New Work – Theatre (November 2010)

Closing date: 10 November 2010
Decisions advised: end of February 2011
Projects may start: 1 March 2011

New work grants support one-off projects that result in the creation 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
• 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.

Applications for production grants (including Young Artists Initiative grants 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. The production applicant and presenting partner cannot be the same entity.

Letters from your presenting partner providing evidence of their contribution to your project must be submitted by the closing date.

Applications for young artists initiative grants may be from individuals or groups 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 26 years of age; and
• The project involves a majority of artists who are up to and including 26 years of age; and
• The total amount requested is $15,000 or less.

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.

New work grants are open to individuals and organisations. To be eligible, you must meet the general eligibility requirements.

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

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.

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.

You can apply online for all Australia Council grants.

You must submit evidence of your eligibility and the required support material as part of the application.

Required support material

You must submit the following required support material with your application by the closing date:

• New work – production applicants (including young artists initiative production applicants) must provide confirmation letters from their presenting partner confirming their commitment and contribution to the project by the closing date. This could include the nature of the relationship between yourself and the presenter and how the relationship was established, what the presenter is contributing, (eg rehearsal space, admin support, marketing, venue, cash support etc) and the value of this support (including in-kind and/or cash contributions).

Young artists initiative applicants must submit a document listing the names, roles and ages of all artists involved in the work.

The following required support material can be submitted after the closing date, but must be sent before the assessment meeting. It must be received no later than 21 January 2011:

• 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.
• 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. For further details, see: www.australiacouncil.gov.au/grants/information_for_applicants/other_information/guidelines_for_major_performing_arts_companies
• 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. In preparing your application, you may wish to consult the Indigenous protocol guides in song, performance, writing, new media and visual arts (hard copies are available from the Australia Council).

Optional support material

Submission of the following material is optional. Applicants who choose to submit any the following must send it together with their application by the closing date:

• The latest draft of the script intended for development or production, and a five-page extract of that script which includes a synopsis and which best portrays the quality of the writing. OR
• Five pages of material which best portray your intentions. This could be images, diagrams, a treatment or the documentation of a previous development stage. OR
• For writer commissions, a copy of a recent script by the same writer and a five-page extract of the script which includes a synopsis, and which best portrays the quality of writing.

You may also submit:

• A brief (up to 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. Please consider this option if the form of your work is primarily physical.

If you are uploading material to your online application, you may use the following options:

• Documents – .pdf
• Each file you attach must be no more than 10mb in size. If you need help to determine the support material you are required to submit or when it must be submitted, please contact theatre staff.

Please do not submit any other support material, as it will not be viewed by the Board.

How to name your support material

In the title or brief description of support material box please name the documents that you are submitting in the following way:

 

Script	Title of script only – no other words
Written confirmation	Name of the artist confirming only
5 pg excerpt	Title of work only- no other words

 

If you are unable to upload your support material, you may post it to us. Audio CDs and DVDs may be submitted as optional support material, however Board members will only view or listen to five minutes of material. Please submit only the section to be viewed or heard.

The following formats can be posted:

• DVD to be played from a DVD player
• Audio CD
• Audio files – .mp3 (128 - 44.1kb/s)
• Images – .jpg (80 percent quality)

Please note: support material will not be returned unless you make a specific request to theatre staff for its return. All other support material from this round is only retained for 45 days after results notification.