Make Music Matter: The Grant Lab

The Grant Lab: Sustainable Careers in Music Mentorship Program

Are you a Mornington Peninsula musician? Want to turn your ideas into funded projects?

The Grant Lab is a hands-on mentorship program led by grant specialist Lucy Rash of Cult Copy, designed to give you real, practical skills in grant writing, project development, and funding strategy. You’ll work on real applications, build confidence and leave with tools you can use for years to come. The program is entirely free-of-charge to selected participants. 

Across a mix of in-person workshops and 1:1 online mentorship, participants will work on real funding ideas, learn how to clearly articulate their creative projects, build strong budgets, and understand Australia’s funding landscape, all with personalised guidance and feedback.

This specialised program, the first of its kind, will help you bridge the gap between where you are now and the skills you need to access local, state and federal government funding and plan for a sustainable career in music. 

As part of the Mornington Peninsula Music Plan 2025, we are focusing on fostering connections, supporting a diverse musical culture, and laying the groundwork for music investments on our Peninsula.

You’ll finish with:

✔️ practical grant-writing skills you can reuse

✔️ clearer project ideas and funding pathways

✔️ confidence navigating grants (without the overwhelm)

✔️ tools you can apply long after the program ends

Applications close Sunday 1 March. Limited places available.

 

Download and read the Cult Copy Mentorship Agreement

About Lucy Rash of Cult Copy

Lucy Rash is the founder of Cult Copy and one of Australia’s most trusted grant strategists working with independent musicians and creative organisations. 

With over 15 years of professional grant-writing experience, Lucy has won, managed and acquitted grants of up to $1 million for her clients across federal, state, local government and philanthropic funding bodies. She consistently secures a cumulative total of approximately $500,000 in funding each year for artists, venues and creative projects, combining deep knowledge of the funding landscape with an efficient, supportive and skills-focused approach. 

Alongside her grant work, Lucy is a highly awarded composer, string arranger and session musician, and holds a Master of Teaching, bringing a clear, accessible and confidence-building pedagogy to all Cult Copy programs.