Arts Development Funding

Important information

Name: 2021-2023 Arts Development Funding
Status: Closed
Next round opens: 2023 for 2024 calendar year
Frequency: Triennially (once every 3 years)
Amount: $3,000 - $10,000
Previously successful recipients

Purpose of this grant

Council’s Arts Development Funding supports arts organisations in their provision of a broad range of arts opportunities and activities that significantly benefit Casey residents.

Through Arts Development Funding Council aims to:

support the operation of arts organisations in the planning, development and provision of a range of arts opportunities in Casey.
support the delivery of accessible arts initiatives which benefit the health and wellbeing of Casey residents. These initiatives will create opportunities for creativity, stimulation and enrichment.
encourage an active, diverse and vibrant arts culture within Casey. This culture will engage the community, encourage participation, promote cultural appreciation and bring people together.
support the strategic objectives of the City of Casey Council Plan 2017-2021 and Arts and Cultural Development Strategy 2018-2022.

Who can apply for this grant

This funding is for arts organisations both within Casey and from outside the municipality that want to deliver arts opportunities in Casey, for Casey residents.

Eligibility

To be eligible for Arts Development Funding, organisations must:

have the provision of arts activities as a primary focus. This funding is specifically for arts organisations, not for community organisations that may run some arts activities.
provide (or intend to provide) arts activities within Casey boundaries for the benefit of the Casey community.
be open and accessible to residents of Casey.
be a not-for-profit or charitable organisation.
be a legally constituted entity (e.g. a co-operative, incorporated Association, Company or Trust).
hold current public liability and professional indemnity insurance to cover any staff, volunteers, members and the general public, as appropriate (minimum $10,000,000).
be financially viable.
have a Committee or Board of Management that accepts responsibility for the administration of the funding and acquittal.

Who cannot apply for this grant

Organisations that do not have the arts as a primary focus
Individuals including sole traders
For-profit businesses
Government agencies at local, state or federal level
Schools
Political parties/groups

What we can fund

Arts Development Funding supports organisations in the delivery of arts opportunities and activities through a wide range of art forms such as:

Performing Arts – dance, music, opera, theatre, singing, magic, comedy, puppetry, circus, drama
Visual Arts – drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramics, textiles, photography
Literary Arts – writing, poetry
Digital Arts – video, filmmaking, animation and gamification

Applications should be for projects or initiatives that either:

improve, develop or expand their existing programs and activities
offer new or innovative arts opportunities

Activity/program costs and operational/administrative expenses related to the project or initiative can be funded.

What we cannot fund

We cannot accept applications for:

more than one application from your group
activities and programs held outside the City of Casey
capital works including permanent structures or anything that increases the value of your facility
funding that we have approved under another grant for the same program or event in the same financial year
programs that only advocate religion or faith
activities that are due to happen (or have already happened) before we receive your application

Ineligible costs include donations, travel, fundraising, alcohol.

Arts in Casey

Arts organisations in Casey strengthen and build community connections. They foster a place that residents are proud of and people want to come to. In a city that is diverse, ever-changing and culture-rich, Council values arts and culture for its contribution to community strengthening, wellbeing and the local economy.

Council’s Arts and Cultural Development Strategy 2018-2022 aims to increase levels of stimulation, enrichment, insight, appreciation and belonging across arts and cultural activities in Casey. Through Arts Development Funding, arts organisations can contribute to achieving these strategic goals by:

offering arts and cultural activities that enhance community health and wellbeing
developing a range of activities that reflect cultural diversity and open windows into other cultures and artistic practices
increasing engagement and participation by groups under-represented in the arts
providing activities within the municipality enabling residents to prioritise Casey as their destination of choice for arts and cultural activities
offering a diverse range of programs across multiple Casey locations and venues
providing low cost or free activities ensuring that financial hardship is not a barrier to participation
considering time pressure and availability in the programming of arts activities
delivering new and innovative experiences, as well as proven favourites
reaching and engaging new audiences

The Council Plan 2017-2021 outlines the way the City of Casey will work towards creating Australia's most liveable city. One of the Council’s Strategic Objectives is for Casey to be the destination for arts, culture, sport and leisure that attracts visitors and brings communities together.

How successful grants are decided

Your application will be assessed on how well it meets one or more of the following criteria.

Criteria 1 – Benefit to the Casey community

The program location and number and type of people participating in arts activities.
How activities address community needs including COVID-19 recovery.
The health and well-being benefits provided to participating Casey residents.
The level of participation and support from Casey residents and other local community groups.
The benefit to the wider Casey community through public performances, exhibitions and displays.

Criteria 2 – Benefit to the organisation

Evidence of organisational purpose, objectives and activities that are arts-focused and clearly identified.
How the funding will help the organisation offer new opportunities or activities.
How the funding will help the organisation expand, improve or develop current arts activities.
The impact of COVID-19 on the organisation and the need for funding to support essential operations and future programming.

Criteria 3 – Benefit to the Arts in Casey

The range and amount of arts opportunities that will be provided for Casey residents.
How the activities provided align with Council’s strategic objectives including enhanced levels of stimulation, enrichment, insight, appreciation and belonging across arts and cultural activities.
The diversity, accessibility and reach of the opportunities offered.

Criteria 4 - Capacity of the organisation to operate effectively, deliver the activities and manage the funding

Evidence of strong organisational structure and sound financial management.
How successfully the organisation has delivered arts opportunities in the past.
Evidence of sound management plans over the three-year funding period.
The organisation’s partnerships and plans for collaboration.
The value for money of the proposed project.

If your application is successful

We will notify you by email in December 2020.
You will be provided with a Funding Agreement which will outline expectations and conditions for the three years of funding. A three-year funding agreement will be offered to organisations, subject to the decision of Council.
You will need to review our Grants Policy
If you have any outstanding payments to Council, you will need to clear these before we can pay the grant.
If you have other Council grants, acquittal requirements will need to be satisfied before funds will be released.
Successful applicants can expect their funds in early 2021, once Funding Agreements have been signed and other necessary documents provided.

If your application is unsuccessful

An email will be sent to unsuccessful groups explaining why the application was not successful. You should expect to hear from us in December 2020.

Auspice organisations

For groups with an auspice, funds are usually paid directly to the auspice organisation. This organisation is responsible for ensuring the funds are spent following the application and any special conditions Council may require.

Auspice organisations must know about your application before you apply and will be required to provide a letter of support.

Tell us how your grant was used

After you have completed your project, you must tell us how you spent the grant money and what the outcomes of the project were. This is known as an acquittal process. An acquittal report will be required at the end of each year of funding.

Find out more about the acquittal process.

Useful information and resources

The following City of Casey information may be useful in preparing your funding application:

Contact us

Community Grants Officers are available to answer questions about the grant.

Please phone (03) 9705 5200 or email [email protected].

For further questions about arts in Casey including suitable arts venues including Bunjil Place, please contact Council’s Arts Development officer on 9705 5200 or email [email protected].