1st Round
Closing date: 8 March 2010
Decisions advised: May 2010
Start date: 1 July 2010 – finish date 30 June 2011

2nd Round
Closing date: 5 October 2010
Decisions advised: December 2010
Start date: 1 Jan 2011 – finish date 31 Dec 2011

APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE ONLINE FROM 23 AUGUST 2010

Amount: Up to $10,000

The ArtStart program provides financial assistance to recent creative arts graduates* who are committed to establishing a career as a professional artist. Graduates who plan to earn income or gain employment as a professional artist in the visual arts, hybrid and media arts, performing arts, literature or in community arts and cultural development may apply via the online application process.

Grants are provided to fund services, resources, skills development and equipment that help graduate artists to build an income-generating career in the arts practice they have studied.

ArtStart does not fund the creation of new creative works or support the development of one off performances or exhibitions.

Applicants must present a viable plan outlining their proposed ArtStart activities, demonstrate their potential for artistic excellence and display a strong commitment to their chosen field.

Please note: You are eligible to apply for ArtStart in 2010 if you have completed the last subject needed for your qualification in 2007, 2008, 2009 or 2010. If you completed the last subject needed for your qualification in 2006, but graduated in 2007 you are not eligible to apply.

If you intent to undertake formal study (Certificate IV or above) during the ArtStart grant period, you will be considered ineligible. This includes non-creative arts courses such as a Diploma of Education.
If you have applied to do further study but will not know if you are going to undertake the course prior to the ArtStart period start date, please speak to our staff.

* Online applications: when asked in the online system to choose a board for your ArtStart application, please select ‘Arts Funding Division’. This will take you directly to the online ArtStart application form.

Individual artists from all art forms may apply for a grant up to $10,000. An artist can receive only one ArtStart grant in their career.

You are eligible to apply if you have completed accredited artist training in the last 3 years or if you will complete accredited artist training prior to the project start date for each round.

ArtStart grants are not intended to cover the living expenses of the recipient artist. The grants should be used specifically for costs associated with establishing a business or professional practice as an artist.

ArtStart grants do not fund the purchase of major items of capital expenditure. The grants may be used to cover smaller items of equipment but this expenditure must not be more than 50% of the grant.

Selection criteria

When answering the questions in the application, you must demonstrate:

• The potential quality of your artistic practice
• Your demonstrated commitment and the commitment of potential partners
• The viability of your proposed goals and activities.

If you have applied to do further study but will not know if you are going to undertake the course prior to the ArtStart period start date, please speak to our staff.

To make sure your application is eligible for assessment:

• You must include three 200-word testimonials from people suitably placed to make a comment on the benefit of your proposed ArtStart grant to your arts practice.
• You must provide an academic transcript of studies that shows you have successfully completed all requirements for your relevant qualification in the last 3 years. This must be from an accredited arts training or educational institution. If your application is successful we may ask for further proof of your graduation before we pay your grant.

Please upload only one copy of all support material.

Who can apply?

Artists wishing to establish a professional arts practice may apply. If you plan to earn income or gain employment as a professional artist in the visual arts, hybrid and media arts, performing arts, literature or in community arts and cultural development you may apply.

Can curators, community arts workers, editors or producers apply?

ArtStart grants are targeted at artists,  rather than individuals such as curators, community arts workers, editors or producers.  We understand that artists often generate an income from a number of different sources but it is important that your ArtStart application is focused on your career as an artist, designer, performer, director (theatre and performance), choreographer, composer or writer.  If you submit an application for  your work as a curator, community arts workers, editor or producer it will not be eligible. The Australia Council offers other opportunities for curators, community arts workers and producers through its Young and Emerging Artists programs and via the Visual Arts Board’s  Independent Curator’s Initiative.

I want to establish a business that distributes arts product or markets the arts to a wider audience. Can I apply?

ArtStart grants aim to help practicing artists earn an income from their art. If you are establishing a business or practice that supports artists but is not directly involved in the creation of your own art, you are not eligible to apply.

Do I have to be less than 30 years of age?

There is no age limit for applicants to ArtStart. You just need to have graduated from arts training in the three years prior to the ArtStart application closing date.

What do you mean by ‘graduated in creative arts’?

To be eligible to apply you must have undertaken accredited arts training and have successfully completed all requirements for the award of your qualification. Qualification may be attained at Certificate IV level through to post graduate degree.

Can I apply for ArtStart if I have graduated from a creative arts course but intend to continue studying?

The ArtStart grant is designed to assist recent creative arts graduates make the transition from study to professional practice. If you intent to undertake formal study (Certificate IV or above) during the ArtStart period, you will be considered ineligible. This includes non-creative arts courses such as a Diploma of Education.

If you have applied or intend to apply to undertake study during your ArtStart period but will not know if you are accepted into the course prior to the start date of your ArtStart period, please speak to staff before submitting an application. 

How do I apply?

We will ask you to complete an online application form. In the application you will answer a series of questions that make up a simple business plan for your ArtStart grant. The questions below are examples of the kind of questions that will be asked:

• What are your 3 most significant artistic achievements of the last 3 years?
• What goals do you aim to have achieved in five years time?
• What are the key activities you’ll need to undertake to achieve these goals?
• Which of these activities would you undertake in the next 12 months with your ArtStart grant?
• How would the activities you propose in questions 4 assist you in establishing a professional art practice and why are they important?
• How will you measure the success of activities you would undertake in the next 12 months?
• What are you aiming to earn from your arts practice over the 12 months of the ArtStart grant?

We’ll also ask you to provide a simple budget outlining your ArtStart activities and provide evidence of your accredited training.

How will my application be assessed?

Your application will be assessed against the published selection criteria by a panel of peers convened by the Australia Council. The panel will include peers with expertise in art form practice, arts training, career pathways for emerging artists and small business.

Will receipt of an ArtStart grant be means tested for a government social security benefit or allowance?

The ArtStart grants are for necessary business expenses incurred in establishing and running a business or professional arts practice and are not to be used for day to day living.

For social security purposes, only net assets or net income generated by the business or arts practice after taking into account allowable expenses for the business or arts practice may be assessed. This applies to all businesses whether or not they receive an ArtStart grant.

This is general information only. If you are successful with your application for an ArtStart grant and you either receive, or expect to receive, a government social security benefit or allowance, you should seek advice from Centrelink on your particular circumstances, including your business assets and income, and their social security implications.

The contact number for Centrelink is 13 2850.

What is capital expenditure?

Capital expenditure includes:

• Non consumable items, goods or equipment that will last you more than one financial year. Items you might apply for that are capital expenditure could include but are not limited to, a laptop computer, video camera, easel, kiln or instrument.
• Improving an existing fixed asset that you own for example; if you own your studio and you add sound proofing to the walls this is considered capital expenditure. If you rent your studio and make improvements this is not considered capital expenditure.

Please note that you can only spend 50% of your ArtStart funds on capital expenditure items. If you indicate in your budget that you want to spend more than 50% of your grant on capital expenditure items you will be considered ineligible. Contact staff if you have any questions.

When should I start and finish my ArtStart activities?

There is a fixed span of 12 months for ArtStart activities. If you apply at an October closing date you must undertake your ArtStart activity between 1 January and 31 December of the following year. If you apply at a March closing date you must undertake your ArtStart activity between the following 1 July and 30 June.

What do you mean by ‘potential partners’?

You must include three, 200–word testimonials from teachers, trainers or from other artists and people suitably placed to make a comment on the benefit of your proposed ArtStart grant to your practice. The statements talk to the quality of your artistic practice and the viability of your goals and activities. 

Who are suitable people to write the 200-word testimonials?

You must include three 200–word testimonials from teachers, trainers or from other artists and people suitably placed to make a comment on the benefit of your proposed ArtStart grant to your practice. The statements attest to your quality as an artist and your potential to establish a successful practice. Statements must be signed and dated by the author and attached as PDF documents in your application.It is important to plan ahead to ensure that you get testimonials from people who can best add value to your application. Statements must be signed and dated by the author of the testimonial and attached as PDF documents in your application.

See what the peers feedback was on testimonials in the ArtStart May 2010 Assessment meeting report here.

Can I apply to undertake further study in Australia or overseas?

No, the grant cannot be used to undertake further formal study in Australia or overseas. You may, however use the grant to undertake specialised short courses or seminars relevant to your art form practise.

I studied in one art form but would prefer to establish a practice in another. Will I be eligible?

You may be eligible to apply but your application will be assessed based on the art form qualification you achieved when you graduated. Your application will probably not rate as highly if you propose to establish your career in an arts practice different from that which you studied.

I studied journalism. Can I apply?

If you intend to establish a practice as a creative writer, you may apply. If you intend to pursue a career in journalism you are not eligible to apply.

I graduated from a fashion design course. Can I apply?

If you intend to establish a practice as a craft person or designer, you may apply. If you are planning to establish a career as a fashion designer, you are not eligible to apply. Professional and business development opportunities for fashion designers are offered through the Council of Textiles and Fashion Industries of Australia.

I graduated from a film, TV or cinema course. Can I apply?

If you intend to establish an arts practice as a film or video artist, you may apply. If you are planning to establish a career as a screen professional within the film and television industry, you are not eligible to apply. Professional and business development assistance for screen practitioners is offered through Screen Australia or state based screen development agencies.

Can I apply for ArtStart if I am a teacher?  

ArtStart grants are targeted towards individual artists seeking to establish their professional practice. To be eligible you must have completed accredited artist training in the last three years, a teaching degree is not eligible.

I’m part of a group of artists, can we apply?

Only individuals can apply for ArtStart. However, if you and other members of a group want to apply you can do so as individuals.  You must explain how your ArtStart activities will benefit you as an individual artist. Please speak to staff if this is your intention.

I have a qualification from an institution in another country. Can I apply?

Please contact ArtStart staff to discuss your eligibility. Please note that you must also be an Australian citizen or permanent resident to be eligible to apply for an ArtStart grant.

Can I apply for ArtStart and another Australia Council grant?

Yes.

What sort of things can I spend the grant on?

The program is designed for you to spend money on goods and services associated with establishing your professional arts practice or gaining employment as an artist – it is not designed to cover your day to day living expenses, artist fees, the materials to create a new creative work or cover the costs of mounting a one off performance or exhibition.

To get you started we have included the following list of potential activities, services or goods we think many artists might consider important. However we don’t want to limit potential activities that might benefit artists starting their practice, if you can think of other activities not listed you can include them.

The following list gives examples of  general eligible ArtStart activities – there may be other activities not listed here that are still associated with starting a business or arts practice for which you wish to apply:

Business skills and costs

• Business planning advice and training
• Getting an accountant or financial adviser  to assist in your understanding of book-keeping and taxation
• Budgeting and financial management
• Business set up costs
• Legal advice – facts and issues for artists such as rights and contracts/agreements
• Support services for small to medium enterprises
• Advice on employing and working with other people
• Advice on partnerships development and management
• Training in negotiation and conflict resolution
• Advice on establishing social ventures

Marketing and Promotion

• Marketing skills training
• Professional photographic or video documentation of artwork
• Creating a portfolio of work
• Professional CVs
• Website set up and maintenance
• Marketing and promotion - expertise and assistance
• Training in public speaking/talking about your work
• Training and set-up of online social marketing and networking tools
• Attendance fees, accommodation for and travel to industry conferences and networking functions (e.g., art fairs), in other states, regional areas and internationally
• Accommodation for and travel to residencies, internships, mentorships, galleries or theatres (for prospective production or representation), in other states, regional areas and internationally
• Developing and establishing touring networks
• Pressing copies of a demo C.D
• Development and production of marketing materials

Training & Skills Development

• Develop knowledge in Indigenous cultural protocols
• Occupational health & safety training
• Private coaching or courses to maintain skills (e.g., short courses in your art field)
• Help finding a mentor and developing a mentorship agreement
• Training to help develop and write applications for government grants and philanthropic support
• Training to help develop and write sponsorship proposals
• Training to help develop and write business plans
• Memberships, attachments or internships with arts organisations and companies

Office, space and equipment/tools

• Purchase and hire of specialist equipment or instruments
• Setting up an artist-run initiative
• Purchase of computers or accounting software
• Office rental
• Office set up costs
• Meeting room hire
• Visual artist’s studio space hire and set up costs
• Setting up a music recording studio to record a CD for promotional purposes
• Setting up or hiring a dance, music or theatre rehearsal space or studio
• Writers developing the means to self publish

Community Partnership skills

• Skills in relevant community language
• Disability awareness training
• Learning sign language
• Setting computer equipment to make your work accessible to people with access needs
• TTY access for phones for deaf people
• Gaining cultural awareness skills in relevant communities
• Purchasing or designing of communication boards for people with intellectual disabilities

Can I pick just one activity?

We suggest that you think broadly and include a range of activities to undertake during your ArtStart project year to strengthen your application.