What is the Funding Program Overview 2008-09?
The Funding Program Overview 2008-09 provides an overview of Arts Victoria's funding programs offered this financial year, including guidelines for eligibility and closing dates. If you are thinking of applying for Arts Victoria funding please read the section entitled Important Information For All Applicants. Full Funding Guidelines and Application Forms for each program are available on the Arts Victoria web site or by contacting reception on (03) 9954 5000.
The Funding Program Overview provides a snapshot of the funding programs on offer at Arts Victoria for the current financial year and contains general information to assist you in your funding application.
The Overview briefly describes the funding programs currently available and includes details of how to apply, the assessment process and closing dates for applications.
If you intend to apply for a program, you must obtain the relevant guidelines and application forms before submitting a funding proposal.
Can I obtain funding program information in large print or braille?
Yes. Arts Victoria's public information is available in a variety of formats including hard copy, electronic, large print and braille. Please contact Arts Victoria reception on (03) 9954 5000, toll free 1800 134 894 (regional Victoria only) or email artsvic@dpc.vic.gov.au for other formats.
If you require disability-specific services in presenting an application to any Arts Victoria program, please advise the relevant program staff as soon as possible.
What can I do if I need interpreting or translating services?
If you have difficulty understanding the Funding Program information, or would prefer discussing it in your first language, please contact the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450 and ask to be connected to Arts Victoria.
What do I need to know about GST?
As a general rule, the Victorian Government will only deal with suppliers who have an Australian Business Number (ABN), unless there is clear evidence that the relevant supply is not assessable for income tax purposes.
Full details regarding GST are outlined in the Funding Program Overview 2008-09.
What is an auspice organisation?
Any legally constituted body may act as an auspice and apply for funds on behalf of an applicant who may not themselves be a legal entity. In this instance, the auspice organisation will receive any funds allocated and is responsible for the management of the project and the acquittal of grant funds. It is recommended that applicants have a clear written agreement with the auspice organisation.
The Arts Law Centre web site at www.artslaw.com.au has a fact sheet on 'Auspicing agreements for grant recipients' that may be a useful reference for applicants.
What are the eligibility requirements for Arts Victoria funding?
To be eligible for funding, artists and arts organisations must be resident in Victoria, or in some programs deliver significant benefits to Victorians.
Arts Victoria requires that organisations are legally constituted; organisations that are not legally constituted may apply for funding through an auspicing body.
Groups of individual artists who join together informally to collaborate in the creation, development or presentation of work may apply. However they must nominate either an individual or an auspicing body to sign the funding agreement and take legal and financial responsibility for the grant.
Each funding program administered by Arts Victoria has specific eligibility requirements, so it is important that you obtain a copy of the relevant guidelines before making an application.
Arts Victoria requires an acquittal report following the completion of the funded activity. Applicants who have not satisfactorily acquitted previous Arts Victoria funding are not eligible to apply for or receive further funding.
How do I apply for Arts Victoria funding?
To apply for funding you must obtain, read and use the relevant program guidelines and application forms from Arts Victoria before submitting a proposal.
The Funding Program Overview provides a snapshot of the funding programs on offer at Arts Victoria and contains general information to assist you in your funding application.
Individual Funding Guidelines and application forms are available on the web site under Funding Programs or by contacting Arts Victoria reception on (03) 9954 5000, freecall 1800 134 894 (regional Victoria only), TTY 9682 4864.
Are there any funding programs that support outer-metropolitan, regional and rural communities?
Generally, Arts Victoria's programs have a statewide field of interest. Within this range, a number of these programs are specifically designed to support professional arts activity in outer-metropolitan, regional and rural communities. These are:
- Touring Victoria
Touring Victoria is a cross art form funding program that enables access to professional artistic and cultural experiences for communities in outer-metropolitan, regional and rural Victoria and extends the life of performances, exhibitions and programs.
- Community Partnerships
The Community Partnerships Program enables collaborations involving professional artists, arts companies and Victorian Communities. The program accommodates different community contexts and settings in urban and regional Victoria.
- Artists in Schools
The Artists in Schools program creates the opportunity for practicing professional artists to work with young people in Victorian primary and secondary schools. It generates innovative ways to engage students (Prep - Year 10) across all strands of the curriculum. It involves schools and communities in creative projects while providing students, teachers and artists with diverse and challenging learning experiences. The artist may be involved in any art form and there are many different ways that artists can be integrated into the school program.
Which program do I apply under for funding for a local festival?
Arts Victoria offers funding support for local festivals in urban, regional and rural Victoria through several programs.
For support for a festival's artistic program look under Arts Development - Programming where funding is directed towards the artistic content of a festival, whether it be new or existing work. Other Arts Development categories may also be worth considering if you are seeking funding for a single project within a festival context which involves either the development or presentation of new work by Victorian artists. If you plan to develop a new work in a festival context where there will be a close connection with the local community, look under Community Partnerships.
The Annual Operations program (which provides funding for organisations that work to a one year costed business plan) may be relevant to larger scale festivals.
An application from a local festival should demonstrate a good standard of programming, involving professional artists and a selection of work that will encourage strong community participation and active audience engagement.
Are there any programs that support contemporary music?
Funding is available through the Victorian Rocks program for activities including recording, distribution, marketing, promotion and touring; and for strategic industry partnerships in the contemporary music area.
Information on Victoria Rocks, including funding guidelines and application forms are available on this web site, or by contacting the Program Manager on (03) 9954 5037.
Can my organisation apply for recurrent funding?
Arts Victoria supports around 100 organisations on a recurrent basis multi-year funding agreements through the Organisations program. Applications for multi-year funding are only accepted after consultation with, and at the invitation of, Arts Victoria. The mix of organisations receiving recurrent funding is reviewed periodically.
Should you wish to find out more about multi-year funding, please contact Arts Victoria on 03 9954 5000.
In 2007, Arts Victoria introduced an Annual Operations category for the Organisations program. This category has been developed in response to the need for flexible funding arrangements which respond to the artistic and management practices of the small arts sector.
Typically, funded organisations will have a strong track record of Arts Victoria project funding (at least three years) and be presenting a program aligned with strategic priority directions stated in the Government's Creative Capacity + arts policy.
Further information about the Annual Operations category can be obtained from the funding Programs section of the website or from Organisations program staff on (03) 9954 5000 or by email.
What are the application deadlines?
Each program has its own application deadlines and some programs accept applications all year round. Closing dates are clearly marked on the front of each program's Funding Guidelines.
Can I make an application outside of the stated closing dates?
No. Arts Victoria does not accept or consider any applications submitted after the closing dates.
When will I find out if my application has been successful?
All applicants will be advised in writing of the outcome of the application within 15 weeks of the published closing date, depending on the individual funding program.
Please refer to individual funding program guidelines for specific timeframes.
How long are the funding programs and guidelines valid?
The funding programs and guidelines currently available are valid for the 2008-09 financial year. Arts Victoria reviews its programs regularly. This process sometimes results in updates and revisions to program guidelines from year to year. Always make sure the program information you are referring to is current.
Can I obtain funds for intrastate and interstate touring?
The Touring Victoria program supports touring within Victoria.
Financial assistance is available to offset the cost of touring a discrete production, exhibition or program to a minimum of three Victorian destinations. Funding is available only for professional artistic or cultural activity.
If you are a contemporary musician or band, funding is available for intrastate, interstate and international touring through the Victoria Rocks program.
Support for interstate touring is available through the Federal Government programs Playing Australia, Visions of Australia and the Contemporary Music Touring Program.
Can I apply to more than one program at Arts Victoria?
Yes. An artist or organisation can apply to as many programs as they wish as long as their application addresses the relevant assessment criteria and eligibility requirements and the projects or project components they are requesting funding for are clearly demarcated.
One exception is if organisations receive funding through the Annual Operations program they are not eligible to receiving Programming funding through Arts Development.
Organisations in receipt of multi-year funding from Arts Victoria are not eligible to apply for project grants through the Arts Development program.
Can I apply to more than one organisation for funding to assist my project?
Applicants can apply for funding from other organisations, for example, the Australia Council, local government or a philanthropic fund. You must declare this information in your application to Arts Victoria and state whether this funding request is confirmed or unconfirmed.
Can I get funding for the project I am currently working on?
Yes in some circumstances, although funding is not for activities that have already occurred. It depends on the stated purpose and parameters of the funding program. For example to receive funding for regional and international touring, the work would already need to have been created. Other programs such as Art Development focus on supporting the generation of new work. It's always best to discuss your proposal with the program manager to ascertain eligibility before making a funding submission.
Can I get information about who received grants?
Each year Arts Victoria publishes Arts Grants, which is an overview of the organisations and projects that have received funding during the previous financial year. This publication is available online in the Publications section of the Arts Victoria web site.
Information on individual funding program outcomes can generally be found in the News section under Funding Announcements.
Can I get feedback on my unsuccessful application?
Arts Victoria's funding programs are very competitive and not all applications meeting the selection criteria will be successful. Once you are notified of the funding result, you can contact the program staff for feedback on your application.
Are my details and personal information kept private?
Arts Victoria treats all personal information provided by an individual in support of a grant application in accordance with the Information Privacy Act 2000 and the Public Records Act 1973.
The personal information provided in the grant application is required for grant processing and assessment purposes. If you provide any personal information about other individuals in support of your grant application, it is your responsibility to ensure that they are aware you have done so.
To provide transparency and accountability for the use of public resources, and to help promote Victoria's contemporary arts, Arts Victoria publishes information identifying successful grant recipients and the grants they have received.
Arts Victoria retains the names and addresses of individuals applying for funding from Arts Victoria for the purposes of funding assessment. Those details will be added to a secure database for mailing list purposes. From time to time, Arts Victoria will use this mailing list to send information about its funding programs to individuals who have previously applied for funding. Individuals may ask for their names and addresses to be removed from the mailing list, or have their details amended by contacting Arts Victoria at the address in this booklet. This mailing list is regarded as confidential by Arts Victoria, and will not be made available to third parties unless otherwise authorised by law.
Is there a limit to the amount of funding that I can apply for?
Each program specifies the levels of funding available in their individual guidelines.
Other than Arts Victoria, where can I apply for funding for my project?
There is a range of other arts funding sources at a local, state and federal level that may be more appropriate for your requirements.
Visit the web sites of the following funding bodies for further information:
City of Melbourne
Australia Council for the Arts
Department for Victorian Communities
VicHealth
Multimedia Victoria
Film Victoria
The following web site may also be of assistance to grant seekers:
www.ourcommunity.com.au
