Round 1 (closed):
Closing date: 1 February 2010
Decisions advised:  mid March 2010
Projects may start: 1 April 2010

Round 2:
Closing date: 31 May 2010
Decisions advised:  mid July 2010
Projects may start: 1 August 2010

This initiative is open to organisations only.

The Significant International Opportunities initiative assists Australian and International arts organisations to advance, present and promote Australian contemporary visual arts to audiences overseas.

To be considered significant the activity or event will be recognised by sector peers as a substantial, critical international opportunity. Projects must have a rigorous curatorial framework, aligned with suitable audience development strategies.

Applications are submitted through a two-part process.

Firstly, applicants must seek approval by meeting the following eligibility requirements:

1. The proposal meets the purpose of the initiative
2. Evidence as to why the proposal could not be submitted to the preceding or following Presentation and Promotion category deadline
3. There would be a significant loss of cultural advancement or opportunity if the project was not to proceed
4. The artists that are part of the application have been invited to participate in the event and are confirmed (confirmation is required with the full application).

Approval to apply requires at least 48 hours to process.

If approval is granted, the applicant will then make a full application online by the advertised deadline.

Sector peers require 6 weeks to assess applications.

Please note:

• Funding through this grant supports Australian artists
• This initiative does not fund residencies or residency components of larger projects
• Organisations receiving Australia Council funding are required to pay artist fees. It is recommended that the National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA) fee schedule is used as a guide (www.visualarts.net.au)
• The visual arts board may choose to support only a part of the proposal
• Applications are not accepted for participation in art fairs.

Applicants must contact the relevant visual arts program officer to establish whether the proposed activity is appropriate to this category.

This category is open to organisations only.

The Visual Arts Board will not redress errors in applications. If an application is deemed ineligible, it will not be assessed.

Your application will be considered ineligible, if:

• You do not meet the general eligibility requirements
  
• You have not included all the required information and support material specified for the category to which you are applying.

Current recipients of Australia Council multi-year funding may apply to this initiative in 2010. Projects must complement the organisation’s business plan for 2009–11, but should not be for core activities.

As this program is an Australia Council initiative, organisations are able to apply to the Presentation & Promotion grant round offered in August each year (for activities commencing after 1 January the following year).

Applications will be selected that best demonstrate:

• The high calibre of the artists and other professionals involved
• Evidence that the project is well planned and will increase opportunities for arts practitioners, broaden audiences and stimulate critical debate

You can apply online for all Australia Council grants. If you are unable to apply online contact Australia Council staff on (02) 9215 9000 or 1800 226 912.

For your application to be eligible for assessment, you must include the following required support material with your application by the closing date.

• Names and written confirmation and availability of the artists and other professionals involved
• A half-page abridged curriculum vitae for each key artist
• Written venue confirmation or overseas invitations

Images

• 20 images uploaded OR posted on a non-rewritable CD ROM
• In PowerPoint (create one with black background to each slide)
• One image per slide
• Maximum image size 1024 x 768 pixels
• Do not include text in presentation
• PLUS a separate image list with titles, date, dimensions only. 

OR

Video and moving image

• A two-minute show reel (.mp4 or Quicktime .mov files only) uploaded OR posted on a high-quality non-authored DVD (up to 100mb)
• PLUS explanatory text of up to 250 words as a separate document (.pdf)

NOTE: Artists working with the moving images must not provide still images as their support material.

OR

Web-based projects only

• A CD or DVD with a recorded navigational path of the URL a two-minute single-track show reel.
• PLUS explanatory text of up to 250 words as a separate document (.pdf)

NOTE: No live links to URLs or authored DVDs will be accepted.

OR

Writers and curators only

A sample of writing

• One writer: attach no more than 12 x A4 pages, two of which may be an abstract of the paper
• Several writers: limit of two pages per writer

Organisations submitting written support material must upload this material with the application or submit it on CD or DVD. Written material in other formats will not be accepted.

Support material before assessment meeting.

For the presentation of work, applicants must provide:

In line with the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts policy and its 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 Indigenous protocol guides in song, performance, writing, media arts and visual arts.

Important information

Any additional support material supplied will not be considered in the assessment of your application.
Contact the visual arts board staff if you need advice on the most suitable support material to include with your application or when you must submit your support material.

For further information, please contact:

Kate Major, Program Manager
Visual Arts
Tel: (02) 9215 9135 or Toll free: 1800 226 912
Email: k.major@australiacouncil.gov.au