We will consider applications for grant aid from voluntary arts groups which are based in the Borough and which promote, develop and encourage greater involvement for everyone in the arts.

Who Can Apply?

1. New arts groups may apply for a seeding grant, up to a maximum of £200, to help with their initial expenses. Such groups must be properly constituted and have their own bank account for this purpose only.
2. Groups who are organising nonprofit-making courses or classes which will extend or develop the arts within the community.
3. Major events or festivals organised within the Borough which are open to the general public.
4. Special projects or initiatives which develop the arts locally or make the arts more accessible, and demonstrate equal opportunity to all sections of the community. Your group's application must demonstrate sufficient experience and expertise to carry out the project, by submitting detailed plans of how the project will run, and stating the time scale and projected expenditure.
5. We will not allocate grant aid to charities or commercial ventures.

Conditions

1. Where more than one source of financial assistance exists, you as the applicant must first have approached the most relevant body, and you must tell us the result of such an approach.
2. Groups must demonstrate excellence in their chosen art form and have achieved a high level of attainment through competition. This attainment should be supported by independent accredited evidence.
3. We will only award one grant to any group in each financial year (1 April to 31 March).
4. If yours is an established group or organisation, you must send with your application (where appropriate) a copy of the constitution if we have not already seen it, and an up-to-date certified statement of the group's financial status. We will only accept applications on our official application forms, which you can get from the Arts Development Officer at the address in the pink column at the right of this page or by downloading the PDF version which you can print out and return to us when completed.
5. We will treat incomplete or illegible applications as ineligible and return them to you.
6. The project or event you have made the application for, must not be for personal financial gain.
7. How much grant aid we offer will depend on the funding we have available, and the recommendation made to us by the Arts Advisory Committee.
8. You must use all funding from us for the purpose stated on your application. Where this is not the case, we will insist that you fully repay the funding allocated.
9. Our support should be acknowledged in all publicity material relating to the event. Complimentary tickets or invitations should be available for either our use or the Arts Advisory Committee's use.
10. Events must be widely publicised and open to the public.
11. Your organisation or group must arrange to have suitable insurance or public liability cover in place for all events that we fund.
12. We will not grant aid for the general running costs of groups and clubs. We will also not pay grants towards the capital expenditure on facilities or equipment.

Other Information

• We will acknowledge all applications for grant aid, in writing, within 10 days of receipt.
• Applications may be deferred if we need further information.
• We will not consider a claim that your application was lost or delayed in the post, unless you have proof of posting.
• If your application is unsuccessful, you can contact the Arts Development Officer to find out why your application was rejected.

Related Documents to Download:

Arts Grant (Groups) Application Form (.pdf 39KB)

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