2025 CMAA Academy Sister Cities Nashville Exchange

Applications Close: 15 April 2025 at 5:00pm AEST

BACKGROUND

The CMAA, working with Tamworth Regional Council and Sister Cities Nashville, has negotiated a cultural exchange between the sister cities of Tamworth and Nashville. It will see a graduate of the Senior Academy spend two to three weeks in Nashville in September 2025 writing, performing and networking, and in exchange, a US artist will attend the 2026 Senior Academy and Tamworth Country Music Festival. The Academy and Sister Cities will each be responsible for covering the travel costs of their selected ‘student’ and organising billeted accommodation.

The Nashville visit will include participation in the iconic AMERICANAFEST festival and conference, and the registration fee will be part of the scholarship. The selected participant will also be part of showcase events presented by Sounds Australia, who have been involved in the Nashville event for 15 years. During the visit, the graduate’s activities in Nashville will be coordinated by the CMAA working with APRA, Sister Cities and the large ex-pat community of Australian writers, artists and business operators resident in ‘Music City USA’.

SELECTION PROCESS

The successful participant will be chosen by a panel of Academy staff and CMAA Academy Board sub-committee members. The decision will be based on the applicant’s ability to make the most of this unique opportunity as a next important step in their career development in country music.

Please provide as much information as you think is relevant to your application.

Applications will close at 5pm (AEST) Tuesday 15 April 2025.

This opportunity is only available to past ACADEMY GRADUATES who are current financial members of the CMAA aged 21+.

This opportunity WILL NOT be available to past graduates who have already won Toyota Star Maker, the APRA AMCOS Professional Development Award or a Golden Guitar Award.

Before applying, please ensure you are available to travel to Nashville between 1 to 23 September 2025.

This program is made possible with funding from the NSW Government – Sound NSW and other valued partners.