“Life changing, soul shaking, awe inspiring – you come in one human and leave as another with 30+ other humans by your side.”
– Jamila Grace – GRXCE, Kitschen Boy, Salary Men
“The Seed workshop was a formative experience that reshaped my understanding of what it means to be an efficient, empathetic, and successful artist manager—teaching me that true leadership in this role lies in balancing strategic thinking with deep emotional intelligence and unwavering support for the artist’s vision.”
– Chris Bettiol – Telenova, George Alice, Edward Quinn
“This workshop was a total game-changer. It cracked me open and gave me a whole new perspective on my music career, helping me develop the tools, mindset, and connections to approach the business side with the same creativity and clarity I bring to my songwriting.”
– Joe Mungovan – self-managed artist
“The Seed is an intensive music industry survival skills program that embodies the spirit of sharing, generosity, vulnerability and resource swapping. It shows by example that we are better together, and instills a sense of common purpose and connection in a notoriously siloed industry. I wish I could do it every year.”
– Tyler McLoughlin – Bobby Alu
“Working in the music industry can be an incredibly isolating experience. The seed fund provides a critical avenue for us as self-managed artists to build connection and community to fracture this isolation.”
– Charlotte LeLievre – self-managed artist
Powerfully advocating for artists and managers, The Seed Fund has become a cornerstone in the contemporary music landscape. Starting life in 2005, The Seed Fund, spearheaded by directors John Butler and Danielle Caruana and managing director Stacia Goninon, has spent decades raising vital funds and advocating for the artistic community; and today, The Seed Fund is proud to announce another round of its flagship Management Workshop Program once again in 2026.
Applications for The Seed Fund’s Management Workshop will open this Friday, the 19th September fromhttps://www.theseedfund.org/management, and will close on Friday 31st October.
Created by artists for artists, The Seed Fund Management Workshop Program began in 2006 as a way to bring emerging artist managers and self-managed artists together with industry leaders to share resources and impart wisdom, creating new national networks.
The Seed Fund’s Management Workshop Program is a NSW based, national professional development training for up to 35 emerging managers and self-managed artists. The program is holistically designed; a 5 day workshop immersion, followed by 12 months of mentoring. Participants develop interstate and territory networks with alumni, peers and industry leaders and practical skills to propel their careers.
The Seed Fund has shown an unwavering dedication to shaping the industry through practical, peer driven support and importantly, is the only national management program catering to self-managed artists. Over the space of 19 years, The Seed Fund has delivered 13 management workshop programs, kickstarting a horde of careers along the way, marking a triumphant return in 2025 following a hiatus against the pandemic years.
“It was amazing to be back in 2025,” shares managing director Stacia Goninon. “From the applications opening to the workshop we felt the surge of what was out there waiting for us. It was nice to be able to feel that even after a break we could just pick up where we left off.”
“I think what COVID offered was a chance to really reflect on how we spend our time and energy,” Stacia continues. “So, deciding to bring the program back was a decision we did not take lightly at all. I think our workshop intensive in 2025 was the best yet. I would expect them to get better every time we delivery them (or why bother right?), but there was a level of commitment and intentionality in the cohort that felt particularly alive, the program was sharp, our delivery is always improving and we have no doubts about who we are, what we are doing, why we are doing and where we fit and serve in the eco system of the industry and music community.”
Spanning some of the biggest behind-the-scenes names in the Australian music industry, The Seed Fund’s Management Workshop Program alumni includes Katy Steele, Van Picken, Andrew Stone, Jen Cloher, Jodie Regan, Luke Girgis, Maggie Collins, Fred Leone, Jake Mason, Melody Forghani, Anthony Zaccaria, Monique Rothstein, Scott Mesiti, Leah Flanagan, Jess Beston, Katie Besgrove, Nick Lynagh, Rick Chazan, Nicole BZ, Rowan Brand and many more.
“The workshop really is an intensive, there’s no doubt about that, the fact that we get to take people away from their everyday lives and put them in a room with others who are on similar but distinct paths really reminds them that they are not alone…they get to build an instant community,” says Stacia.
“It is an example of who we can be as a community, shown in real time. It is model making of how we are better as a collective than a bunch of competing individuals. It capitalises on our most important assets – the energy of our shared passion for music and the innate generosity of us as a collective of professionals,” adds Danielle.
“Watching the cohorts all become their own network and then finding ways to support and uplift each other is my favourite light bulb moment, the moment where they have the – aha…I thought I was coming here for me.. but this is an “us” situation,” shares Danielle.
With over 300 managers and self-funded artists coming through the program since its inception, and the distribution of over $1.8 million dollars through grants and initiatives, The Seed Fund’s legacy is only set to grow with its 2026 iconic Management Workshop Program return, fostering and invigorating the future of the music industry, and bringing together like-minded yet silo-ed individuals into a thriving eco-system.
“To me – magic is the first word I always use when telling people about the workshops,” says Danielle. “And The Seed Fund is a collective effort. We are constantly surprised at the alchemy when you intentionally bring people together.
“The thing I love the most is the legacy of connection,” Stacia concludes. “Every time I see a festival line up, or I go to a music conference I can spot seed alumni (and speakers) all over the place, and more so, they spot each other. I’m at BIGSOUND right now and ran into two people who were at the first ever workshop in 2006, it’s a very humbling legacy! So the fact that we are able to keep growing this community is so special and important to our values as an organisation.”
Applications for The Seed Fund’s Management Workshop are open now from https://www.theseedfund.org/management, and will close on Friday 31st October.
The Seed fund thanks Sound NSW for their support.
For more information, visit https://www.theseedfund.org/
