PROJECT GRANTS AND CREATIVE PRACTICE FUND UPDATES

I originally made this post as a little email update for my artists and then posted on Facebook that I'd share it if anyone wanted it. I got a lot of requests so thought I'd post it here so everyone can access it.

This is my initial summary of the new changes to GFTA - becoming Arts Council National Lottery Project Grants...open from 5th March 2018. And the new Developing Your Creative Practice fund - guidelines due in March we think.

I hope that this is helpful - please do have a read through the packs on their website for info straight from the source, this is just my initial summary!

Lx

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Arts Council National Lottery Project Grants

Asking amount - still up to £15k, then overs filtered at £50k and £100k.

Turnaround - same as before, 6 weeks for under, 12 weeks for over.

Portal - still using the dreaded Grantium, same logins should apply so you won't need to re-sign up as far as I know. 

Guidance notes - they have uploaded the new guidance notes which have the updated questions that they'll ask in the portal - see here Step 2: http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/node/7623

Under £15k questions
Most of the under £15k application looks the same. Most notable changes:

- describe your activity section - now ask you to select specific categories for how you'd describe your activity - eg. working with new people, creating or commissioning new work, reaching new or different audiences - etc - can select more than one

- public engagement section - they will now ask 3 questions in this section, all 1000 characters inc spaces each:
--who will engage with your project?
--how will people engage with your project and what experience do you want them to have?
--tell us how you will make sure your project reaches people

So overall it's the same word count for under £15k for this section, just split up differently.

- fair pay questions - we are all doing this anyways because we are great, but they want you to explicitly state:
--Have you used any recognised pay guidelines to work out pay for those involved in your project (including you)? (up to 600 characters)
--If there are other people included in delivering my project, either as workers or volunteers, I confirm I am aware of my statutory responsibilities. 

Over £15k questions
Same changes as above, plus:

- addition of this question: how will this project have a wider impact? (1500 characters)

- last public engagement question (--tell us how you will make sure your project reaches people) is now 3000 characters.

- if over £50k, there are extra things that you need to attached like cash flow, detailed budget, audience development and marketing plan, list the risk factors to the project, and more.

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Creative Practice fund
 
In addition to this, they are launching the Developing Your Creative Practice fund, which is more focused on artist/company development opportunities for "early to mid-point stage in their career" artists...whatever that means.
 
Amount: £2-10k
Turnaround: up to 9 weeks
Deadline: 4 deadlines per year

Not a lot of info at this point until guidelines launch in March, but they have included this in the under £15k pack (on page 18) so you can see roughly how they are seeing things split between the funds.