Tom Chance – feedback on application for Grants for the Arts, Remix Reading no 16469 by Lisa Wolfe, Performing Arts Officer (Lisa.Wolfe@artscouncil.org.uk)
Hello Tom
I attach some notes and guidance as to why your application didn't make it through. You are of course welcome to re-apply, but do bear in mind that the level of demand is high and that some of the points that counted against you previously would probably still stand.
I hope you are actively seeking sponsorship and other sources of funding.
Do let me know if you need any further clarification on the attached or indeed if you can't open it!
regards
Lisa Wolfe, Performing Arts Officer
Notes
- Grants for the Arts main remit is to fund arts creation and activity. Your proposal focuses largely on publicity materials and overheads rather than the actual music making/ art/ writing. It is very rare that we support these elements to such a degree – even from companies/artists that we have known for years.
- From your application, it is hard to measure the quality of the work we would be supporting, and that is crucial. Of course the “open-access” nature of the project seeks to be non-discriminatory, but without a grip on what the artistic outcome might be, it is difficult to make a case for funding it. I have to say that the work currently available on the website does not make the grade but recognise you are working towards more/new/different artists. Another consideration is that your contributors may well be students, and we cannot support students in full time education – unless, as in your case, the project is completely outside of the course being studied.
- Another, allied, stumbling block is that you are not paying fees to artists for the performances. Arts Council England does require that artists are paid except for in very particular circumstances.
- A key requirement for Arts Council England South East grants is to show the strategic importance of the project to the region. This is often difficult when projects are quite specifically focused in one city. Remember you are, in effect, competing with many other applicants from a very large geographical area and the benefits to artists, audiences, infrastructure etc need to be demonstrated strongly.
- I realise that this project is outside of your university life, but, as final year students, I would be slightly concerned about your capacity/availability to complete. Your CV’s certainly indicate otherwise but it on paper it is a consideration.
- On the budget, we would need to see further information on how you would manage an account, who is financially responsible – we need to have confidence in your ability to deliver the project on time and to budget.
- I note that you are intending to raise further sponsorship, and that Reading BC is supporting in-kind (and gave you a good reference) but demonstration of other partnerships would be helpful. The Student Union seems to benefit – should they not also be contributing? What about deals with printers/suppliers who need to target a largely student market?
- You don’t show any ticket income – are the gigs free or does someone else get the box office take?
Round Up
- The project is not ideal for Grants for the Arts as the quality of the work cannot be demonstrated and it may come from full time students and be part of course work.
- The expenditure is largely on publicity materials and overheads rather than art itself.
- There is too little evidence of the applicants’ ability to deliver or financial arrangements, despite impressive track records on CVs.
- The project appears on paper to be attractive to commercial sponsors, or to organises which prioritise work by/with young people. Could more support come from the University, the City, the Union? Better connections within Reading would strengthen the case.
- The contribution to strategic objectives for the regional are not very strong, but there is a good community-based ethos to the project which could be elaborated.
- Legacy – what are the key goals and the next steps – how do you see Remix progressing over the years? Will you not be seeking salaried jobs when you graduate?