Funding and Awards

Arts and Disability Networking Abroad

As part of its strategy to enhance the European and International profile and reputation of artists with a disability and Arts & Disability organisations/groups, 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 on an international basis, to present their work abroad. The Arts Council also wishes to encourage the development of European/international strategic networking potential within the Arts and Disability sector.

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland will also consider applications from individual artists and arts organisations/groups working in the Arts and Disability sector who wish to present their work in other regions of the UK, or to develop new networks and partnerships in Scotland, Wales and England and in the Republic of Ireland.

How much money is available?

The total budget available in this scheme will be £7,500.

The Arts and Disability Networking Abroad Scheme will normally fund up to ninety per cent (for organisations/groups or individuals) of travel, disability support costs (e.g. carers), accommodation, visas, subsistence, carriage, insurance and approved exhibition/performance and/or networking costs.

Who can apply?

Individual artists with a disability, in all disciplines and in all types of working practice
Arts & Disability organisations/groups in all disciplines and in all types of working practice
Arts organisations/groups wishing to develop strategically their arts & disability practice in all disciplines and in all types of working practice.

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. 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.

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 Disability Abroad Award from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland within the previous 12 month period.

Students or student productions, companies, bands, 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 must demonstrate:

Evidence of artistic achievement.
Experience of and/or potential for European/international work.
Quality, innovation and/or challenge of the proposal.
Viability of proposal.
Evidence of invitation from appropriate venues/organisations/groups/individual artists.
Relevance of proposal to advancement of European, international or UK-wide awareness of and appreciation for the Arts & Disability sector in Northern Ireland
Relevance of proposal to advancement of European, international or UK-wide networking in the Arts & Disability sector

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 ten per cent (for organisations/groups or 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 should include if appropriate:

a current CV or, for organisations/groups, a summary of performances/exhibitions/arts experiences relevant to the proposal;
examples of recent work in the relevant field (e.g. CDs, videos, slides, anthologies, scripts, scores, texts etc);
evidence of invitation from the venue/s or partner/networking organisation;
venue/ partnership 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 funded activity. 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; whether it increased earning power as a consequence of becoming more widely known and appreciated and how the proposed network/partnership has benefited your organisation/group.

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

Failure to submit the report 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