Partnership funding
Applicants will have to demonstrate an element of partnership funding. The Arts Council will not be the sole financier of any project. Partnership funding from terrestrial or satellite broadcasters, trusts, or public sector agencies are all eligible as partnership funding. Funding from other Lottery distributors may be included in the total budget, provided that each of the Lottery distributors’ requirements is compatible, but there must also be some element of non-Lottery funding.
Contributions other than cash (in-kind) may be acceptable as partnership funding. Details of the type of contribution and how the monetary value has been calculated should be provided. If you feel your project falls into the above category, you should discuss this with an officer from the Lottery Department.
Lottery funds are intended to complement, not to compete with, finance from broadcasters. Lottery funds will not be used to subsidise broadcasters, rather to combine resources to realise shared objectives for the growth of a regional film industry. Applications with significant financial support (in excess of 50% of the budget) from a broadcaster will not be a priority. Criteria for decision-making
The Arts Council has drawn its criteria for decision-making from the Policy Directions laid down by the Government. The criteria on which the Arts Council will decide whether any application should receive funding are detailed below (bold), in addition to a suggested breakdown of the type of information which may influence a decision, although this is not a definitive list.
• Benefit to general public in Northern Ireland
Number of people who will benefit and how.
Cultural relevance to Northern Ireland.
Public good versus commercial gain.
Public accessibility: distribution and/or broadcast.
Plans to afford equality of opportunity.
Regional, national and international significance.
Geographical base of the applicant organisation.
Percentage of the budget to be spent in Northern Ireland.
Percentage of pre-production, principal photography and post- production to take place in Northern Ireland.
Percentage of cast and crew from or based in Northern Ireland.
Evidence of attempts to secure Northern Ireland labour.
Level and grades of trainees from Northern Ireland.
Percentage of production budget already spent in Northern Ireland (Short Film Distribution and Promotion only).
• The project must be of the highest artistic quality
The quality of the project e.g. team and script, as perceived by the Arts Council and its assessors.
The originality of the concept behind the film.
The potential of the project for theatrical release or broadcast.
• Demand
The target audience.
Market research evidence.
Sales estimates.
Outline plans for promotion in Northern Ireland.
Outline plans for marketing and promotion.
Approaches to, or planned approaches to, UK and
international distributors.
Other plans for distribution.
Distributors’ responses/agreements to date.
• Project management and financial viability
Clear and comprehensive plans for the management of the
project and the budget.
Appropriateness and quality of the team.
Company structure.
Track record and experience.
A detailed budget indicating sources of income and
categories of expenditure.
Appropriateness of the budget in terms of the type and
scale of project.
A detailed schedule.
The proposed post-project evaluation and reporting procedures.
• Partnership funding
The level and source of partnership funding.
The strategy for financing the work.
Expected decision dates from proposed financiers.
Contingency plans - e.g. budget, finance, crew, cast, locations.
• Additionality
The degree to which Lottery funding will bring added
value to the project.
Producers should make every effort to provide all the information requested when they submit their applications; a failure to provide full information can delay the assessment process.
The Arts Council acknowledges that this is a significant level of information and that not all of it applies to all applications. Applicants should note that it is in their interests to provide the fullest possible set of documentation and responses within their application. Where information is not applicable or available an explanation must be provided.
The Arts Council has a statutory duty to have due regard to the need to promote equality of opportunity between persons of different religious belief, political opinion, gender, marital status, disability and sexual orientation. The council must also have due regard to the desirability of promoting good relations between persons of different religious belief, political opinion or racial group. Please note that the Arts Council operates this policy in respect of all its decisions in funding arts projects.
Development
What is the maximum grant available?
The maximum grant available for the development of one project is £20,000 or 75% of the total development costs, whichever is the lesser amount. The development budget should be realistic in terms of the type and scale of project.
What is eligible
Funding is available for the development of single feature films, drama series, short films, experimental films, documentaries, animation and digital media projects.
The following items are eligible in a development budget for
Arts Council support:
• Rights/option payments;
• Writers’ fees;
• Script editor/story editor services;
• Producer’s fee;
• Recces;
• Casting;
• Budgeting ;
• Legal fees;
• Accountancy;
• Office costs up to a maximum of 10% of the total budget.
Are there any deadlines?
There are no deadlines for applicants seeking Development funding. Applications are accepted at all times.
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