information
Frequently asked questions about Grants for the
arts – individuals and organisations
This information sheet is for Grants for the arts – individuals and
organisations. Please read it alongside the application materials for
the programme.
Contents
1 How to apply
2
How do I apply?
2
When can I apply?
2
How long will it take to reach a decision?
2
Where can I get help with my application?
3
How much can I apply for?
3
Do I need to have partnership funding?
3
Can I apply online?
3
Is the pack available in any other formats?
3
Can I apply for more than one activity within a single
application?
4
Should I talk to my local authority before I apply?
4
What grant conditions are there?
4
What happens if my application is unsuccessful?
4
If my application is unsuccessful can I apply again?
4
How many times can I apply?
5
Is there a danger that you will spend all the money before I
apply?
5
2 Who can apply
5
Who can apply?
5
Is my group considered an organisation?
5
I am a student – can I apply?
6
Can national organisations apply?
6
Can groups of organisations or artists apply?
6
Can organisations receiving regular funding from Arts Council
England apply?
6
I am based in the UK but not in England – can I still apply for
activity taking place in England?
6
3 What you can apply for
6
What type of arts activities can I apply for?
6
Grants for the arts – frequently asked questions
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What don’t you fund?
Can I apply for a programme of touring work?
Can I apply for a grant for assets?
My activity involves film or video – can I apply?
Contacts
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1 How to apply
How do I apply?
The application pack gives all the information you need about making
an application. You can find this on our website at
www.artscouncil.org.uk. You can also get copies by phoning 0845
300 6200, by textphone on 020 7973 6564 or by emailing
Enquiries@artscouncil.org.uk. We recommend that you discuss your
application with the Enquiries team before downloading an
application pack. This is to ensure that you are eligible to apply.
You will need to complete an application form and send us a written
proposal describing the activity you want us to fund. Help with writing
a proposal can be found in the ‘How to apply’ section of the
application pack.
All applications should be sent to our Application logging team based
in Manchester at this address:
Arts Council England, National Support Centre
Suite 3.01, Peter House
Oxford Street
Manchester
M1 5AN
When can I apply?
There are no deadlines, you can apply at any time. Make sure you
allow plenty of time to receive a decision before your activity starts.
We do not fund goods or services that you have already bought or
ordered or activities that have already taken place.
How long will it take to reach a decision?
Six working weeks for applications for £5,000 or less; 12 working
weeks for applications for over £5,000. Applications for buildings for
arts use (including buying, refurbishing and improving them) often
Grants for the arts – frequently asked questions
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need specialist and more detailed assessment and so we may not be
able to reach a decision within the times we have given.
Where can I get help with my application?
For general advice, contact our Enquiries team by:
 phone 0845 300 6200
 textphone 020 7973 6564
 email Enquiries@artscouncil.org.uk
 using our web form at www.artscouncil.org.uk/survey.php?fid=13
For more detailed advice, the Enquiries team can put you in touch
with the right person in the Arts Council office for the region you are
based in.
How much can I apply for?
The minimum amount of grant you can apply for is £1,000. The
maximum threshold for grants is £100,000 for regional activity and
£200,000 for national activity.
Do I need to have partnership funding?
We expect you to find at least 10 per cent of the cash required for
your activity from other sources. This can include earned income,
funding from public bodies, support in kind, grants from trusts and
foundations and a contribution from you or your organisation. For
some types of organisations (such as local authorities and other
public organisations) applying to Grants for the arts we expect to see
a higher level of income coming from other sources.
In very special circumstances we will provide a grant for the total cost
of your activity. Such circumstances could include bursaries for
individuals or situations where opportunities for raising money from
other sources are limited. If you apply to us for the total cost of your
activity you must tell us in your written proposal what your special
circumstances are.
Can I apply online?
No. However, the application form is available in a range of electronic
formats which you can download from the website. You can complete
the application form on your own computer, print it off, sign it and
send it to us along with your written proposal about the activity you
want us to fund.
Is the pack available in any other formats?
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The pack is available in Braille and large print (16pt), as a BSL video,
on audio CD and in electronic formats from the website. We can
provide support for completing applications in these formats. Please
contact the Enquires team on 0845 300 6200 or
Enquiries@artscouncil.org.uk to be connected to the most relevant
member of staff in your region to assist with support for these types
of applications.
A leaflet giving basic information is also available in Arabic, Bengali
(Sylheti), Cantonese, French, Gujarati, Hindi, Mandarin, Punjabi,
Somali, Spanish and Urdu.
Can I apply for more than one activity within a
single application?
Yes, you can apply for more than one activity in a single application.
For example, you could apply for a piece of equipment and a training
course in a single application.
Should I talk to my local authority before I apply?
We advise you to contact your local authority if:
 your application will benefit or involve people living in a local
authority area
 the activity is location specific (e.g. a public art commission)
 the local authority is providing partnership funding
What grant conditions are there?
Our standard conditions for grants are included in the application
pack. You can also get them from our website or through our
Enquiries team. If we offer you a grant we may include some
additional special conditions.
What happens if my application is unsuccessful?
We will write to you explaining the main reasons why it was
unsuccessful and telling you who to contact if you would like more
detailed feedback.
If my application is unsuccessful can I apply again?
Yes, you can apply again at any time. Before you do so, we strongly
recommend that you get advice and more detailed feedback on why
your application was unsuccessful. We will not be able to assess
repeat applications that have not dealt with the reasons why they
were not successful the first time.
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How many times can I apply?
We would not encourage you to make more than one application at a
time. If you want to make a second application you must speak to the
person assessing your first application. To do this, contact our
Enquiries team who will direct you to the assessor. The assessor will
confirm in writing whether you can apply and you must include the
letter from them with your second application.
We advise you to think carefully before making more than one
application. Our assessment will consider your ability to manage
more than one activity at a time.
If you have had a grant from us before, you must meet all of the
conditions in your grant offer and you must send us all the
information we need for that grant before you apply again. We cannot
assess an application if you still need to meet conditions from a
previous grant.
Is there a danger that you will spend all the money
before I apply?
We will have money available to spend throughout the year. It is
however important to note that competition for grants is high and we
will not have enough money to fund all good applications.
2 Who can apply
Who can apply?
Individuals and organisations can apply. Your application must be
arts-related and take place mainly in England. There are some
exceptions to this, for example, when artists are involved in
professional development activities in other countries.
Is my group considered an organisation?
By organisation we mean a single group of people working towards a
shared or common goal. This can take many forms, for example, a
limited company, a charity, a community interest company (CIC) or
an unincorporated group. If you are applying to Grants for the arts as
an organisation, you should have a bank account with two people
who can sign in the organisation’s name. Otherwise, one of the
individuals involved in your group will need to take the lead and apply
as an individual.
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I am a student – can I apply?
We do not fund students for activities related to their course of study
or towards their tuition fees. By student we mean a person following
a course of study in a school, college or university. If you are a
student, you can still apply for activities that are not related to your
course of study – contact your regional office for advice.
Can national organisations apply?
Yes, national organisations can apply. Details of what applicants can
apply for can be found in the ‘How to apply’ section of the application
pack.
Can groups of organisations or artists apply?
Yes, but one of the organisations or artists involved will need to take
the lead and have primary responsibility for the management of the
application and any grant. We do not require applicants to be
formally constituted to apply.
Can organisations receiving regular funding from
Arts Council England apply?
Organisations receiving regular funding can only apply if their lead
officer agrees in writing beforehand. This written confirmation must
be sent with your application or we will not be able to assess your
application.
I am based in the UK but not in England – can I still
apply for activity taking place in England?
Yes, applicants based in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland can
apply if the majority of the activity takes place in England. Applicants
from UK countries other than England should contact the following
Arts Council regional offices:
Scotland – North East
Northern Ireland – North West
Wales – West Midlands
3 What you can apply for
What type of arts activities can I apply for?
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We fund a wide range of arts activities. Some examples of the types
of activity are given in the ‘How the apply’ booklet in the application
pack, in the section that explains what you can apply for.
What don’t you fund?
A full list of what we do not fund is included in the ‘How to apply’
booklet in the application pack, in the section on eligibility.
Can I apply for a programme of touring work?
Yes, as long as the total activity lasts no longer than three years. We
advise you to contact the regional office you are based in for advice
before applying.
Can I apply for a grant for assets?
You can apply for a grant to buy assets such as equipment,
instruments and vehicles. Details of what applicants can apply for
can be found in the ‘How to apply’ booklet in the application pack in
the section ‘What you can apply for’. You may also want to see our
information sheets on our website for more information about
different types of activities.
You can also apply to buy, refurbish and improve buildings for arts
use. You must ask for our agreement in writing before you apply or
we will not be able to assess your application. Contact our Enquiries
team, who will put you in touch with your relevant regional office.
My activity involves film or video – can I apply?
We generally only fund activities involving film or video that are in
support of artists’ work in the moving image (including film and
video). Please see our information sheet The moving image,
including film and video for more details on what we do and do not
fund related to the moving image.
You may also want to contact the UK Film Council, which provides
funding for feature and short film development and production. The
council also funds local projects via regional and country screen
agencies. Their contact information is:
The UK Film Council
10 Little Portland Street
London W1W 7JG
Phone: 020 7861 7861
Email: info@ukfilmcouncil.org.uk
Website: www.ukfilmcouncil.org.uk
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Contacts
Arts Council England
14 Great Peter Street, London SW1P 3NQ
Website: www.artscouncil.org.uk
Phone: 0845 300 6200
Textphone: 020 7973 6564
Email: Enquiries@artscouncil.org.uk
© Arts Council England, October 2008
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