a self managed singer songwriter from Brisbane, has released his debut EP ‘Pictures’ through his own label, Mailbox records. Liam gained 2nd place in the Bar Soma Singer Songwriter search and has been invited to showcase at the North by North East Festival in Toronto, Canada.
  
• Tania Wilson Hughesdale in Victoria manages a 4 piece alternative rock act, Sydonia. Tania started doing publicity but upon seeing Sydonia live, 12 months ago, decided to take on their management.
  
• Gordon Anderson from Adelaide manages Mere Theory, a 4 piece melodic rock act. Gordon has been working with Mere Theory for a little over 2 years, in that time he has negotiated a number of opportunities including, 4 tours, festival appearances and a television appearance. Last year the band was selected for the Emily Burrows award for emerging South Australian artists.
  
• Dave Mann from Fremantle, WA and formed the Dave Mann collective as well as managing the band. The Dave Mann collective have toured WA extensively and have successfully undertaken national tours bi-annually. Dave has been responsible for booking gigs, budgeting, publicity, logistics and grant writing for the band.
  
• Nadia Onus - Nadia is based in Mulgoa, NSW and manages two bands, Amberdeen and Painted Stones. Nadia started her own humble management firm out of her bedroom when she was 17, she has been managing Amberdeen since late 2005 and Painted Stones since September 2006.
  
• Kelt Twidale, a self managed singer songwriter from Armadale in Victoria. He has 6 years of practical experience managing his own bookings, accounting, publicity and recording projects.
  
• Jasmine Abbott based out of Perth and manages The Sneaky Weasel Gang a fresh young band from Mandurah (about an hour out of the city) and a Perth band, Zarm. Jasmine has been involved in the entertainment industry working in promotions, marketing, event management and booking gigs.
  
• Sarah-Jane Wentzki, a solo musician Abbotsford, VIC who performs under the name of Princess One Point Five. Sarah has been managing her solo career for the last few years (since inception) and has successfully booked and arranged a single launch, two album launches and performances in Melbourne and Sydney.
  
• Buzz Thompson from Melbourne manages Dan Sultan, an Indigenous singer songwriter. Buzz has been managing Dan since 2005 and has also managed the Roys in 2004.
  
• Britta Decker from Darwin in Northern Territory and manages emerging artist Taska Urban. Britta has a graduate diploma in business administration and has worked extensively with Yothu Yindi as their European co-ordinator. Over the last 5 years Britta has been managing the contemporary music association of Music NT for the Northern Territory.
  
• Isaac Graham from Birchgrove in NSW, plays in and manages Old Kent Road, a punk rock band. Old Kent Road have spent most of 2006 gigging across their hometown of Sydney. In November 2006 Old Kent Road independently released and launched their debut EP, the Ep title track received airplay on triple j’s Home and Hosed, whilst another track was added to C rotation on FBI radio.
  
• Neda Rahmani based in Northcote, VIC manages her solo career as a singer, performer and percussionist. Neda has been performing with Artists such as Joe Camilleri, Nicky Bomba, Josh Owen and The Red Eyes.
  
• Dario Philips based in Glenorchy Tasmania manages Hannah, who formed in 2006. Dario has been responsible for organizing gigs, preparing promotional material, merchandising products, overseeing financial aspects of the business and maintaining the website.
  
• Ronit Granot based in East Brunswick in Victoria and manages Shemesh, a 4 piece group that she also fronts. Shemesh have gigged throughout Victoria and have also toured through the East Coast of Australia. Ronit advertises for gigs, books shows, handles recording as well as showcase and festival bookings.
  
• Deb Suckling from Brisbane has managed Brindle for the past 6 years. During that time Brindle has released 3 EP’s independently, 2 singles, a full length debut album whilst touring nationally and internationally. Deb has recently established her own label, Sugar Rush Records.
  
• Deb Bond from Byron Bay has been managing her solo career for the last 5 years. Deb has supported acts such as Tex Perkins, Jeff Lang, Archie Roach, Deborah Conway and Mia Dyson.
  
• Dan Banks is the front man of Canberra based band the Dan Banks Band. Dan has been working as both musician and manager since the band formed. The band have established a strong fan base in Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney through solid gigging.
  
• Marcus Ross manages Direct Influence a 6 piece reggae/soul/hip hop outfit based in Melbourne. Marcus is the guitarist in the band and has successfully booked 3 East Coast tours. Direct Influence also regularly play shows in Melbourne, Hobart and Adelaide.
  
• Kim Queen from Bondi Beach manages Waiting for Guinness, a 6 piece act. WFG have played festivals such as, Woodford Folk Festival, Fairbridge Festival, The Great Escape and National Folk Festival and were invited to perform at Montreux Jazz Festival in 2005.
  
• Mickie Selton from Cairns manages Ancient Instinct, an Indigenous Hip Hop act. Mickie organizes the Reggaefest held annually in far north Queensland and has organized tours, publicity campaigns, stages and music marketing for national and international touring acts.