Now or Never

                    Interior of darkened concert space with dramatic lighting
                    PROGRAM CALL OUT FOR 2024 NOW CLOSED

                    ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Now or Never will returns in 2024, showcasing art, ideas, sound, technology, and future thinking. 

                    This festival explores potential futures through a carefully curated program of pioneering audio and visual art, performance, visionary thinkers, digital culture, and commissioned work.

                    For program updates, subscribe to Now or Never.  

                    ​You can reach the Now or Never team at nowornever@melbourne.vic.gov.au

                    If you would like to discuss commercial partnership opportunities, email us at eventpartnerships@melbourne.vic.gov.au​​

                    Key dates

                    Program call-out opens: Thursday 12 October 2023, 10am AEDT

                    Program call-out closes: Wednesday 22 November 2023, 5pm AEDT

                    ​Assessment by Now or Never programming team and external industry advisors: November 2023 – January 2024

                    Outcomes advised: February 2024

                    Now or Never 2024 festival date range: Thursday 22 August – Saturday 7 September 2024

                    Support

                    For successful projects, Now or Never offers:

                    • Project investment ranging from up to $20,000 - $50,000 per project, commensurate with the project’s scale and projected attendance
                    • In addition to the fee request, an amount of up to $2,000 will be considered for specific access costs to help reduce barriers for Deaf and Disabled, neuro-diverse and chronically ill creative practitioners involved in the project. Access costs must specifically support artists in the development or presentation of the work (for example artist transport, support worker, carer, Auslan).
                    • Production and operations support that may include venue in kind provision, public space permitting, and technical support.
                    • ​Festival event marketing support, ticketing and promotion

                    Eligibility and selection criteria

                    This program call-out is open to independent artists, collectives, and small-to-medium organisations. For large organisations, tertiary institutions and cultural institutions and commercial entities, please contact eventpartnerships@melbourne.vic.gov.au to explore a commercial partnership with reciprocal benefits. These partnerships will be negotiated on a case by case basis, appropriate to the proposed projects.

                    Projects will be assessed against the following criteria, noting that your project doesn’t need to reflect all of these criteria.

                    ​1. Creativity, technology and innovation

                    • Collaboration between high-calibre contemporary artists, researchers and/or innovators
                    • Showcases technology and/or ideas that will shape our future
                    • ​Profiles Victorian talent with national/international reputation

                    ​2. Viability

                    • Projects that are realistic in scale for available budget and project timeline
                    • Has, or plans to secure, additional funding sources (may include in kind support)
                    • ​Support material speaks to creative concept and showcases the applicant’s history of delivering projects

                    ​3. Local connection – Melbourne / Narrm

                    • Victorian-based applicants and/or businesses
                    • Connects with local Aboriginal knowledge systems, technologies and/or artistic practice
                    • Responds specifically to locality or site within the City of Melbourne municipality.

                    Eligible projects will:

                    • Occur during festival date range, 22 August – 7 September 2024, or be a work in progress for the 2025 festival
                    • Align with the festival programming pillars: Art, Technology, Sound and Ideas
                    • Align with the festival project planning deadlines
                    • Have an in-person, public outcome within the City of Melbourne municipality 
                    • Promote the diverse nature of Melbourne (including cultural, accessible, gender and genre diversity)
                    • Engage with environmentally sustainable practices
                    • Fulfill the terms and conditions - see 'Program call-out terms and conditions' section below.

                    Assessment process

                    ​The assessment process involves a selection panel comprising industry advisors and the Now or Never programming team. Projects will be evaluated based on creativity, viability, local connection to Melbourne/Narrm, and their alignment with the festival's themes. Accessibility, diversity, and sustainability are important considerations for project evaluation. The programming team may request to meet with you for further details about your project and will make the final curatorial decision.

                    Program call-out terms and conditions

                    • Applications close Wednesday 22 November 2023, 5pm AEDT. Submissions after the closing date will not be considered unless extenuating circumstances prevail, as determined by City of Melbourne.
                    • Acknowledgement of receipt of your application does not guarantee acceptance into the festival program.
                    • Inclusion in the festival program will only be official once a contract with a letter of acceptance has been agreed to between City of Melbourne and the applicant.
                    • Applications are reviewed and short-listed by a panel including the festival programming team and industry advisors, and final recommendation is at the discretion of the selection panel.
                    • Priority for acceptance into the festival program will be given to applications that meet the selection criteria. · Successful will be notified in February 2024.
                    • City of Melbourne has overall responsibility for the delivery of the festival, and maintains creative, directional, and conceptual control of event components.
                    • City of Melbourne reserves the right to reject an application where:
                      • There is conflict with the festival’s theme, objectives, partners or sponsors.
                      • There is not adequate evidence to show the project will be delivered to the standards proposed by the application.
                      • The application forms, or is about, a promotional offer, retail discount, competition, marketing campaign or online business/initiative.
                      • The application does not consider diversity, sustainability and accessibility.
                    • Successful applicants must agree to:
                      • Use the festival branding, logo and campaign template on all event communications and promotions.
                      • Be available to attend meetings and provide event delivery progress documentation as requested by Now or Never.​
                      • Participate in compulsory official event research conducted by Now or Never during and post event.
                      • Commit to working in partnership with Now or Never to enhance the sustainability of the event e.g., sharing emissions generated during festival dates toward carbon-neutrality status.
                      • Work with the festival ticketing provider to ticket the event (unless agreed otherwise and discussed prior to the event).
                      • Support and work in line with the contract terms set out by Now or Never’s commercial partnerships strategy.
                      • Encourage ticket sales and interest through their own marketing and social media platforms.
                      • ​Comply with Now or Never’s photography and videography guidelines.

                    How to apply

                    Apply now for the Now or Never program 2024​.​

                    If you're looking to ask our team about this year's Program Call-out you can book a one-on-one information session​ ​prior to the closing date. Our programming team can arrange 15 minute 1:1 online sessions to discuss your ideas and questions until Wednesday 15 November 2023.

                    To apply, submit a one-page document or a short video (max 5-minutes) detailing your project, including information about yourself, the project, and your resource needs. A budget template (XLSX 42 KB)​ is provided.

                    The one-page document or short video should include the following:

                    • About you – Who are you? What do you make? Who do you work with?
                    • Your project – What is your project about? Who is your audience? How will it be presented? What stage of development is it at? Does your project suit a particular venue? Are there any exclusivity concerns we should be aware of?
                    • ​Resources – What do you have and have do you need? This may include budgetary assistance, venue, equipment etc. How many people are you working with? You may indicate that you already have resources or funding.

                    Contact Now or Never

                    ​You can reach the Now or Never Programming team Annette Vieusseux, Executive Producer nowornever@melbourne.vic.gov.au If you would like to discuss commercial partnership opportunities, please contact the team at eventpartnerships@melbourne.vic.gov.au​

                    Program call-out frequently asked questions

                    Can I apply to the program callout with more than one project?

                    ​Yes you can. Please submit a new application per project/idea. 

                    When is the 2024 program announced?

                    June 2024.

                    What if my project won’t be ready for presentation in 2024, can I apply for future years?

                    ​Yes, please submit your application so that the panel can consider your idea for the 2025 edition.

                    My project has already received funding through another City of Melbourne grant program, can I apply for additional funding through this program call-out?

                    Activities that have already been funded by another City of Melbourne grants, sponsorship or expression-of-interest program are ineligible to apply to this program call-out for the same project in the same timeframe. If it’s a new project – separate to any other event or activation you’ve already received funding, or have been approved to receive funding for – you can submit an application.
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