The mob in action at the 2009 Darwin Songwriters Retreat, Mount Bundy Station, NT.

Music NT received a $15 000 arts grant to continue its Songwriters Retreat Program, started in 2009.

On June 18, 2010, Minister for Arts and Museums Gerry McCarthy announced that Music NT was one of 23 Territory organisations and individuals to receive a total of $270 000 through the Territory Government’s March 2010 Project Round.

The Songwriters Retreats are part of Music NT’s commitment to supporting the development of original music in the NT. The Retreats focus on providing opportunities for Northern Territory songwriters. They involve musicians collaborating with each other in the process of creating new music and provide the framework for artists to explore their creativity, allowing them the opportunity to work with other songwriters from distinctly different backgrounds, while providing a natural setting in which to create.

The 2010 Retreats will again be held at the Mount Bundy Station for Darwin region musicians, November 12-14, 2010, and the Ross River Homestead for Alice region musicians December 10-12, 2010.

Read about the 2009 Alice and Darwin Retreats on the Music NT Forum.

Words: Megan Spencer