Thanks to the State Government's Victoria Rocks initiative The Push is offering six regional scholarships, three of which are for indigenous recipients. Scholarships will provide a maximum of $300 each to assist with tickets, accommodation and travel costs to attend Face The Music Conference, Friday 19 and Saturday 20 November at the Arts Centre in Melbourne.

Now in its third year, the Face The Music Conference provides artists and the Victorian music community with a platform for professional and creative career development and networking opportunities.

Face The Music 2011 will feature respected international guest speakers, keynote presentations, panel discussions, one-on-one artist development interviews, networking sessions, music showcases and practical workshops.

Winners will be able to attend sessions that explore stagecraft and songwriting, international festival opportunities, booking agents, touring, independent releases and labels, distribution and publishing, funding opportunities, career models and industry roles and much more.

The scholarships will provide regionally based musicians and music industry workers with the opportunity to access quality information, education and career development opportunities.

Face The Music Project Manager Andrew Kitchen said:

"Through these scholarships we hope to provide young emerging musicians and music business people based in regional areas with a rare and much needed opportunity to access and harness the potential of high level local and international music industry personnel for their own career success. Last year we received applications from disadvantaged artists from all areas of the state, such as Gippsland, Ballarat and Horsham, to help them access the event."

"Having the chance to attend Face The Music ‘09 was a great opportunity to gain access to information about the music industry, that would've been impossible to find for people living in regional areas like myself," said 2009 Scholarship recipient Dan Strommer, a musician from Creswick (near Ballarat).

"The guest speakers I spoke with were all experts in their field and I found all of them to be very approachable and willing to answer any questions I had. At Face The Music I received some excellent tips on recording and producing and have since recorded my debut EP here in Melbourne."

Established and emerging regional musicians and music industry workers of any age are encouraged to apply. Applications close Friday 5 November.

To apply and for more information and application guidelines, head to the website. You can also email The Push or phone them on (03) 9380 1277.