Arts Council England Grants for the arts Adrienne Hart taking part in Dance SCAPES project, Swindon Photo: Kevin Clifford Eddie Thomas Senior Manager, Grants for the arts

This session Grants landscape Arts Council England Grants for the arts Any questions

Grants

What is a grant Financial backing for a not for profit project, awarded through a competitive application process and paid back by furthering the grantor aims Eddie Thomas, 2012

Who are they, how do you find them? Government grants o (International, national, regional) o Lottery distributors Trusts and foundations Identify your need - don’t trawl for cash Desk research – web search & dedicated databases –DCMS web site is a good start (money map)

Common themes Funder purposes (not financial) Competitive process Eligibility & Criteria Match funding Profits not allowed Ethics and good practice Project not Revenue funding You don’t repay in money (Not yet anyway) The process improves you

Some pointers Consider partners (can you be a partner) Timing is everything – apply early! Try to make personal contact If you are not committed don’t apply

Arts Council England

Great Art for Everyone National development agency for the Arts in England Government body – at arms length 9 regional offices (currently restructuring) –Relationship Managers 2011 – 2015 will invest £2.4 billion in the arts –National Portfolio –Strategic funds –Grants for the arts

Grants for the arts

Grants for the arts background Open access – rolling programme (reactive) –Anyone, anything, any time Around £60m a year awarded (£1k - £100k) –2,681 awards in 2011 (43% success rate) Competitive process 6 or 12 week turnaround online application

Who does it fund? Individuals – artists, performers, promoters, presenters, curators, producers, writers, individuals or groups of individuals working in, or with, the arts – £1,000 to £30,000 normally awarded - average £10,000 Organisations – local authorities, public organisations, partnerships, collectives, organisations whose activity is not arts-related, including voluntary and community groups – £1,000 to £100,000 – average £33,000

Who does it not fund? organisations that are able to share out profits to members or shareholders UNLESS the activity you are applying for is a self-contained arts project and has a clear benefit to the public students, for activities related to their course of study Educational establishments where the activity does not provide benefits to the wider community or artists Applicants based (living) outside the European Union

What does it fund - ARTS RELATED ACTIVITIES projects and events commissions and productions research and development Participatory activities audience development marketing activities Assets –Equipment –Instruments –vehicles public art professional development bursaries fellowships organisational development residencies touring & national activities –£10k - £200k

What does it not fund? self-promotional activities ? retrospective stuff On-going overheads ? activities with no public benefit film or video not supporting artistic work activities not arts-related activities outside England (some exceptions) statutory provision (such as in education)

Making an application

The assessment process Offer Reject Contract Grant monitoring Contract Grant monitoring Feedback

Assessment – the 4 criteria It is an EVIDENCE based assessment The criteria we use –Quality (You and your work) –Public engagement –Management –Finance (there are also some overview scores)

Budget headlines example Income from your activityExpenditure for your activity Ticket sales1,500Artistic spend5,000 Merchandise500 Organisational development1,000 Trusts and foundations2,750 Marketing3,000 Sponsorship500 Overheads1,000 Own resources500 Assets750 Total income from others5,750 Other spending0 Amount from ACE5,000 Total income10,750Total expenditure10,750 Support in kind3,000

Final points Grants should be on your horizon for project funding Align your need with the fund aims and criteria Source quality partners Prepare an evidence based application using criteria Get match funding Apply early and prepare for rejection If successful –Do a good job!! –Keep funder informed of changes If unsuccessful - Listen to feedback!!

Any questions ? - Eddie Thomas - Arts Council England (grants for the arts) There is a lot of information on our web site! - Enquiries team www.artscouncil.org.uk