Supports established theatre practitioners for two years of professional development

A grant of $45,000 per year over two years for established theatre practitioners
Applications for this grant close on 5 November 2012
Decisions will be advised in early March 2013
Funded projects can start after 4 March 2013

About the grant

Fellowship grants provide individual artists with financial support to undertake a two-year program of creative work and/or professional development that extends their practice and develops their career. They are for artists with a record of outstanding achievement who are able to demonstrate at least 10 years’ professional experience.

Contact

The Theatre Board welcome invitations to see productions and development showings but request at least three week’s notice.

Potential applicants are encouraged to discuss their application with the relevant Australia Council team member. For further information, or to discuss your proposal, please contact:

Willa Stanton
Program Officer, Theatre
Phone 02 9215 9040, Email w.stanton@australiacouncil.gov.au

Supports established theatre practitioners for two years of professional development

A grant of $45,000 per year over two years for established theatre practitioners
Applications for this grant close on 5 November 2012
Decisions will be advised in early March 2013
Funded projects can start after 4 March 2013

Eligibility

This category is open to individuals. To be eligible, you must meet the general eligibility requirements and any specific eligibility requirements provided for this grant.

In addition to the general eligibililty requirements, you must be able to demonstrate at least 10 years’ professional theatre experience.

The Australia Council encourages artists from Indigenous backgrounds and from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds to submit proposals. Proposals are also encouraged from artists with disabilities and from artists living and working in regional Australia. 

Selection criteria

Applications will be selected that best meet the following selection criteria:

• An artistic rationale for the activity as a vital contribution to the development of high quality contemporary theatre
• Artistic or professional skills appropriate to the activity
• Contribution to the diversity of Australian theatre
• Good planning and effective use of resources.

Selection process

The Board considers the applications and the required supporting material prior to the meeting, and scores the applications against the published selection criteria. During the meeting, the board and peers may choose to view optional supporting material to inform the discussion. The outcomes will be published as a Grant Assessment Report.

For more information on the assessment process, please see the page on assessment of applications in the  Funding Guide for 2012.

Supports established theatre practitioners for two years of professional development

A grant of $45,000 per year over two years for established theatre practitioners
Applications for this grant close on 5 November 2012
Decisions will be advised in early March 2013
Funded projects can start after 4 March 2013

How to apply

You are encouraged to apply online for this category. To begin an online application, use the 'Apply online' button in the right-hand column. Please select 'Theatre Board' when prompted to choose a board for your Fellowship application.

For other ways to apply, please see the information on making an application in the Funding Guide for 2012.

Supporting materials

The Australia Council grant system is now online, so board members assessing the funding round will receive all applications and support materials as electronic files on USBs. Your supporting material will not be returned to you (and will be disposed of 45 days after the assessment meeting) unless you make a specific request to Theatre Board staff within that time.

Essential supporting material

Letters of Intent (due with your application by the closing date)
Letters that evidence and detail the commitment from individuals and organisations nominated in your program. Please also provide letters of invitation.

Artist Confirmations (due with your application by the closing date)
All applicants must provide written confirmation of the availability of the key artists involved in the work by providing a letter or email from those artists. Please submit these as one document with all letters/emails included.

MPAB Letter (due 31 July 2012)
When proposals are submitted from organisations or individuals that involve companies funded by the major performing arts board (MPAB), a letter of agreement between the applicant and the MPAB-funded company must be provided to both the MPAB and this board. If you are not working with an MPAB company this letter is not required for this application.

NATSIA Letter (due 31 July 2012)
In line with the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts policy and its underpinning principles, the Australia Council requires that applications for projects containing representations of artistic/cultural practice or intended outcomes relating to Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander artists or communities must provide letters from relevant communities or artists. Letters must show clear evidence of support and agreement for the activities undertaken.

Optional supporting material

Only you can decide if the inclusion of optional supporting material will strengthen your proposal. The Theatre Board will assess and rate your application in the first instance by reading your application.  At the assessment meeting, the Board may choose to view your optional support material. 

Support Letters (due with your application by the closing date)
You may submit letters of support. 

It is assumed that fellowship applicants will be familiar to the board - additional support material should be kept to a minimum

We recommend you also read the FAQs of the Funding Guide for 2012. 

Application checklist

We encourage you to use this handy checklist to help them prepare and submit their 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 grant (across all the tabs above);
3. get in contact with the grant contact person to discuss your application;
4. prepare your application, being mindful that you address all of the eligibility and selection criteria for this grant; and
5. submit your application form online using the 'Apply online' button in the right-hand column.

Supports established theatre practitioners for two years of professional development

A grant of $45,000 per year over two years for established theatre practitioners
Applications for this grant close on 5 November 2012
Decisions will be advised in early March 2013
Funded projects can start after 4 March 2013

General FAQs

Specific frequently asked questions (FAQs) relating to this grant are listed below. Please regularly check for updates as new questions may be published during the grant round. We recommend you also read the general FAQs for all grants and the FAQs for supporting materials submitted with your application. 

Fellowships FAQs

Are you a contender?
To be eligible for a Fellowship you must have been a theatre practitioner for at least 10 years and have created a body of work. Your application must include a description of your significant achievements as well as your curriculum vitae listing your work to date.

What is a fellowship for?
A fellowship provides you with a two year professional development opportunity that you create by organizing a program of activities, workshops, observations, and artistic work that develops you as an artist. It is expected that this grant will cover your living expenses while you undertake this two year program of activities. You must not take on other work that significantly prevents you from dedicating time to fellowship activities.

Theatre productions may be part of your program, and if so, you will need to make a case for how your participation professionally develops you. However, the grant is not meant to fund the production or creative development of a project it would be more appropriate for you to apply to the new work category for funds to cover these budgets. You may apply to the new work category whilst on a fellowship for any productions you undertake as part of your fellowship.

I have other work planned for next year - am I able to take time out of the fellowship?
If you know at the time of applying that you need to take a month out of the fellowship (for example) you can accommodate this by amending your end dates. If you have already started your fellowship and a job has come up you can apply to the Theatre Board for a variation to your contract. It is expected that any time out will be minimal and within reason, as you are expected to use this time to undertake fellowship activities.

Can I pay other artists that I wish to work with using the fellowship money?
Yes, but you will be assessed on good planning and effective use of resources and this money is intended to cover your living expenses. It is best to seek other funds to pay for projects and other artists. If you have done this at the time of applying please include this in your outline.

I wish to do further studies, is this grant for this purpose?
No. You may have some short courses as part of your professional development program but if you are doing a PHD or Masters you should seek funds elsewhere. The Fellowship category is not a scholarship program.

I wish to travel - can this grant be used for this purpose?
If the travel is for professional development then part of your application may include these costs.

What do I need to do?
Tell us about your proposed program of activities in three A4 pages. You will need to include your biography in two A4 pages. This should be an abridged version of your curriculum vitae and highlight aspects most relevant to your application. Also in this section, please state what you consider to be your most significant achievements as an artist, in no more than one A4 page.

Do I need to submit a budget?
No, but you are asked to include key artists in your application and this includes a section for how much they will be paid. It is acceptable to put your name as the only paid artist on this application.

Support material?
It is expected that the Theatre Board will be familiar with your work and therefore minimal support material is required. You must provide letters that evidence that the activities and people you have described that you will be working with in your proposal are locked in and ready to go.

I’m not sure if I have enough industry experience or significant achievements to apply - how can I tell?
Some previous successful applicants are:

 
Jackson, Donna
Akerholt, May-Brit
Kelly, Gail
Tate, Jennie
Kellaway, Nigel
Cameron, Margaret
Milroy, David
Parker, Katrina
Steel, Anthony
Barley, Simon
Hume, Lindy
Lohr, Heidrun
Quantock, Rodney
Ruigrok van de Werven, Josef
Yang, William
Tregloan, Anna
Smith, Francesca
Bolton, John
Lipson, Brian
Draffin, Robert

If you have any further questions please speak with the program officer in charge of this category.