From Mike Noon at Arts Council NW….
Arts Council England Funding for Biennial Independents
Dear colleagues
Please find below the information that was given regarding Arts Council funding for projects which will take place during the Biennial Independents.
There is only one way to access funds from Arts Council for Independents Projects and this is the usual route i.e. – through an application to the Grants for the Arts scheme. The usual application process will apply. Packs can be requested from the national call centre on 0845 300 6200 or downloaded from the internet at www.artscouncil.org.uk
No money can be ring-fenced from lottery funds, so there is no separate Biennial Independents fund. Projects will be assessed purely on their indvidual merits.
Usual turnaround times will be applied – six weeks for a grant request under £5,000; twelve weeks for a grant request over £5,000.
To help artists who have not applied for Grants for the Arts before, or those who need an update on funding, four Visual Arts-specific advice sessions have been set up in Liverpool. These will take place at Blackburne House, Blackburne Place, off Hope Street, Liverpool on the following days.
Session One, 11am, Friday 21st of April
Session Two, 2pm, Friday 21st of April
Session Three, 11am, Friday 19th of May.
Session Four, 2pm, Friday 19th of May.
These sessions are designed for first time applicants and will consist of a general grants for the arts application overview from Nick Thompson, Planning and Assessment Assistant Officer and specific advice for visual artists from Mike Noon, Visual Arts Assistant Officer. First time applicants will be prioritised for attendance at these events.
Each of the four sessions will be the same, so artists only need to attend one. Each session will be limited to fifteen attendees.
To book a place on one of these sessions, please send an e-mail to mike.noon@artscouncil.org.uk stating your preferred session date/times in order of preference and whether you are a first time applicant or not. You will receive confirmation as to which session you have been booked on to within three days. Non-first time applicants may be added to a waiting list, depending upon demand.