Support for one-off projects for the creation or presentation of new theatre work

Up to $35,000 for creative development grants, up to $15,000 for young artists initiative grants, and grants for productions
Applications for this grant close 4 June 2012
Decisions will be advised in early September 2012
Funded projects can start after 10 September 2012 

Rounds

About the grant

New work grants support one-off projects that result in the creation and/or presentation of new contemporary theatre work. This can include a new production of an existing text.

There are three types of new work grants:

• Creative development – supports the development stages of a new work, such as research, creative development workshops or commissioning a writer. Please note the change in the amount that applicants can request: total request may be up to and including $35,000 only.
• Production – supports a public performance of a new work and any stages leading up to it, where a presenting partner has already committed to the project
• Young artists initiative – supports either the creative development or production of a new work. Note: the age limit for young artists is up to and including 30 years of age, and applicants can request up to $15,000.

Applications for production grants (including young artists initiative for the production of new work) must have a presenting partner involved in the project. A presenting partner is defined as anyone able to provide or raise the resources needed to present the work to the public, and could include (among others) venues, festivals, other theatre companies, local governments, museums or independent producers.

Letters from your presenting partner providing evidence of their contribution to your project must be submitted by the closing date and must comply with the presenting partner letter template found here.

The applicant and presenting partner cannot be the same entity.

Please note:

• If your presenting partner is a MPAB company or receives funding through the Theatre Board as a Key Oganisation their artistic contribution cannot exceed 45% of the artistic costs the project.
• The presenting partner must include a statement describing their relationship with the applicant’s work, and if the presenting partner will make a profit from this relationship in return for the support.
• There needs to be a clear distinction between the presenting partner’s usual work and the applicant’s work. This distinction needs to be evidenced by the way the work is described in promotion material, by the artistic control and by who financially benefits from the work.
• Theatre work seeking New Work category funds cannot for example be a Melbourne Theatre Company show in their subscription season; however MTC could co-produce a work lead by independent artists.
• Funding in this category is only available for the premiere season of a new work and does not include touring activity beyond the premiere season.

Applications for young artists initiative grants may be from individuals, groups or organisations where:

• All of the key creative roles such as writer, director, animateur and main devisor are held by artists who are up to and including 30 years of age; and
• The project involves a majority of artists who are up to and including 30 years of age; and
• The total amount requested is $15,000 or less.

Whilst projects may involve fee payment to a mentor, consultant or ‘outside eye’ who is over the age of 30, the total payment for these artists or consultants over the age of 30 may not be more than 15% of the total amount requested from the Theatre Board.

Please note that young artists initiative grants will not fund the young artists’ costs of larger projects that mainly involve experienced artists. The entire project must be driven by young artists.

Applicants are advised to speak to theatre staff.

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:

Tija Lodins
Program Officer, Theatre
New Work - Creative Development, New Work - Young Artists Initiative
Phone 02 9215 9117, Email t.lodins@australiacouncil.gov.au

or

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

Support for one-off projects for the creation or presentation of new theatre work

Up to $35,000 for creative development grants, up to $15,000 for young artists initiative grants, and grants for productions
Applications for this grant close 4 June 2012
Decisions will be advised in early September 2012
Funded projects can start after 10 September 2012 

Eligibility

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

Additonal to the general eligibility requirements, you must meet the following specific eligibility requirements:

All new work - production and young artists initiative (production) applicants need to provide letters from their presenting partner confirming their commitment and contribution to the project by the closing date. Applications without presenting partner letters will be ineligible (see support material).

If your organisation is in receipt of a Theatre Board funded Key Organisation grant, you are not eligible to apply to the Theatre Board for new work funding.

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.

For questions to consider when addressing the selection criteria please read our selection criteria guide here.

In assessing new work - production applications against the last criterion, the theatre board will take into account the presenting partner’s level of support. In doing so, it recognises that work with unconventional presentation requirements or in some geographical areas may have more limited choices in presenting partners, and the board will assess the degree of support with this in mind.

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 section.

Support for one-off projects for the creation or presentation of new theatre work

Up to $35,000 for creative development grants, up to $15,000 for young artists initiative grants, and grants for productions
Applications for this grant close 4 June 2012
Decisions will be advised in early September 2012
Funded projects can start after 10 September 2012 

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 New Work 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 supporting materials as electronic files on USB's. All files submitted as supporting material must not total more than 75mb with no single file larger than 70mb, and be of satisfactory quality.

The online system supports the following file types:

• PDF (for text)
• JPEG (for images)
• MP3 (for audio files)
• MP4 (for video/moving image files)
• QuickTime files with the extension .MOV

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

1. Presenting partner letter (due with your production application by the closing date)

New Work production applicants must provide a letter from your presenting partner confirming their commitment and contribution to the project by the closing date. This must include the nature of the relationship between yourself and the presenter and what the presenter is contributing, (e.g. rehearsal space, admin support, marketing, venue, cash support etc) and the value of this support (including in-kind and/or cash contributions). Please note that your application will be ineligible if you do not supply this presenting partner letter with your application by the closing date. Please also note this is not required for creative development applications.

2. Confirmation of ages (due with your young artists initiative application by the closing date)

Young artists initiative applicants must submit a document listing the names, roles and ages of all artists involved in the work. This document must be submitted by the closing date. This is only required for young artist initiative applications to evidence that the key artists are 30 years or under.

3. Artist Confirmations (due with all new work applications 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. You must discuss the availability of the artists nominated in your application with those artists, and confirm their participation before including their names in your application. Please submit this as one document with all letters/emails included.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. Administering Body letter (due by the closing date)

If you are submitting your application online you must submit signed written confirmation from your nominated Administering Body verifying their willingness to administer this grant. This can be in the form of a PDF submitted electronically with this application; or a printed confirmation submitted by mail and postmarked on or before the closing date. Or, if you are submitting your application in hardcopy, the appropriate page of the application form must be signed by the Administering Body.

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 project description, biographies, budget and 5 page script excerpt (if submitted).  At the assessment meeting, the Board may choose to view your optional supporting material. 

1.  Script (due with your application by the closing date)
If you have a script or draft script, you may submit this as optional support material. 

2.   5 page excerpt or treatment (due with your application by the closing date)
You may submit 5 pages of supporting material for the board to further assess your application. These 5 pages should be attached as one document and may include five pages of material that give the Board a “taste” of your project. These could include; images, diagrams, directors notes, script excerpt, treatment, or documentation of a previous development stage.

3.   DVD (due with your application by the closing date)
A brief (maximum 5 minutes) video/DVD excerpt. This could be an excerpt from a previous creative development for the work, or a selection from existing work of the artist or company, that demonstrates artistic intent. You will only be able to upload a maximum 70mb file (with a total 75mb for all support material) to the application form.  Please see below for further information. *

4.   MP3 (due with your application by the closing date)
If your project includes original music or a soundscape you may submit up to three mp3’s

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

*DVD supporting material extra information

Your video file must be submitted in a standard format so that it can be easily duplicated and played on different computers (i.e both mac and pcs and without special software to open the file)

Please submit only:

• QuickTime (.MOV) or .MP4 file
• Small file size.  We recommend this file is under 70mb so you can upload it with your application or up to 100 mb if posted in on DVD (please see further details below on posting a dvd)

If you are unable to submit your video file online you can post your support material on a DVD or USB. It must be postmarked by the closing date and you must make sure it is a small video file (up to 100mb for 5min video) and not an authored disc. This means:

• The disc must not be created for DVD players or to automatically play on a computer do not use authoring application like Apple iDVD or Windows MyDVD.
• If you use a burning application be careful that settings are off for loop and autoplay (with programs like Toast)
• The video file should simply appear as a .MOV or .MP4 data file on the disc
• Check the video plays only when you open the file (that it does not automatically play when you insert it), on both PC and Mac computers
• Send the disc postmarked by the application deadline.

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 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.

Support for one-off projects for the creation or presentation of new theatre work

Up to $35,000 for creative development grants, up to $15,000 for young artists initiative grants, and grants for productions
Applications for this grant close 4 June 2012
Decisions will be advised in early September 2012
Funded projects can start after 10 September 2012 

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.

New Work FAQs

How much can I apply for?
There is no minimum or maximum amount for the New Work - Production category.  You could take a look at past assessment meeting reports to get an idea of how much others have been receiving.

New Work - Creative Development has a limit of up to $35,000.

New Work - Young Artists Initiative has a limit of $15,000. The young artists initiative has been created as an opportunity for young artists to compete against their peers rather than against more established artists. It is expected that young artists initiative projects are created and lead by people up to and including 30 years of age, not young artists who are part of larger projects.

When you are deciding how much to ask the Theatre Board for, keep in mind that the Theatre Board assesses your application against a 'good planning and effective use of resources' criteria. This means that whatever you ask for needs to be justified and supported by a clear and realistic budget that balances. If you need to, you can write some budget notes in your application.

What can I spend the money on?
You must spend the money on the fees and salaries of the artists and arts-workers involved in your project and any costs associated with your production or creative development. You can’t use the funding to buy equipment or for costs associated with the project outside of this grant, for example, promotional costs associated with a future tour of the work.

Should I apply for other funding as well?
Yes. Theatre Board funds should be a contribution towards your project rather than funding the whole project.  If you are seeking partnerships with companies or individuals who can supply cash or in-kind support to your project, you need to report this in your budget.  You should Theatre section staff, prior to the board meeting, if you are successful in receiving in-kind or cash support and / or funding from other agencies.

Where can I go for extra funding?
Contact your state arts funding body and local council to see what grant rounds they have available, even if the decision is not until after the Theatre Board’s closing date. You could also try some philanthropic organisations such as the Myer Foundation, Ian Potter Foundation and the Besen Foundation. Have a look at our ‘Other Funding Options’ link for more information: http://www.australiacouncil.gov.au/grants/other_funding_options

Does everyone need to get paid?
The Theatre Board expects that all professional practitioners will be paid award rates or fees based on the current industry standard. These rates can be found by contacting organisations such as the Media Entertainment Arts Alliance and by speaking to practitioners currently working in the field.

Do I need to have someone auspice my grant?
No. Many people choose to have someone auspice their grant for a fee so they don’t have to worry about managing the accounts, sorting out tax issues or submitting financial reports. If you are an individual applicant and don’t nominate an auspicing body when you apply, the grant will be paid directly to you. If you have applied as a group, you will need to nominate a member of the group to submit their ABN and the money will get paid into their account.

Can I apply for a New Work grant if the work has been presented before?
The new work category does not fund tours or remounts. If you are remounting the same work with the same cast, design, with only small changes, then you are not eligible to apply for funding.

If the work has been presented before but involves significant changes, then you may apply. If you are unsure whether the project involves a significant enough change, then please speak to Theatre section staff.

Do I need to have a venue confirmed by the closing date?
If you don’t have a venue confirmed you will not be made ineligible.  However, the Theatre Board will want to know that should you receive Theatre Board funding, you are ready to successfully present your project. The Theatre Board will use the 'good planning and effective use of resources' criteria to score your planning and the venue is part of this.

What supporting material do I have to submit?
If you are applying to the production category, you must submit a letter from your presenting partner by the closing date. This is an eligibility requirement and if we do not receive this letter with your application, you will be deemed ineligible and your application will not be submitted to the Theatre Board.

You must also submit confirmation letters or emails from all artists stating their availability and commitment to working on your project. These can be submitted as one document by compiling all of your confirmation letters / emails.

If you are applying to the Young Artists Initiative, then you will need to present confirmation of the artists’ ages.

What other supporting material can I submit?
You must think carefully about what you choose to submit because you can only upload a limited amount of material (total of 75MB).  You may submit five pages extra of material such as a treatment, images and diagrams, or the documentation of a previous development stage. Whatever you think will best help the Theatre Board engage with your project.

Should I submit a script?
It is your choice whether to submit the script or not. In making your decision, keep in mind that you should provide the Theatre Board with enough relevant information for them get a sense of your work. If you do submit a script then, also include a one page synopsis and a four page extract that best portrays the quality of the writing.

What is a presenting partner?
The presenting partner must be a separate entity and must act as a co-producer for the work- this means that they contribute financially to your project. The more they contribute the stronger your application. A presenting partner could include (among others) venues, festivals, other theatre companies, local governments, museums or independent producers. The applicant can not also be the presenting partner, even if the applicant is an established theatre company. Your presenting partner letter must be submitted by the closing date or you will be deemed ineligible and and your application will not be submitted to the Theatre Board.

What should the presenting partner letter look like or say?
The letter must comply with the presenting partner letter template found here. It must state how much cash and in-kind support your presenting partner will bring to the production and outline what this support looks like and its value. It should be an official signed letter on letterhead. An email from the person or entity will not be accepted. A letter stating that you are hiring the venue is not considered a presenting partner letter nor is a venue discount. The strength of the support stated in the letter is assessed by the Theatre Board. If you have any questions about what the letter needs to include please contact Theatre section staff.

What else do I need to know?
You cannot apply to both the creative development and production categories in the same round. You are allowed two applications, across all categories, to the Theatre Board in any one calendar year, and you may submit five applications to the Australia Council in any one calendar year. Program Officers cannot read drafts of your applications, however, they are available to speak to you about your project prior to submitting your application and may answer any questions you might have.

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