Support for the development and presentation of new contemporary theatre work.

A grant of $50,000 per year for three years for the development and presentation of new theatre work
Applications for this grant close 4 June 2012
Decisions will be advised in early September 2012
Funded projects can start from 1 January 2013
Funded projects must finish by 31 December 2015

About the grant

Program – Presenter grants provide three-year funding to assist the development and presentation of programs of new high quality contemporary theatre work.

They are for organisations with a record of successfully developing new high-quality contemporary theatre work or presenting it to the public. These could be venues, festivals or independent producers. They are worth $50,000 per year for three years ($150,000 in total).

These grants are to underwrite the risk of presenting new work to the public, or to fund the development of new work for later possible presentation. ‘New work’ is defined as theatre works that have not yet had a public season anywhere. The theatre board funds will be exclusively for the fees and salaries of the artists and artsworkers being presented.

Applicants will be expected to bring considerable resources of their own to their proposed program.

Please note that Program – Presenter grants are not for organisations that primarily exist to create their own work and which are led by the key artists involved in the work presented; such organisations should apply in the board’s other funding categories such as new work.

Funds can be used for existing programs that generate new work however applicants must demonstrate how a Program – Presenter grant will extend or add dimension to these programs.

The receipt of a Program – Presenter grant is no guarantee of funding beyond the three years of the agreement. All applications compete on their merits for available funding.

Applicants to this category are advised to discuss their application with theatre board staff before applying.

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, w.stanton@australiacouncil.gov.au

Support for the development and presentation of new contemporary theatre work.

A grant of $50,000 per year for three years for the development and presentation of new theatre work
Applications for this grant close 4 June 2012
Decisions will be advised in early September 2012
Funded projects can start from 1 January 2013
Funded projects must finish by 31 December 2015

Eligibility

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

Organisations receiving a Program – Presenter grant may make four other applications to the Australia Council each calender year, but they cannot apply again during this time to the Theatre Board, except for the Cultural Leadership Program category. A Cultural Leadership category application counts as one of the four applications.

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.

Your artistic rationale must include your curatorial vision and proposed selection process for developing or presenting new high quality contemporary theatre works.

In assessing your application against the last criterion, the board will take into account whether the contribution of your own cash and resources to the program is commensurate with the size and resources of your organisation.

Diversity is found in the different cultural backgrounds of the artists, audiences and communities involved, in the multiplicity of regional voices, and in the wide range of artform practises that constitute 'theatre' in Australia. In assessing an application against the third criterion, the board will take into account the diversity, including geographic spread, of Program Presenter organisations across the country.

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 the development and presentation of new contemporary theatre work.

A grant of $50,000 per year for three years for the development and presentation of new theatre work
Applications for this grant close 4 June 2012
Decisions will be advised in early September 2012
Funded projects can start from 1 January 2013
Funded projects must finish by 31 December 2015

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 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 be smaller than 10mb and of satisfactory quality.

Essential supporting material:

1. Program budget (due with your application by the closing date)

Applicants to the program presenter grant category must use the program budget template and should only provide budget information for the 2012 activities which are the subject of the application. (We do not require your organisation’s entire annual budget).

2. MPAB Letter (due 31 July 2011)

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.

3. NATSIA Letter (due 31 July 2011)

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. 

Please do not submit any additional material, as it is not required and will not be viewed by the board.

We recommend you also read the FAQs in 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.

Support for the development and presentation of new contemporary theatre work.

A grant of $50,000 per year for three years for the development and presentation of new theatre work
Applications for this grant close 4 June 2012
Decisions will be advised in early September 2012
Funded projects can start from 1 January 2013
Funded projects must finish by 31 December 2015

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 in the Funding Guide for 2012.

Program – Presenter FAQs

Who can apply?
If your organisation is a performing arts centre, a festival or an independent producer, and it has a record of successfully developing new high-quality contemporary theatre work and/or presenting it to the public, then your organisation may be a contender for a Program – Presenter grant.

What can you spend the money on?
The grant must be used for the fees and salaries of the artists and artsworkers making new theatre work. The grant empowers your organisation to invest in independent artists who are making new theatre work at an early development stage, and/or to underwrite the risk of presenting new work to the public.

What do you need to do?
Tell us how you would run a development and presentation program if you had the grant. Tell us your curatorial vision for the program, how you would go about selecting the artists, and developing or presenting new high quality contemporary theatre works. Tell us what resources both cash and in-kind that your organisation could contribute to these projects. You could also give an indication of the type of artists that are located in your environment or that you have particular connection with, and interest in working with, and why you are the best organisation to undertake this work. Prepare a budget that shows us all the potential income and expenditure as if you were running the program for the first year.

Can I apply for other grants?
If you are successful in receiving a Program – Presenter grant you cannot apply to the Theatre Board New Work category during this time. You may however apply to other boards up to 4 times each calendar year, and may apply to any relevant Theatre Board initiatives or categories where this rule does not apply. Also independent artists that your organisation supports could apply to the Theatre Board for funding.

I am an artistic director of an organisation and also direct some of the shows that I program. Can I include these shows in my application?
No, this grant is for the independent artists that you support as part of the curatorial vision of your organization. If you are a key creative on any of the developments or productions, these shows will not be eligible for funding.

What about co-productions?
Program Presenter entities that co-commisioned a new theatre work from its early development phases may then each have a production season of this work in their venue. This grant does not support touring or 'buying in' shows that have had a production elsewhere. The grant is for you to commission and support new theatre work from your local area and/or to partner with other Program Presenters to co-commision new theatre work. The Theatre Board funds are to be used exclusively for the fees and salaries of the artists and artsworkers making the new theatre work.

What is expected in terms of output?
The size of your program needs to be commensurate with your organization. You will need to provide a full budget for year one of your program. Please note that the Theatre Board will be assessing your program and budget against the good planning and effective use of resources criteria.

If I am successful does this mean I am guaranteed funding?
The receipt of a Program – Presenter grant does not guarantee funding beyond the three years of the agreement. All Program – Presenter entities compete on their merits for available funding every three years.

What else can I do?
Have a look at the websites of other entities who have a program presenter grant:
 
World Theatre Festival - Brisbane Powerhouse, QLD
Tamarama Rock Surfers, NSW
The Performance Space, NSW
Arts House, VIC
Local Stages - Country Arts South Australia, SA
Big West Festival - Maribyrnong Festival, VIC
Kickstart - Next Wave Festival, VIC
Salamanca Arts Centre, TAS
Bathurst Regional Council, NSW
Metro Arts, QLD
Vitalstatistix Theatre Company, SA
Northern Rivers Performing Arts, NSW
Campbeltown Arts Centre, NSW  
Theatreworks, Vic
The Adelaide Festival Centre, SA
 

Call and talk to us about what you plan to do. Talk through your ideas and your vision for making best use of this opportunity for your unique environment and organisation. 

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