Support in kind
This information sheet is for prospective applicants to the Grants for the arts programme.
Grants for the arts is a competitive programme and you should read this and any other
relevant guidance, including our ‘How to apply’ booklet (available in print or online), before
you submit your application.
What do we mean by support in kind?
Arts Council England understands the importance of non-cash contributions when realising
an arts project. Support in kind is used to describe any materials or services for your project
that are provided free of charge or at a reduced rate, and demonstrates a third party
backing or investment in the work that you are seeking funding for. The value of support in
kind contributes towards match funding and is considered to be part of the total project cost.
What can I include as support in kind?
Examples of support in kind could be:
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materials needed to create or present the work (such as costumes, paint, clay,
metal, wood, frames etc)
equipment which would normally come with a rate of hire: instruments, vehicles, PA
or IT systems etc
venue hire costs, studio space, rehearsal space etc
specialist support/waived fees (mentoring, business advice, consultancy, fundraising
support)
filming, photography, documenting work etc
marketing and promotional support (website development, e-print, digital marketing)
volunteer time
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reduced rates
We do recognise time being given in kind by the applicant, although this should come with a
similar caveat to the volunteer time section.
Some examples of what time in kind from an applicant might look like:
 it might be appropriate for an artist to request payment for 80 per cent of the hours
work, and give 20 per cent in kind. It is useful for applicants to value the time they
work and reflect the contribution they give in kind. This supports our ability to assess
‘risk of delivery’ and sustainability of an activity. It is particularly useful for an
applicant to reflect additional time given in kind within an Activity report so they can
learn what resource assumptions need to be made to deliver similar activity in the
future
 a project co-ordinator who offers administration support over the duration of the
activity in kind
 when the applicant is an organisation and they are giving time in kind (marketing
support, for example)
You cannot include:
 activities, materials or services that were provided before we are able to make a
decision on your application
 cash contributions (these should come under activity income)
How should I value my non-cash contributions?
If your volunteers are arts professionals, you should value their time as if they were taking a
professional wage.
We recognise that there is great value in people having access to proper work experience
where it is offered and arranged properly and is a mutually beneficial arrangement, but this
should never be used as a way of attempting to circumvent national minimum wage
regulations. When paying an artist, we want to see them paid an appropriate wage.
See our guidance document ‘How to pay artists’ for further details.
For venue or equipment hire, we would want to see quotes or research into how much
these services would usually cost if you had to pay for them. Ask the providers of the
services, or compare with similar local businesses.
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For services provided at a reduced rate the expenditure should reflect the amount paid, and
the discount amount should be accounted for in the support in kind. For example, if a
performance hall usually costing £1000 is being provided for £800, then the expenditure for
this item would be £800, with the support in kind element being £200.
Further information
When completing the budget section of your application, support in kind should not be
included in either the income or expenditure sections as these sections only deal with
incoming and outgoing costs. Support in kind has its own section in which all non-cash
contributions are recorded.
Please look at the ‘How to apply’ guidance document for help with completing the budget.
Any queries should be directed towards the Enquiries team on 0845 300 6200 or by email:
enquiries@artscouncil.org.uk
Our enquiries team can co-browse open draft applications and check your budget with you
before you submit.
Contact details
Arts Council England
Grants for the arts
The Hive, 49 Lever Street
Manchester M1 1FN
Phone: 0845 300 6200
Textphone: 020 7973 6564
Email: enquiries@artscouncil.org.uk
www.artscouncil.org.uk
© Arts Council England March 2013
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