Applications are now being accepted for a new music grant fund to distribute sponsorship revenue from the 2013 Kootenay Music Awards.
Proceeds from the award show this past May — which the Nelson Star's parent company Black Press was a major sponsor of, along with Nelson Brewing Company and more than a dozen Kootenay businesses — will continue benefit local bands and aspiring musicians by funding at least eight grants of up to $300. A total of $2,400 will be distributed.
The money can be used for anything music related, such as buying a new instrument, covering fuel expenses for a tour, or booking studio time to record some tracks. Individuals or groups can apply on their own behalf or for somebody else they feel would be a worthy recipient, as long as they live in the Kootenays.
"We want to spread around the money to as many people as possible," explained Kootenay Music Awards organizer Chad Hansen. "If there's one group of people who can stretch a dollar, it's starving artists."
A panel from Kootenay Co-op Radio will review the applications and decide how to dole out the funds. Anyone interested in being considered for a grant should send an email to kma@kootenaycoopradio.com by December 31 at midnight.
Your email application should outline how much funding is being requested, for who, and how it would be used, as well as relevant contact information for the panel to get in touch with you.
Winners will be announced in January.