PPCA and Australia Council today announce the recipients of five grants of $15,000 offered under an innovative partnership between the two organisations.

This is the fourth round of grants, which were first launched in October 2013. Through the partnership, a diverse range of Australian artists have been assisted in the creation of new sound recordings.

Minister for the Arts, Senator the Hon Mitch Fifield said the Australian Government strongly supported the partnership between PPCA and the Australia Council.

“The ongoing partnership between the PPCA and the Australia Council demonstrates the effectiveness of Government partnering with the private sector to help deliver fantastic outcomes,” he said.

“Congratulations to all the successful artists whose work will be supported by these grants.”

PPCA was delighted to again partner with the Australia Council, drawing on the Council’s extensive expertise managing peer-assessed grant programs for the arts sector.

PPCA Chief Executive, Dan Rosen, said:  “On behalf of PPCA, I would like to congratulate all of the artists who were successful in securing funding. We were extremely pleased by the range and number of applicants in this round of grants. We look forward to hearing the recordings that emerge as a result of this funding and wish all of the recipients the very best over the course of their recording careers. I would like to thank the Australia Council for their ongoing assistance and look forward to our continuing partnership.”

Australia Council Chief Executive, Tony Grybowski, said:“The Australia Council’s latest research ‘Connecting Australians’ found that 97% of Australians are choosing to listen to recorded music, which reinforces the importance of supporting new recordings by Australian artists. The report also found that the majority of us think Australian arts reflect the diversity of the nation. All the funded projects this year are led by either female artists or First Nations artists, sending a great message about the energy and diversity of contemporary Australian music.”

After a rigorous application process, recipients of the fourth PPCA Australia Council grants have been chosen across a range of genres from electronica to contemporary singer-songwriters:

• Sydney singer-songwriter Katie Wighton to record & promote the second album for female country vocal group All Our Exes Live in Texas
• Indigenous Australian and Tongan singer David Leha aka Radical Son will Record  the YANAYA project – a unique music collaboration between first nation artists in language and song
• Perth avant-electronic artist Laura Jane Lowther  aka KUCKA to record, release & promote her debut album
• Chris Read will record and release a new album with the Western Australia-Wingellina based Irrunytju Band. Wingellina, is a Ngaanyatjarra community tucked inside the Western Australia border 10 kms from the tri state border of WA, NT and SA.
• Melbourne songwriter/musician Ella Thompson will record and release her second solo album ‘Like Running Water’

In addition, Gordi, a recipient of the last round of PPCA & Australia Council grants, will be releasing her album ‘Reservoir’ on the 25^th August through via Jagjaguwar worldwide and Liberation/Mushroom in Australia/NZ.

PPCA represents thousands of Australian recording artists when their music is used in public. In 2016 PPCA distributed over $38 million to its registered artists and record labels. Registration for Australian artists is free. Go to www.ppca.com.au for further information or contact:

Adrian Di Giacomo, PPCA – Communications Manager – (02) 8569 1185

Kate Clark, Australia Council for the Arts – Director Communications – 0409 002 931