Supports major community arts and cultural development projects of excellence

An initiative of between $50,000 and $600,000 for sustained cross-sectoral projects
Applications for this initiative are accepted anytime (no closing date)

About the grant

The Creative Communities Partnerships Initiative supports major community arts and cultural development projects of excellence that bring together arts and non-arts partners and have clear outcomes that extend beyond the life of the project.

Creative Communities Partnerships support opportunities for Australians to participate in meaningful arts and cultural activities in the places where they live, encouraging innovation and enhancing community wellbeing.

Proposals may include a range of diverse but related activities and are for total amounts between $50,000 and $600,000, with a maximum of $200,000 in any one year. The Australia Council may commission Creative Communities Partnerships to address strategic priorities or issues as they arise.

The objectives of Creative Communities Partnerships are to:

• Increase opportunities for individuals and communities to actively participate in excellent artistic practices
• Deliver innovative community based arts programs with long term outcomes through arts and non-arts partnerships
• Stimulate innovation across organisations, governments and in communities in the use of the arts to address issues of community well being
• Undertake effective and appropriate evaluation so as to increase understanding of the contribution of the community arts and cultural development sector.

This may be undertaken in partnership with other organisations, institutions, government departments and/or individuals.

The initiative must address at least one of the Community Partnerships priority areas.

The Community Partnerships Committee supports a number of priority areas that cover a range of geographic, demographic and social contexts. These priority areas serve to focus effective use of the resources of Community Partnerships and include regional Australia, disability, young people, cultural diversity, emerging communities, Indigenous people, remote Indigenous communities and specific critical social and cultural issues requiring focused attention.

Contact

Potential applicants must discuss their proposals with Community Partnerships staff. For further information, or to discuss your proposal, please contact:

       Community Partnerships
       Phone 02 9215 9034, Email cp@australiacouncil.gov.au

Supports major community arts and cultural development projects of excellence

An initiative of between $50,000 and $600,000 for sustained cross-sectoral projects
Applications for this initiative are accepted anytime (no closing date)

Eligibility

Creative Communities Partnerships are open to organisations only.

Only organisations that have discussed their proposals with Community Partnerships are eligible to apply.

Organisations may only hold one funded Creative Communities Partnerships at one time. If you are currently in receipt of a CCPI, you cannot submit a new proof of concept prior to your current funded project being fully acquitted by the Community Partnerships Committee. 

Proposals to Creative Communities Partnerships may be submitted at any time.

Please note that proof of concepts and full applications to the Creative Communities Partnerships Initiative are not considered as one of the five grant applications you may make to the Australia Council in a calendar year.

Selection criteria

There are two phases to the Creative Communities Partnerships process:

• Phase 1 - discussion and proof of concept
• Phase 2 - full written application.

Phase 1 - Proof of Concept

Only applicants who have discussed their proposal in detail with appropriate Community Partnerships staff are eligible to submit a proof of concept. Applicants must have a written invitation to submit a proof of concept.

An invitation to submit a proof of concept does not automatically lead to approval to submit a full written application under the Creative Communities Partnerships Initiative.

The proof of concept should not exceed three pages. It should:

• State the aims and long term outcomes of the partnership
• Identify the partners and key personnel in the partnership
• Explain the significance of the project (How does the partnership contribute to community well being? What is the impact of the partnership and the lasting outcomes after the project is completed?)
• Address the Creative Communities Partnerships objectives and at least one of the Community Partnerships priority areas (regional Australia, disability, young people, cultural diversity, emerging communities, Indigenous people, remote Indigenous communities and specific critical social and cultural issues requiring focused attention).
• Provide an indicative timeline and budget outline (including the list of partners engaged, confirmed and unconfirmed proposed funding sources and budget requests, and the level of funding being sought from Community Partnerships).

The Community Partnerships Committee uses the following criteria to assess proofs of concept:

• Innovation and excellence in the proposed partnership project
• Potential for developmental and sustainable outcomes for the communities identified within the Community Partnerships priority areas (regional Australia, disability, young people, cultural diversity, emerging communities, Indigenous people, remote Indigenous communities and specific critical social and cultural issues requiring focused attention).
• Proven capacity and high level skills of artists and/or facilitators to achieve the project outcomes
• Effective planning, evaluation and use of resources 

Applicants should not submit letters of support (whether financial or in-kind) or other support material at this stage of the process.

Community Partnerships staff will,if you request it, provide one set of feedback on your draft proof of concept.

Committee members will also take into consideration the geographic and/or priority area distribution of Creative Communities Partnerships when assessing the proof of concept.

A decision regarding the proof of concept will be provided within four weeks of it being sent to the committee (please note, for proofs of concept received between 1 December and 16 January, decisions may take up to six weeks).

If successful, you will be invited to make a full written application based on your proof of concept. An invitation to submit a full application does not imply that it will be successful. You must submit the full application within three months of the date of invitation.

Phase 2 - Full Written Application

If invited, you will receive a written invitation and an application form. You will be required to submit the application in accordance with standard application procedures.

The full application will be assessed by the Community Partnerships Committee and a decision provided within eight weeks of it being submitted (please note, for full applications received between 1 December and 16 January, decisions may take longer).

The Community Partnerships Committee uses the following criteria to assess full written applications:

• Innovation and excellence in the proposed partnership project, and the potential to engage new partners
• Developmental and sustainable outcomes for the communities identified within the Community Partnerships priority areas (regional Australia, disability, young people, cultural diversity, emerging communities, Indigenous people, remote Indigenous communities and specific critical social and cultural issues requiring focused attention).
• Evidence of demand for the activities delivered by the proposed partnership
• Proven capacity and high level skills of artists and/or facilitators to achieve the project outcomes
• Effective planning, evaluation and use of resources
• A range of confirmed funding sources and arts and non-arts partners

Applicants must demonstrate in Phase Two of the application process that at least 50% of the budget for their proposal is confirmed and derived from sources other than the Australia Council.

Committee members will also take into consideration the geographic and/or priority area distribution of Creative Communities Partnerships when assessing the full written application. 

Selection process

The Community Partnerships Committee will assess applications according to the selection criteria above.

For more information on the assessment process, please see the page on Assessment of applications in the Information for applicants section.

Supports major community arts and cultural development projects of excellence

An initiative of between $50,000 and $600,000 for sustained cross-sectoral projects
Applications for this initiative are accepted anytime (no closing date)

How to apply

There are two phases to the Creative Communities Partnerships process:

• Phase 1 – discussion and proof of concept.
• Phase 2 – full written application.

Applicants must discuss the project concept and application process with Community Partnerships staff.

If your proposed activity fits within the guidelines of the Creative Communities Partnerships Initiative, you will be invited in writing to submit a proof of concept.

Supporting materials

Support material is required for Phase 2 - full written application only. It should not exceed the amount specified in the application form.

Support materials can be submitted in the following digital formats:

• Audio files – .mp3 (128-44.1kb/s)
• Images – .jpg (80 percent quality)
• Moving Images – .mov (Quicktime) . WMV (Windows Media Player)
• Documents – .pdf  .doc

We recommend you also read the FAQs for supporting materials submitted with your application. 

Application checklist

We encourage you to use this handy checklist to help you prepare and submit your application. You should:

1. read the Funding Guide for 2012, in particular the general eligibility requirements, the information on making an application and the information on how your application will be assessed;
2. read all of the information provided for this category (across all the tabs above);
3. get in contact with Community Partnerships to discuss your eligibility;
4. if eligible, prepare your application, being mindful that you address all of the eligibility and selection criteria for this category; and
5. submit your application (including support material where relevant)