Tapped funding initiative injects thousands into WA’s arts sector.

Tapped by Otherside, by Otherside Brewing Co, is boosting its commitment to WA’s independent artists through a funding campaign that will see the program’s grant pool double.

Tapped is an advocacy program for WA’s creative industries and independent talent, funded through the sale of Otherside beer.

In 2017/18 the program injected $30,000 into WA’ s arts sector via a range of film, music and arts grants. In 2018/19 this pool will increase to $60,000.

In an attempt to further increase the impact of the program the 2018/19 campaign will see Tapped match artist-led crowdfunding campaigns dollar for dollar up to a set amount.

Otherside Brewing Co. Director David Chitty confirmed program funds would be allocated to successful recipients through a series of match-funding campaigns.

The first, which launched yesterday, will see artists leverage networks and build audiences to drive support and ultimately crowdfunding to secure a portion of an available $20,000 in matched funds.

There are six Australian Music Tour grants and five Creative Industries (non-music) grants available. The quickest campaigners to hit the funding goal will be match funded dollar for dollar up to $2,500, and the next quickest will be match funded to a lower amount.

“Match-funding is a really effective way to double Tapped by Otherside’s impact and reach,” Mr Chitty said.

“It provides independent artists with a vehicle to grow their profiles and secure new audiences. It also gives us an opportunity to support the consumer movement by further funding projects and artists that they care about.”

“Tapped by Otherside is an exciting program for us and we are thrilled to significantly extend its impact with this new match-funding component. This first campaign alone aims to inject $45,000 into our local creative sector – $20,000 from us and $25,000 raised by the artists – that’s significantly more than we were able to invest last year. We know it will make a big impact to the successful recipients.”

The remaining $40,000 in grants will be allocated to artists in a series of funding campaigns to take place in 2018/19.

“Tapped is a program that all Otherside beer drinkers and West Australians can be part of and should be proud of. Be it by providing crowdfunding or by purchasing Otherside beer, those that do participate are significantly contributing to the growth of our exciting local creative sector,” Mr Chitty added.

Open exclusively to Western Australian musicians, bands, filmmakers and creatives, Tapped by Otherside supports emerging talent and projects that otherwise struggle to secure financial backing. Tapped by Otherside was established in 2016 and has since injected $36,500 into local creative talent and initiatives.

Tapped by Otherside alumni includes Verge Collection, who used their Australian Tour Grant to kick off their national tour last year; Fremantle band, Koi Child and singer and songwriter, Stella Donnelly, who both used their International Development Grant to travel to SXSW in Texas and; filmmaker Tom de Souza, who used his Film Grant to produce a film that was screened as part of the Revelation Perth International Film Festival earlier this year.