The Australian Government Invests In Music City

Mark Moffatt

The Australian Government and Australia Council for the Arts last year established the Nashville Songwriter Residency Grant, in an effort to develop and support its creative music community. This year’s recipient is Melbourne singer/songwriter Ben Wright Smith, as announced by program facilitator Mark Moffatt.

Funded by the Australia Council for the Arts, the residency grant enables writers and artists to spend three months in Nashville being mentored by Moffatt, a multi-platinum Australian producer and Nashville resident. The program provides Australian songwriters the opportunity to immerse themselves in the Nashville music scene and to further develop their own artistic skills and industry networks and relationships.

“The Australian government has recognized Nashville as the global music hub and made it the focus of many of their funding initiatives,” said Moffatt, who is also the current Board President of the Americana Music Association. “Ben’s talent, personality and drive made him the perfect candidate for this program.”

Melbourne native Ben Wright Smith, 25, already had an impressive number of musical accomplishments under his belt when he received the Nashville Songwriter Residency Grant. After a string of acoustic folk/rock releases, which sparked the imagination of the international folk fraternity, Wright Smith found himself traveling the world and writing and performing everywhere from Melbourne to Los Angeles, Havana to Mumbai. His travels led him to Nashville in 2012, where he shared stages at the Americana Music Festival with an enviable list of musical compatriots that includes Kasey Chambers and Justin Townes Earle.

During his three-month residency, Wright Smith will be introduced to Nashville’s creative and business community. Moffatt will facilitate opportunities for him to engage in songwriting, recording, showcasing, publicity and industry networking.

Past recipients of the Nashville Songwriter Residency Grant include Travis Caudle and Chris Altmann, both of whom now divide their time between their native Australia and North America.

For more information:
Nashville Songwriter Residency Grant: nashvilleresidency.com
Ben Wright Smith: benwrightsmith.com
Mark Moffatt: markmoffatt.com