ACT Screen Arts Fund 2014
Information Session
ACT SCREEN ARTS FUND 2014
• ScreenACT, the office of film, TV and digital
media for the ACT/Capital region is the
administrator of the Fund.
• Applications and supporting documents are
online at www.screenact.com.au
• You must read the guidelines document!
ACT SCREEN ARTS FUND 2014
• Applications are made via the online form
only.
• No late entries will be accepted.
Key Dates
• Applications: Open now!
• Closing date: Monday 4th November, 2013
5.00pm
• Grant announcements: late 2013
• Grants distributed: early 2014
• Projects to be acquitted by 18th December,
2014
GENERAL NOTES
• Applicants are limited to ONE application per round.
• Fund supports applications from individual artists as
well as groups and organisations.
• ScreenACT reserves the right not to assess applications
that do not address the assessment questions or
otherwise comply with the funding requirements.
• Projects applied for should represent good value for
money.
• Applications should be professional in their
presentation, thought and execution.
General Notes
• The ACT Screen Arts Fund is open to all of the Capital Region.
• The Fund focuses on projects and programs that develop screen
artists – moving artists into new stages of their development.
• The Fund supports all narrative screen art forms from film,
television, short film, experimental film, games, apps and digital
media
• The Fund supports Artists at all stages of their artistic development:
elementary, emerging and established (for more information on
these stages, please visit www.screenact.com.au)
SOFT CAPS
• There is a soft cap of $20,000 on any
grant application, however if the
applicant is able to substantiate the
need for a larger request, this will be
considered by the assessment panel.
THE APPLICATION
• No hard copies of materials will be accepted.
– Supporting written material (eg scripts, CVs etc) must be
in PDF form and each individual file should not be larger
than 300kb.
– Show reels and examples of work need to be online and
a link supplied eg You Tube or Vimeo. Download the
templates for the project budget from the website. You
must use this template.
• Once you go online and you start filling out the form, you
can’t save it or go back to it. Therefore you need to have
everything prepared in advance so that you can simply
enter, upload and submit.
THE APPLICATION
• You will see that there are comments to help you fill out the form, which
appear when you hold the mouse over the question.
• If you make a mistake and notice after you’ve submitted your application,
email us to tell us and redo your application. We will accept the amended
application ONLY if you inform us AND the new application is made before
the deadline. You will need to answer all questions marked with an
asterisk (*).
• Add in extra supporting material (if applicable). Be judicious with what
you include – there are limited spaces for uploading extra documents. Also
the assessing panel only want to read that which is going inform them
about the project and and artist. Don’t overload them with too much
information.
• Let’s look at the online application now… www.screenact.com.au
MOST IMPORTANT
• A handy tip – do not leave lodgement of your
application to the last hour. If you have a
technical problem or access to internet issues,
no extension will be given.
• Once again, if you need to make a change, you
will have to redo the whole application.
ScreenACT will not be adding to or changing
any information to the application.
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
• In assessing applications the ScreenACT Peer
Assessment Committee will mark applications
against the following criteria:
– Strength of application against the selection
criteria;
– Viability of the budget;
– The appropriateness of the creative team; and
– The benefit to the artistic development of the
applicant.
SOME POINTERS ON HOW TO ANSWER
THE CRITERIA QUESTIONS
• The following information is a guide only. As
an applicant you are responsible for deciding
how best to answer the assessment questions.
• There are more pointers in the guidelines
found online.
Question 1. What is your project and for
what are you seeking funding?
• Do not assume that the people reading the application
know anything about you or your project.
• If you are seeking funding for part of a larger project,
provide information on the whole project but focus
mainly on the activities for which you are seeking a
grant from the ACT Screen Arts Fund.
• Ensure that you explain all aspects of the project
including development, realisation and final outcomes.
Question 2. How does your project contribute the
development of your arts practice?
• Discuss the impact of the proposed activity on
your artistic practice and the art form itself.
• Where you are applying to make a particular
product such as a short film, you must explain
how the process of developing and producing the
work will contribute to the development of your
arts practice. Producing the item does not in itself
constitute development of your arts practice.
Question 3. How will your project be realised?
• Include: your relevant experience and capacity to deliver
the project; key people involved; a clear timeline.
• Describe exactly how your project will be undertaken and
to demonstrate that you have the ability to achieve it. Your
CV can provide further details of your previous experience.
• Provide details of how the key people involved will assist in
the project. Each CV should be limited to one page.
• You should provide a clear timeline for the project,
including major milestones.
Question 4. Detailed, clear, and substantiated budget, with
maximum half-page budget justification.
• You may provide a maximum 250 word explanation of your
budget if you consider that the budget sheet needs further
explanation or there are any amounts about which you
think the assessment panel may have questions.
• Include the calculation of any significant costs for which
you are unable to provide quotes.
• The budget page and justification is your opportunity to
explain exactly how you will spend your grant, should you
be successful. A well-considered and justified budget is
essential to your application.
BUDGET
• Applicants should seek funding and collaboration from a
variety of sources.
• Note whether these other sources are confirmed or waiting
a decision (and when that decision is expected)
• Whole project expenditure must match whole project
income.
• Grant expenditure must match grant expenditure
• You must use the budget template provided
General Application Helpful Tips
•
Plan in advance, many funds like the ACT Arts Fund will be for activities in the
following calendar year,
•
Present an application that you are proud of, allow yourself plenty of time to write
it.
•
Keep your language clear and concise
•
Know your project and understand what it is you are trying to achieve. Be realistic
about what you are trying to achieve
•
How relevant is this activity for me?
•
Is this really truly my best idea?
•
Am I able to demonstrate that I am able to deliver?
•
How does my support material demonstrate that I am able to deliver?
•
Consider a staged development for your project
•
Spend time on your budget and submit quotes for costs– this is an area where
otherwise competitive applications are let down.
•
Consider your Support material – focus on quality and relevance to the project, not quantity,
and include a list of support materials submitted - remember it is what will express the
quality of your work to the Panel
•
Consider letters of support from relevant organisations as well as other people involved in
your project, leave no stone unturned.
•
Provide a clear timeline of your activity
•
Make sure what you propose is in line with the objectives of the specific fund you are
applying to
•
Be aware of and take advantage of the opportunities available to you, get on mailing lists
•
Get someone to read your application, hopefully someone who has had success or
experience with grant writing.
•
Consider diversifying your funding sources (ie applying to more than one funding body for
different aspects of your project)
•
Be a detail freak - Give funders EXACTLY what they ask for
•
Check, check and double check, especially that your support material works.
•
AND Give yourself plenty of time to prepare your application and ensure that it is submitted
on time, no exceptions are made for late applications
•
If you are unsuccessful, ask for feedback and TRY AGAIN!