Bakehouse Studios announces bursaries for women in music

Bakehouse Studios today announced new music bursaries for women and non-binary musicians to encourage greater participation in the music community.

The bursaries for fully-supported studio time will be offered quarterly and were announced at the One of One International Women’s Day Women in Music Breakfast 2021.

Women have been disproportionally affected by the pandemic, often as primary caregivers for children and parents, and over-represented in unstable casual and part-time work. In the case of music and the arts, we have seen an unprecedented attrition of women - both established and emerging - from our industry with many abandoning their craft altogether.

To help remedy this, Bakehouse are introducing ten quick-release bursaries for rehearsal packages to encourage and invest in greater participation of women in live performance, creation of new work, collaboration and skills development. Each bursary consists of three off-peak rehearsal sessions and full backline at Bakehouse Studios in Richmond. The bursaries allow flexibility for music practice and rehearsal and encourages collaboration between musicians & other creatives.

A percentage of the bursaries will be exclusively for First Nations artists, CALD artists and artists living with disability. There will also be subsidies on a sliding scale offered to a selection of other artists who apply. Whilst the bursaries will be looking at merit, they will predominantly be hardship-based.

To launch the project, Bakehouse Studios owner, Helen Marcou AM, announced the first recipient of the Bakehouse bursaries at the One of One International Women’s Day event.

The inaugural recipient is Melbourne-based guitarist, Bonnie Mercer. On being announced as the inaugural bursary recipient, Bonnie says: “Thank you so much Bakehouse! I look forward to having the time and access to an inspiring space to expand my personal artistic practice, and to forge new and existing collaborations.”

The remaining nine successful recipients will be announced in the coming weeks.

Applications are now open to women and gender non-conforming musicians at all stages of their careers.

Bursaries will be valid for rehearsal sessions for three months from endowment. Solo artists or women-led bands may apply. Applications for this round close Tuesday 23rd March at 5.00pm EST.