Funding and Awards

Arts and Artists Abroad

As part of its strategy to enhance the international profile and reputation of Northern Irish arts, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland offers awards for individual artists and arts organisations/groups who have experience in or proven potential for exhibition, performance or other artistic presentation in the international arena, to present their work abroad. New work from Northern Ireland will be prioritised.

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland will also consider applications from individual artists and arts organisations/groups wishing to present their work in other regions of the UK (i.e. Scotland, Wales and England).

How much money is available?
The total annual budget available in this scheme will be £100,000. The Arts Council will normally fund up to fifty per cent (for organisations) or seventy-five per cent (for individuals) of travel, accommodation, visas, subsistence, carriage, insurance and approved exhibition/performance costs.

Who can apply?

Individual artists and arts organisations/groups of all disciplines and in all types of working practice.

Arts organisations/groups must be based in Northern Ireland, and show both a credible track record of contributing to artistic activities here and a commitment to a continued artistic programme in Northern Ireland in the future. Applications from arts organisations/groups with experience of international work and/or annually supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland (under ASOP) will be prioritised.
Individual applicants must have been living in Northern Ireland for the twelve months preceding submission of the application, and have made a contribution to artistic activities in Northern Ireland.

The following are not eligible

Individual artists who only require funds to cover travel costs. In this case artists should apply directly to the Travel Awards Scheme.
Applicants who have already received an Arts and Artists Abroad Award from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland within the previous 12 month period.
Students or student productions, non-professional companies, non-professional bands, non-professional groups etc.

Deadline

Thursday 4 March 2004 - 4.00pm
Thursday 10 June 2004 - 4.00pm
Thursday 7 October 2004 - 4.00pm
Thursday 9 December 2004 - 4.00pm

Late applications will not be accepted.

What are the criteria for assessment?

Applicants will have to demonstrate:

i.   Evidence of artistic achievement.
ii.  Experience of and/or proven potential for international work.
iii. Quality, innovation and/or challenge of the proposal.
iv. Viability of proposal.
v.   Relevance of proposal to advancement of international or UK-wide awareness of and appreciation for artistic production from Northern Ireland.
vi.  Evidence of invitation from appropriate venues.

Are there any special conditions?

Individual artists and arts organisations/groups must demonstrate partnership funding. The proportion of partnership funding considered appropriate will be determined by the Arts Council on a case by case basis, but must be at least fifty per cent (for organisations/groups) or twenty-five per cent (for individuals).
Funds originating from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland cannot be deployed as partnership funding.
Partnership funding need not be confirmed at the time of application, but must be confirmed before an offer can be finalised.
Successful applicants must acknowledge Arts Council support in any materials relating to their tour in a format satisfactory to the Council.

Is support material required?

Applications must include:

a current CV or, for organisations/groups, a summary of performances/exhibitions relevant to the proposal;
examples of recent work in the relevant field (eg CDs, videos, slides, anthologies, scripts, scores, texts etc);
evidence of invitation from the venue/s;
venue/s information (brochures, website address, reviews etc).

Please include a stamped addressed envelope for the return, if desired, of support material, or make specific arrangements for collection. The Arts Council cannot retain and store support material after the assessment procedure.

How long will the process take?
Applicants will be notified of Council decisions within two months of the deadline for applications.

Are there evaluation requirements for successful applicants?
Successful applicants will be asked to submit a post-project report of not more than 700 words, which should include their own evaluation of the tour. The report should cover such issues as: how valuable the international artistic experience proved; the value of the activity in terms of networking and building contacts; whether it led to new opportunities which might not otherwise have arisen; whether it increased income; and whether it increased earning power as a consequence of becoming more widely known and appreciated.

Copies of receipts for all relevant expenditure must be submitted with the report.

Failure to submit the report and receipts will affect future applications to all Arts Council programmes.

Application Form, Rich Text or PDF

Guidelines, Rich Text or PDF

Equality Monitoring form, Rich Text or PDF