How we give advice on Grants for the arts
This information sheet is for prospective applicants to the Grants for the arts programme,
who will be applying from 1 July 2013. Please also read our ‘How to apply guidance’ before
you submit your application. Download it from our website or contact us for a copy
(enquiries@artscouncil.org.uk, 0845 300 6200). This information sheet complements this
other guidance, but does not replace it.
Contents
1 Introduction ................................................................................................ 2
2 Website..................................................................................................... 2
3 Pre - application advice by phone, email and post ................................ 3
4 Presentations ........................................................................................... 4
5 Group pre-application advice sessions................................................... 4
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One to one sessions ............................................................................... 5
7 Feedback to unsuccessful applicants .................................................... 6
8 Contact us ................................................................................................ 6
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1 Introduction
The document explains the different ways we give advice to applicants applying to Grants
for the arts.
1 Website
2 Pre - application advice by phone, email and post
3 Presentations
4 Group pre-application advice
5 One to one sessions
6 Feedback to unsuccessful applicants
Where an applicant experiences any barrier accessing guidance or information on our
funding programmes we will work with them to make a reasonable adjustment to our
services. Please contact us for more details:
Phone: 0845 300 6200
Email: enquiries@artscouncil.org.uk
Textphone: 020 7973 6564
Arts Council England
Grants for the arts
PO Box 4353
Manchester
M61 0DQ
Remember that any advice from us does not guarantee a successful application. Grants for
the arts is a competitive programme and we cannot fund all the eligible applications we
receive.
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Website
The Grants for the arts pages on our website should be the first point of advice for most
applicants. www.artscouncil.org.uk/gfta
All applicants must read the step by step guidance on How to apply. This document
explains the aims of the programme, what kind of activity we can support through Grants for
the arts, as well as guidance on how to complete your application form and submit an
application.
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Our information sheets provide further help with planning your activity and more advice on
certain parts of the process.
We have also created guidance videos which you can watch to find out more about Grants
for the arts.
You can find out more about some of the work we’ve supported by watching these case
studies. We also publish details of all the Grants for the arts awards we have made, so you
can find out what’s happening in your area.
Our feedback pages have been created to help unsuccessful applicants understand our
decision, and there is also useful information for successful applicants.
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Pre - application advice by phone, email and post
Our Customer services team, based in our national office in Manchester are the first point
of contact for Grants for the arts advice. We can advise you on the eligibility of your activity,
discuss any parts of the application that you are unsure of, and help you to use the online
application form.
Our phone lines are open from 9 am until 5 pm, Monday to Friday. You can also contact us
by email or post. We aim to reply fully to all enquiries within 5 working days of receipt. If the
issue takes longer than this to resolve, we will explain to you why there is a delay and when
you can expect to receive a full response.
We will sometimes need to pass your query onto a Relationship Manager based in one of
our Area Offices. We might speak to a Relationship Manager and get back to you with
further information, or we may organise for you to speak with them directly.
It’s important to remember that Relationship Managers are not able to speak to every
applicant. They work across large geographic areas and are only able to spend an average
of three days per month providing advice on Grants for the arts. This may include
developing advice giving tool (such as information sheets), giving presentations on Grants
for the arts at funding fairs, delivering advice sessions to groups of artists, or advising
individuals via phone, email and sometimes face to face.
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We want to support a diverse range of applicants and fund activity that covers a broad
range of activity types, artforms and geographical areas. Where there are limits on
Relationship Managers’ time and capacity, we will prioritise giving advice to:
 applicants applying from areas of low arts activity or provision
 applicants applying for activity that we do not currently fund, or fund little of in that
area
 applicants from underrepresented groups
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Presentations
We deliver presentations on Grants for the arts across the country.
The focus of these sessions is to introduce the Arts Council and the services we offer with
specific information on Grants for the arts. Typically, the session would consist of a
presentation followed by an informal networking opportunity. These sessions are often
delivered in partnership with:
 other lottery funding bodies such as HLF and Big Lottery
 local authorities and community groups
 FE or HE institutions
 Libraries
 one of our National Portfolio Organisations or Major Partnership Museums
 other arts organisations or artists networks
Please contact us to find out if there are any presentations happening in your area.
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Group pre-application advice sessions
We deliver group pre-application advice sessions across the country.
Aimed at those with a general knowledge of the Arts Council and Grants for the arts,
participants may or may not have a potential project in mind.
A session might be art form or area specific, and will be aimed at a group of ‘like’
participants, who have similar needs. For example, a session might be aimed at individual
writers, emerging visual artists, or Theatre in Education practitioners; or could be organised
for ‘first time applicants’ from a particular geographic location.
The sessions will normally focus on core aspects of the application process including:
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Planning the artistic activity
Participation and engagement
Formulating a budget
Finding partnership funding
Managing the activity
Writing an application
Please contact us to find out if there are any relevant group pre-application advice sessions
happening in your area.
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One to one sessions
One to one sessions are normally delivered by Relationship Managers and the advice may
be given via phone, email or face to face.
The sessions will be aimed at those with a general knowledge of the Arts Council and
Grants for the arts, participants may or may not have a potential project in mind. The
session will normally cover basic advice on writing an application, but will focus on artform
or sector specific issues such as:
 Developing the artistic idea
 Developing participation and engagement outcomes
 Finding the right partners (for delivery and partnership support)
Please contact us to find out if we currently have availability for one to one sessions in your
area.
It’s important to remember that Relationship Managers are not able to speak to every
applicant. They work across large geographic areas and are only able to spend an average
of three days per month providing advice on Grants for the arts.
We want to support a diverse range of applicants and fund activity that covers a broad
range of activity types, artforms and geographical areas. Where there are limits on
Relationship Managers’ time and capacity, we will prioritise giving advice to:
 applicants applying from areas of low arts activity or provision
 applicants applying for activity that we do not currently fund, or fund little of in that
area
 applicants from underrepresented groups
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Feedback to unsuccessful applicants
If you applied for £15,000 or under, your decision letter will clearly state the main reason(s)
we did not award funding, and a personalised statement to explain our decision.
If you applied for over £15,000, your decision letter will clearly state the main reason(s) we
did not award funding along with a copy of the appraisal against criteria, which will highlight
the key strengths and weakness of your application.
The feedback pages on our website may also help you understand our decision.
If you still have queries or concerns, you can contact us on our main enquiry line, but
please note that there may not be any further information or explanation we can provide.
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Contact us
Phone: 0845 300 6200
Email: enquiries@artscouncil.org.uk
Textphone: 020 7973 6564
Website: www.artscouncil.org.uk
Post: Arts Council England
Grants for the arts
PO Box 4353
Manchester
M61 0DQ.
© Arts Council England April 2015
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