A new scholarship initiative is being offered by the Hawke’s Bay Music Hub to help musicians from the Hawke’s Bay region gain the skills needed to record and produce their own music.

The Backline Charitable Trust (operating as Hawke’s Bay Music Hub) plans to award three scholarships each year, valued at $2,000 each, giving performers and singer-songwriters the opportunity to build practical skills, develop their sound, and release professionally recorded music. This scholarship programme has been made possible with the support of funding from the estate of Dorothy Pimm.

Successful applicants will work alongside a professional recording producer, learning the recording and production process, while creating a fully produced version of one of their original songs.

Applicants can submit as a performer or singer-songwriter, with up to three scholarships of $2,000 available to be awarded, only if the panel feels the songs are of a suitable standard. A portfolio of up to three songs or pieces of music can be submitted by applicants, from which the panel will select one song by that artist to be recorded.

Closing date for applications is 24 April 2026. Application form and more details here.