The Touring Projects category provides financial assistance to offset the cost of touring a professional Victorian production, exhibition or program to a minimum of three Victorian destinations. Support is available for professional arts and cultural activities across art forms.

Priority items for support are on-road touring costs such as production (audio and lighting), transport, fuel, freight, crating, accommodation and artists' touring allowances.

Eligibility

The program accepts applications from:

• Victorian-based applicants or organisations that have a demonstrated history of delivering quality artistic services and/or product to Victorian audiences.
• Projects that demonstrate market demand and partnerships with local presenting organisations or venues that are paying a fee to help bring the tour to their region.

The program does not provide funding for interstate tours or tours that are predominantly schools based.

Contemporary musicians and bands seeking funding for regional tours should apply to the Victoria Rocks program

Closing Dates

• 1 August 2009 for tours commencing after 1 January 2010
• 1 February 2010 for tours commencing after 1 July 2010
• 1 August 2010 for tours commencing after 1 January 2011

It takes approximately 12 weeks from the application closing date until funding results are available.

Funds Available

Funding of up to $60,000 is available per tour. If you are applying for funding of $20,000 or more your must discuss your proposal with the Touring Victoria Program Manager before submitting an application.

In the 2007-2008 financial year 27 applications were received and 15 (56%) were funded. The total funds awarded was $413,377 and individual grants ranged from $5,616 to $66,481.

To apply for funding you must:

• Complete the application form which includes a budget and your tour intinerary. Download the forms and full guidelines as a:
  • PDF (144 KB)
  • Word document (295.5 KB)

Please note: These guidelines are a sample only. Updated guidelines for the next round will be available in early November 2009.

• 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 process, including review and evaluation by a peer assessment panel.

The current panel members are:

• Robin Batt - Manager, Frankston Arts Centre
• Geoffrey Edwards - Director, Geelong Art Gallery
• Greg McGrath - Manager, West Gippsland Arts Centre
• Graeme Russell - Venue Manager, Horsham Rural City Council
• Kelly Shirreff - Events Coordinator, Manningham City Council
• Lisa Warrener - Director, Global Arts Projects Pty Ltd

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 device 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 report within 30 days.

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

Download the acquittal form as a:

• PDF (233KB)

• Word document (433KB)