Please note: applications for funding through the Touring Grants category have now closed.

Touring Grants can be for:

• Small-medium scale tours by producer companies that will be taken to a minimum of three Victorian destinations.
• The Victorian leg of a national tour by a Victorian based company
• Large scale tours by Victorian major arts companies including the State-owned arts bodies.
• High quality exclusive productions or exhibitions at a regional venue or gallery that would otherwise be beyond the capacity of the presenter organisation.

Priority items for support are touring costs such as production, transport, freight, crating, accommodation and artists' touring allowances.

In some instances, funding may support costs associated with the preparation or remount of a tour. Applicants intending to seek such costs must discuss their tours with Touring Victoria program staff prior to lodging an application.

Eligibility

Touring Victoria accepts applications from Victorian based applicants or organisations that have a demonstrated history of delivering quality artistic services and/or product to Victorian audiences.

Tours need to demonstrate market demand and involve partnerships with presenting organisations or venues that are paying a fee to help bring the tour to their community.

Contemporary musicians and bands with regional touring proposals should apply for Contemporary and Live Music Development.

Closing Dates

• 1 August 2011 for tours commencing after 1 December 2011
• 1 February 2012 for tours commencing after 1 June 2012

Please note: It takes approximately 12 weeks from the closing date until funding results are available.

Funds available

There is no upper limit to the level of grant. Applicants intending to apply for more than $25,000 need to discuss their proposal with Touring Victoria program staff prior to the closing date.

Please note: applications for funding through the Touring Grants category have now closed. The guideline available for download below is for information only.

To apply for funding you must:

• Complete the application form which includes a budget and your tour intinerary. Download the Touring Grants guideline and application form (Sample only, PDF 137KB)
• Submit a written proposal (see below)
• Provide support material relevant to your project (eg written confirmation of interest from the organisations or venues presenting the tour. This should contain details of dates, projected attendance and the fee being paid to present the touring exhibition, performance or program).

Written Proposal

This is the main part of your application. Provide a clear and comprehensive description of your project and what you are proposing to do. Ensure that you cover the following:

The Project

• A full description of the production, exhibition or program that is touring or being developed to tour.
• Details of previous presentations.
• Credentials of performers, artists, curatorial or other key creative personnel involved in the production, exhibition or program.

Management

• Credentials of personnel, agent or organisation responsible for managing and coordinating the project.
• A description of marketing and audience development strategies for the project or an explanation of how the project will be marketed if someone other than the applicant is responsible.

Beneficiaries

The key benefits or beneficiaries that will accrue from the project. For example it may:

• Provide professional or development opportunities for the artist(s).
• Improve access for a particular audience, region or community.
• Build or expand a demonstrated audience base or market niche.
• Contribute to the development and continued vitality of an art form or cultural sector.

Your proposal should also include details of how you will evaluate the success of the project in both qualitative and quantitative terms.

Applications are competitively assessed and prioritised according to the following criteria:

• The project's potential to enhance the quality, quantity and diversity of touring activity, and the programs and presentations available to audiences, throughout Victoria.
• Whether the project has a confirmed itinerary with appropriate destinations and audience reach, particularly in regional Victoria.
• Evidence of financial management, administration and planning commensurate with the scale of the project and level of funding requested.
• Demonstration of the need for Government funding at a realistic level.
• The level of contribution to the project other than Arts Victoria funds, in particular guaranteed exhibition or performance fees from the organisations presenting the tour.

Applications go through a standard assessment processAssessment ProcessAll eligible applications are reviewed by a Peer Assessment Panel (except for programs that attract a high volume of applications, where Arts Victoria staff may suggest a shortlist). The Panel’s recommendations are presented to the Minister for the Arts to make the final decisions. Applicants are notified in writing and can seek feedback by speaking to program staff. , including review and evaluation by a peer assessment panelPeer Assessment PanelsPeer Assessment Panels are a standard method used by Arts Victoria to assess funding applications and make recommendations for approval by the Minister for the Arts. Each Panel comprises representatives from across the arts industry and other relevant areas..

As a recipient of Arts Victoria funding, you are required to:

• Notify Arts Victoria of any changes to your proposed project
• Publicly acknowledge the support of the Victorian Government using specific logos and text
• Acquit your grant by completing a written report on the outcomes of your funded project.

Notification of changes

Once you have received funding you are required to keep Arts Victoria advised of any significant changes that may impact on the project. Changes to itineraries (dates, venues etc) and expenditure of approved funding can normally be accommodated as variations to a funding agreement. You should contact the Touring Victoria Program Manager to discuss any likely changes.

Logos and Text Acknowledgement

Logos

The Arts Victoria logo deviceArts Victoria Logo DeviceThe Arts Victoria logo device is made up of two elements:1. The Arts Victoria logo and 2. The Victorian Government logoThe Arts Victoria logo must always appear with the Victorian Government logo. must be included on all promotional materials produced by the grant recipient in relation to the funded activity.

These may include (but are not restricted to):

• Posters, fliers and brochures
• Advertisements
• Invitations
• Information and education kits
• Signage
• Programs and catalogues
• Websites.

The size and position of the logo should be commensurate with the level of funding provided by the Victorian Government through Arts Victoria in relation to other supporters.

The Arts Victoria logo device is available in a variety of formats, please take note of the guidelines for its use.

Text Acknowledgement

The following text/verbal acknowledgement of Victorian Government should be used in any speeches, media releases, interviews and other circumstances where a logo may not be possible:
[This project is] supported by the Victorian Government through Arts Victoria and the Community Support Fund

Acquittal Reports

When your funded activity is completed, you must provide Arts Victoria with an acquittal reportAcquittal ReportA written evaluation of the funded activity and a statement that fully accounts for the expenditure of funds provided. within 90 days.

Failure to satisfactorily acquit funding will make you ineligible for future Arts Victoria funding and may result in action to recover the grant.

The acquittal report includes a financial reconciliationFinancial ReconciliationA statement that fully accounts for how the funds have been spent, submitted as part of the Acquittal report.. For grants of $40,000 and over the acquittal report must include an opinion or certification by an independent auditorIndependent auditorA member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, CPA Australia or the National Institute of Accountants, who is not employed by, or related to, the funding recipient that verifies the financial reconciliation.

For grants awarded before 1 December 2011, please download and complete the Touring Projects Report Template (Word, 552 KB)

For grants awarded after 1 December 2011, please download and complete the standard Arts Victoria Acquittal Report Template (Word, 276KB)