Closing dates: 16 August 2010
Decisions advised: November 2010
Projects may start: 1 January 2011

Please note: We have introduced new eligibility and support material guidelines.

Skills and Arts Development – General grants support excellence in the arts by providing professional development opportunities for craftspeople, designers, media artists, visual artists, arts writers and curators.

The professional development activities supported by the Visual Arts Board includes self-organised residencies, writing projects, curatorial projects, mentorships, participation in conferences or workshops and research projects. Your project may span more than 12 months.

Out-of-time applications are not accepted to this category.

Applications are not accepted for participation in art fairs.

This category is open to individuals and groups of artists.

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
• Your support material is not in one of the file formats specified for the category to which you are applying.
  

Applicants for mentorship projects must have completed initial training such as a tertiary studio-based degree or equivalent. Applications are not accepted from people currently undertaking undergraduate studies.

How often can you apply?

In 2010 applicants can only apply to one of the following categories – New Work, Skills and Arts Development or Fellowships.

From 2010 the buffer periods will be removed from Visual Arts Board grants. This means that if recipients of New Work or Skills and Arts Development grants in 2009 have acquitted their grants they may apply to the Visual Arts Board in 2010. 

Selection criteria

Applications will be selected that best demonstrate:

• A high degree of artistic merit in the applicant’s work to date 
• The potential for the project to contribute to the applicant’s professional development.
  

You can apply online for all Australia Council grants. If you are unable to apply online and would like a hard copy application form, contact Australia Council staff on (02) 9215 9000 or 1800 226 912.

You have until midnight (AEST) on the advertised closing date to complete and submit your online application. If you choose to submit your support material online we strongly recommend applying well in advance to avoid technical or other difficulties that may occur. Technical assistance is only available during business hours (AEST) at OperationsServicedesk@australiacouncil.gov.au

If you choose to submit hardcopy support material you must mail it on or before the closing date.

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

• An abridged curriculum vitae (CV) for each key artist using the template provided. Groups should submit a separate template for each artist. If your group has more than 10 artists, please contact Visual Arts staff on 02 9215 9068. Applicants who do not submit their CVs using this template will be made ineligible.

All applicants must ALSO submit ONE of the following:

Images

OR

Video and moving image

A two-minute show reel (.mp4 or Quicktime .mov files only) uploaded (up to 10mb) OR posted on a high-quality non-authored DVD (up to 100mb)

PLUS explanatory notes of up to 250 words. You must use the template otherwise your application will be made ineligible.

Writers only

OR

Curators

Documentation of publically presented curatorial projects

• One curator: documentation of two publically presented curatorial projects (up to 10 still images in PowerPoint format or moving image show reel in mp4 or Quicktime format of up to 2 minutes in total), PLUS a half page curatorial rationale per project.
• Several curators: a limit of one publically presented curatorial project per curator (up to 5 still images in PowerPoint format or a 1 minute moving image show reel in mp4 or Quicktime format for each project), PLUS a half page curatorial rationale per project.

OR

Mentorship projects for artists

OR

Mentorship projects for curators

Confirmation letters

To be eligible, applicants must submit the following material by 22 October 2010.

For the presentation of work, applicants must provide:

• Names and written confirmation and availability of the artists and other professionals involved
• Written confirmation of venues or invitations to exhibit.

Mentorship programs, residencies and work placement applicants must provide:

• Written confirmation from mentors, institutions and other relevant people that will be working with the applicant.

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 showing 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 Visual Arts Board staff if you need advice on the most suitable support material to include with your application or to check the date by which it must be submitted.

Skills and Arts Development – General

How do I apply?

Before you begin working on an application you should read the grant guidelines on the website, and ensureyou check the selection criteria, eligibility and support material requirements. We recommend you register to apply via the online application system.

If you are applying for a grant as an individual, register under your own name.

If you are applying for a grant as part of a group, register under a group name.

For more detailed information read the online grant applications section of the website. Online applications and support material must be submitted by midnight (Australian Eastern Standard Time) on the closing date. Important: please note that assistance from staff is only available between 9am and 5pm (AEST).

If you cannot access the online system you can ask for a printed copy of the application form to be mailed to you by Australia Council staff. Hardcopy applications and support material must be post-marked on or before the closing date (Australian Eastern Standard Time).

What kind of support material should I submit?

It is important that you read the support material guidelines on the website closely. Ensure that the material you submit is in the correct file format. Applicants who do not submit the required support material in the correct format may be made ineligible.

Applicants submitting hardcopy application must include support material with their application and ensure it is sent on or before the closing date. Online applicants can submit their support material online or in hard copy format, on or before the closing date.

Am I required to submit a curriculum vitae?

Yes, all applicants are required to submit an abridged curriculum vitae (CV) using the template provided on the support material page of the website. Group applications must include a CV for each artist using this template (groups with more than 10 artists should contact Visual Arts staff).

The CV should list professional achievements over the last 10 years, in bullet point down the page (do not type across the page). Use the following headings: education, solo exhibitions, group exhibitions, publications, grants/awards etc.

If you are submitting support material online, you need to convert your CV into a PDF before you upload it to your online application. You may download a free PDF converter online.

Applicants who do not submit a CV for each key artist and/or do not use the template provided will be made ineligible.

We are submitting a group application, should I register to apply as a group or an individual? / We wish to submit an application as a group, how do we do this?

The Australia Council defines a group as individual artists who join together informally to collaborate in the creation, development or presentation of work. Groups can include just two individuals. Groups must either nominate a member of the group to take legal and financial responsibility for the grant or arrange for it to be administered by a legally constituted organisation. This person or organisation is called the administering body. The group member administering the grant may also choose to be the contact for the application.

When submitting a group application online, you must register under the group’s name on the online application system as a group by ticking “group” when it asks you “Are you registering as…”. The group name you choose to use will be the name you enter under “What is your organisation and group name”. You cannot submit a group application if you have registered and logged on as an individual.

Please make sure you read the support material guidelines for group applications on the website. If you are unsure whether you should be applying as a group or an individual, please contact Visual Arts staff.

Our group includes international artists. What kind of support material should we submit?

The Visual Arts Board will only support Australian professional artists. If your group has more than two members and includes international artists, you should only include support material (including a CV) for each Australian artist, however you can submit a letter from the international artist(s) confirming their participation in the project. If you collaborate with one other artist who is not an Australian citizen or permanent resident, you should apply as an individual and submit a confirmation letter only from that artist.

If I have an Australian Business Number (ABN) and I am applying as an individual, am I required to have my grant administered?

If you have an ABN you do not need to have your application administered, therefore you do not need to complete the administering body section of the application. Online applicants should tick “yes” when it asks whether you will be assuming legal and financial responsibility for the grant should one be awarded. You will then be asked to enter your ABN. Enter 11 digits with no spaces.

I am applying online and am having problems uploading support material. What should I do?

You may be experiencing one of the following problems:

• You are attempting to upload a large file. There is a file size limit of 10mb and files approaching this size may take up to five minutes to upload, even using a fast connection.

• You may have a slow internet connection. Dial-up connections or slow broadband connections will make a big difference in terms of how long it takes to upload the file. For example, uploading a relatively small file 1mb in size using a dial-up connection may take around 10 minutes. Larger files will take much longer.

• You may be trying to upload a file with a file name that is too long. The character limit for a file is 86 characters. Files with more than 86 characters in the name (including the 3-letter file extension) cannot be uploaded.

• You may be attempting to upload the file during a high-traffic period. If a big closing date is approaching a large number of applicants will all be attempting to upload their files around the same time. This can slow down our server.

• If you are using a work computer, your organisation’s proxy server may time you out after a certain period. If this happens you should speak with your organisation’s IT staff.

What to do:

• Try again and wait. Uploading files often takes much longer than anticipated and your computer may appear to be idle when it is in fact still uploading.

• Try an alternative computer or internet connection if you are able to access one.

• Upload support material well in advance of the closing date.

• Upload a small test file – i.e. create a one-page document on your computer and try to upload that to see if it works. You can easily delete this document from your application afterwards.

• Rename your file if it has more than 86 characters in the file name.

If you continue to experience difficulties you should click on the ‘Help’ icon in the top right-hand corner of the online application page. Technical assistance is available here  or 02 9215 9068 only during business hours. For this reason we strongly recommend applying well in advance to avoid technical or other difficulties that may occur.

I am applying online, can I submit hard copy support material?

Yes, you can select to ‘send your support material by post’ in the online application form. Hard copy support material must be submitted either by hand at the Australia Council offices in Sydney, by 5pm (AEST) on the closing date; or by mail, in which case it must be POST-MARKED on or before the closing date.

Please ensure all hard copy support material you submit is marked clearly with your full name, address, application reference number and is supplied in a single package. If you do not include all the required information your application may be deemed ineligible.

Can undergraduate students apply? / I am currently undertaking an undergraduate degree but will be completed/graduated when the grant project will be carried out. Can I still apply?

If you are undertaking an undergraduate degree at the time of applying or during your project, your application will be made ineligible.

Can I apply for funding towards courses/education?

You can apply to the Skills and Arts Development – General category for a mentorship with a senior artist, or to participate in a workshop in Australia or overseas. Applicants for mentorship programs must have completed initial training such as a tertiary studio-based degree or equivalent. 
 
The Visual Arts Board does not fund projects that involve initial study in government or private institutions in Australia or overseas, or research or studio work that is part of course assessment.

Can I get feedback on my application before I submit it?

Australia Council program officers do not decide whether an application is successful or not—board members assess applications. Staff can provide general advice but will not read applications or provide feedback before they are submitted.

The Chair’s Report and past Assessment Meeting Reports include feedback from the board on what impressed and frustrated them most when assessing a particular round. We suggest you read these comments before preparing your application.

How will my application be assessed?

Applications, which include the project description, CV and visual support material, are sent to the board members and peer advisors before the assessment meeting. They review the material and give preliminary scores against each selection criterion. During the assessment meeting discussions and final scoring takes place before funding decisions are confirmed.

Grants are offered based on the merit of a proposal in competition with all the other applications for funding. Due to limited funds, this means that many worthwhile proposals cannot be supported.

Given the high number of applications assessed the board is unable to provide specific comments about each application. General comments and feedback are provided in the Chair’s Report, which is published online after each assessment meeting.

Can I submit images of work in progress?

Yes, you can submit mock-ups or sketches of work in progress but it is important that you acknowledge them correctly in your image list. Please note that the board looks at your visual support material to assess artistic merit. Therefore, we recommend that the majority of works you choose to submit as support material are good quality documentation of recent, finished work.

What time do online applications close?

Online applications and support material must be submitted by midnight (Australian Eastern Standard Time) on the closing date. Applications received after that time will not be accepted. Important: please note that assistance from staff is only available between 9am and 5pm (AEST)

Does the Visual Arts Board fund film and television projects?

If you have established 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.

How much money should I request?

There is no limit to the amount you may apply for under the Skills and Arts Development – General category. The average request is usually between $10,000 and $20,000 but the board will consider any reasonable amount. Keep in mind that if your application is successful the board may choose to only partially fund your project.

What should I write in the detailed description box?

Online and hard copy applications provide a limited space for applicants to describe their projects. This is deliberate, as board members read so many hundreds of applications each round that they want project descriptions to be clear and concise. Write what it is you intend to do; explain why you are interested and passionate about particular issues, materials, media etc and how your project will contribute to your professional development.

Can I attach extra information to my application?

No. Do not supply extra information beyond that requested in the application form and support material guidelines. Additional material will not be considered in the assessment of your application.

What details should I include in my abridged curriculum vitae?

Using the CV template provided on the support material page of the website, list professional achievements over the last 10 years in bullet point down the page (do not type across the page). Use the following headings: education, solo exhibitions, group exhibitions, publications, grants/awards etc. Your abridged curriculum vitae must not exceed the space supplied in the template provided.

Group applications must include a CV for each artist using this template (groups with more than 10 artists should contact Visual Arts staff).

If you are submitting support material online, the CV must be converted into a PDF before it can be uploaded to your online application. You may download a free PDF converter online.

Applicants who do not submit a CV for each key artist and/or do not use the template provided will be made ineligible.

When can my project start and finish?

You must indicate the date you intend to start your project and the date you estimate your project will be completed. Important: you cannot begin your project before 1 January 2011. Your project may span more than 12 months.

When nominating a start date you should think about when you will require access to the funds. We pay artists six weeks before their recorded start date, so enter a date that factors in expenses you need to pay well in advance, such as international airfares. If you are applying for funds to work on the next stage of an existing project, your start date should be the date this new stage is due to begin. If you are unsure of an exact end date provide your best estimate based on your knowledge of the project. You can notify us later if that date is likely to change.

What kinds of expenses does the grant cover/ what should I put in my budget?

You may apply for any costs that allow you to achieve your proposed project. As the purpose of the category is to provide professional development opportunities, funding is usually sought for costs such as: travel; accommodation; living expenses; fees to participate in residency programs, workshops and conferences; and other expenses associated with exhibitions, research and writing projects. When finalising your budget, check the Budget Summary to ensure your Total Income and Total Expenses figures balance.

Keep in mind that if your application is successful the board may choose to only partially fund your project.

We are applying as a group, how many curricula vitae should we submit?

Group applications must include an abridged curriculum vitae (CV) for each artist using the template provided on the support material page of the website (groups with more than 10 artists should contact Visual Arts staff). Each artist has the same one-page template to submit.

Each CV should list achievements over the last 10 years in bullet point down the page (do not type across the page). Use the following headings: education, solo exhibitions, group exhibitions, publications, grants/awards etc.

If you are submitting support material online, you need to convert your CV into a PDF before you upload it to your online application. You may download a free PDF converter online.

Applicants who do not submit a CV for each key artist and/or do not use the template provided will be made ineligible.

Am I applying to the right category?

You should carefully consider the purpose of each category, its eligibility requirements and required support material, and then decide which category best meets the needs of your project.

If after reading all the available information you are still unsure, it may be a good idea to discuss your project with a Visual Arts staff member. Your application may be deemed ineligible if you submit it under the wrong category.

What kinds of projects are funded through this category?

The purpose of the Skills and Arts Development – General category is to provide professional development opportunities for artists, arts writers and curators. Projects must have professional development as their focus, so proposals tend to be for funding towards self-organised residencies, research projects, to attend conferences and workshops, or to develop catalogues, writing projects or exhibitions.

Applications are not accepted for participation in art fairs.

When will I find out if I have been successful in my grant application?

Please do not contact the Australia Council to find out if your grant application has been successful. Notification dates for grant decisions are advised under each grant category. You will receive a formal letter by post or email notifying you of the outcome of your grant application by this date. Please inform us promptly of any change of address or contact details.