Live 3D virtual reality (VR) streaming platform, http://inverse.live, supported by Music Victoria and the Victorian Music Development Office, is calling out to Victorian musicians and performing artists to apply for a first-of-its-kind Music VR Backers Fund, created to aid export of Victoria’s music talent to the world through immersive technology.

Applications for the Music VR Backers Fund open on 3rd March via http://inverse.live/bbf/ and close on the 28th March, 2021. The Music VR Backers Fund is the first industry grant to offer Victorian musicians the opportunity to connect with fans worldwide through live 3D VR technology, empowering them to diversify their income and to transcend not only the physical limitations of COVID-19 restrictions but enable fans to experience live music like they never have before. 

Each eligible entrant will be judged by an independent panel of leading Victorian music figureheads from Music Victoria’s Artist Advisory and COVID Recovery Advisory Groups, including:

• Ben Wiesner (Box Hill Institute)
• Dave Newington (Granite Consulting)
• Elise Peyronnet (Melbourne Music Week)
• Eyal Chipkiewicz (The Boite)
• Kylie Auldist (Artist)
• Peta Petidis (Muso)
• Tim Curnick (Artist/Producer)

The Music VR Backers Fund is open to all Victorian musicians and performing artists from all genres, with a total of twenty grants available. Each successful applicant will receive a $2,500 cash grant to live stream in virtual reality a bespoke performance from Australia’s first made-for-VR venue in Melbourne’s inner city, Project Redstone, as well as other iconic live performance venues in Melbourne.  

Each performance will be live streamed through Inverse’s Virtual Reality platform around the world during an inaugural Beyond Boundaries VR Festival, to commence April 2021. 

According to Darren Vukasinovic, Founder of Inverse, each successful applicant will receive one-to-one coaching and support on VR stagecraft, to ensure the Beyond Boundaries VR Festival is an experience like no other. 

“The Beyond Boundaries VR Festival will be the crescendo of the Music VR Backers Fund, where fans from all over the globe will be invited to virtually attend ‘in person’ and encounter all the facets of a live music festival – audio, visual, ambience and energy of the space – in ways that transcend the live music experience.  

“Through the Music VR Backers Fund and the Beyond Boundaries VR Festival, each artist will connect with domestic and overseas fans unable to attend gigs in person, as well as reach new audiences in unique and groundbreaking ways through the fast-growing global VR headset market, who are hungry to explore exciting new immersive experiences,” concluded Vukasinovic.

Music Victoria and the Victorian Music Development Office are proudly supporting the inaugural Music VR Backers Fund as they look to grow and evolve the Victorian contemporary music industry.

“Innovative and driven by new technology, this initiative demonstrates what is possible for the future of live music, starting right here in Victoria. The Beyond Boundaries VR Festival will put the artists in focus and support their creative vision, thanks to the teams at Inverse and Moon Mother Productions,” said VMDO General Manager, Katie Stewart.