Program - Literature

Closing date: 1 October 2010
Decisions advised: December 2010
For funding from: 1 January 2011

Program grants provide one-year funding to a limited number of significant Australian organisations that contribute to a viable strategic infrastructure that supports the work and professional development of Australian writers and the general advancement of Australian literature.

Program grants represent one of an organisation’s two applications to the Australia Council per year. A second application must be for an activity that is not currently funded through an organisation’s program grant.

This category is open to Australian organisations only.

Applicants must meet the general eligibility requirements.

Organisations eligible to apply for program grants are:

• Established Australian magazines with a minimum circulation of 500 subscribers/copies sold per issue which have received funding under the Literature Board’s publishing and promotion grant category for at least three of the past five years
• Established Australian online magazines with a minimum of 1,000 unique page views per month which have received funding under the Literature Board’s publishing and promotion grant category for at least three of the past five years.
• State or Territory writers’ centres which have received funding from the Literature Board for at least three of the past five years
• Leading Australian  national writers’ organisations which have received funding from the Literature Board for at least three of the past five years and which support the professional development of Australian writers and the literature sector.

Australian literary magazines

Established magazines devoted predominantly to the publication of Australian creative writing can apply for assistance towards payments to living Australian literary contributors and for some production and administration costs.

Writers’ organisations

Established writers’ organisations can apply for support towards a program of activities for the calendar year 2011. Organisations can apply for support for a program of activities (excluding mentorship activities) and administration costs.

Assistance is available under the publishing and promotion category for eligible new and developing magazines.

Selection criteria

Applications must demonstrate:

• A high quality of proposed activities for one year
• Effective management of resources, with an achievable one-year plan that includes strategies for building resources and diversifying income
• Evidence of the organisation’s thorough planning and the ability to carry out the proposed program to a high standard
• Evidence of a high level of achievement and leadership in the development of programs to support and promote Australian writers and Australian literature.

You can apply online for all Australia Council grants. If you would like a hard copy application form, contact Australia Council staff on (02) 9215 9000 or 1800 226 912. Information on how support material should be supplied (either electronically or via post) is provided when you complete the online grant application.

You must provide evidence of your eligibility and all required support material by the application closing date.

Program grant applicants must submit:

Australian literary magazines

• Detailed circulation reports and substantiating documentation of all issues published in the 12 months before application
• A complete copy of the organisation’s signed audited accounts and statutory reports for the previous year. For smaller organisations, where audited accounts are not a legal requirement, the previous year’s financial statement should be certified by an independent accountant in public practice
• Online magazines must submit detailed information on the number of unique page visits per month for the 12 months prior to application.

State/Territory Writers’ Centres and Writers’ organisations

• A detailed work plan for the year, of no more than six A4 pages in total, demonstrating an annual program of well-planned activities (details of what is to be included in this plan are provided in the application form)
• A complete copy of the organisation’s signed audited accounts and statutory reports for the previous year. For smaller organisations, where audited accounts are not a legal requirement, the previous year’s financial statement should be certified by an independent accountant in public practice.

Support material before the board meeting

Some applicants may be required to submit additional support material as detailed below. This support material can be submitted after the closing date but must be submitted before the board meeting if your application is to be eligible for consideration. The date by which this support material must be received is 10 working days before the board meeting. When proposals are submitted from organisations or individuals that involve major performing arts board (MPAB)-funded companies, a letter of agreement between the applicant and the MPAB-funded company must be provided to both the MPAB and the literature board. For further details, please contact MPAB staff directly.

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.

Important information

Any material supplied in addition to the required support material will not be considered in the assessment of your application. If you need assistance in determining the support material you are required to submit or when it must be submitted, please contact Australia Council staff.