Shetland Arts Fund Grant Aid Scheme

Shetland Arts Fund Grant Aid Scheme

GUIDELINES

• Introduction
• What do we expect all funded applications to demonstrate?
• Who can apply?
• When should you apply?
• What else does this scheme look for?
• What can this scheme fund?
• What can this scheme not fund?
• How much can we fund?
• Other considerations
• What happens if you are successful?
• What happens if you are unsuccessful?
• Sevice pledges
• Contact details

 

1. Introduction

The Shetland Arts Fund is designed to support not for profit voluntary organisations and individuals to develop and deliver arts related projects and events that meet local community needs and make a lasting difference in the community.

This grant aid scheme is funded by Shetland Charitable Trust and managed in partnership with Shetland Islands Council and Shetland Arts Development Agency.   The scheme can support all forms of arts genre including the visual arts, crafts, dance, drama, dialect, film, literature, music, theatre and combined arts.

We hope it will make a real difference to the quality of life for people living in Shetland.

 

2. What do we expect all funded applications to demonstrate?

Shetland Charitable Trust’s Arts Fund aims to support projects and activities that: –

• Meet a local need;
• Represent value for money;
• Are well planned;
• Demonstrate public benefits and make a difference to the community;
• The project expenditure can be fully accounted for;
• Has developmental potential of art skills;
• Reflect the core values of Shetland Charitable Trust and Shetland Arts Development Agency.

 

3. Who can apply?

We can support:

• Individuals, constituted community groups and voluntary organisations to advance the arts;

We cannot support:

• Individuals or organisations seeking commercial gain;

• Individuals or organisations if there is no public benefit;

• Organisations or projects that should be funded from national or local taxation;

• Non arts related projects and activities;

• Retrospective funding;

• Organisations in receipt of annual core funding from either Shetland Charitable Trust and/or Shetland Islands Council for services purchased;

We can only fund projects and activities that are solely in the interests of Shetland and its inhabitants.   This applies to either participants or audiences.

Please note all eligible applicants must operate a bank or building society account in their legal name.  Eligible voluntary organisations must have a bank or building society account that requires at least 2 signatures on each cheque or withdrawals.

 

4. When should you apply?

The Council’s Grants Unit must receive completed applications at least 4 weeks prior to the project’s start date.  Applications received less than 4 weeks before the project start date will be automatically turned down.

 

5. What else does this scheme look for?

Applicants must also be able to link to one or more of the following Shetland Arts Development Agency core values:

Inclusive	Striving for excellence
Empowering and enabling	Brave and courageous
Inspiring	Challenging
Innovative	Realistic
Open and accessible	Value for money
High quality	Developmental

                                                                       

                                  

                                                                     

                                                                    

                                                

 

6. What can this scheme fund?

We will consider funding:

• Projects that advance the arts;

• Training, courses and learning opportunities;

• Events, activities, performances, exhibitions;

• Annual arts programmes;

• Setting up a pilot project;

• Conferences, seminars;

• Specialist or professional fees (other than for Capital Projects);

• Research and development costs;

• Equipment and materials;

• Publicity and promotion costs;

• External transport and accommodation and appropriate fees;

• Cultural projects;
  

 

7. What can this scheme not fund?

We will not fund:

• Non arts related projects;

• Items that only benefit an individual e.g. prizes, musical instruments;

• Loan or endowment payments or guarantees against loss;

• Projects with no long-term sustainability;

• Holidays and general entertainment costs e.g. cinema, theme parks;

• Projects/activities that have already taken place;

• Business or commercial ventures;

• Fundraising expenses or projects solely aimed at generating income;

• Meals and subsistence costs;

• Capital projects;

• School/college/university projects or costs involving school/college/university students;

• Projects that do not benefit Shetland and its inhabitants;

• Projects that do not have a public benefit;
  

 

8. How much can we fund?

There are three types of grant applications that we can consider funding. Eligible organisations can apply for an Event and/or Project grant. Organisations applying for both types of funding will not exceed 50% or £3,000 per organisation per financial year.

• Events: Up to 50% of eligible costs up to a maximum of £3,000

• Projects: Up to 50% of eligible costs up to a maximum of £1,500

Eligible individuals can apply for the following only:

• Individuals: Up to 50% of eligible costs up to a maximum of £1,000

Please note eligible organisations cannot apply for both an Event grant and a Project grant in the same financial period.

Eligible applicants can apply for more than one Shetland Arts Fund grant per Shetland Charitable Trust financial year - up to the above maximums. However if you have been already awarded a Shetland Arts Fund grant in the current financial year then priority will be given to applicants who have not received any funding. (For clarification Shetland Charitable Trust’s financial period is 1st April to 31st March annually)

 

9. Other considerations

In addition to the above requirements applicants should consider the following:

• Shetland Arts Fund grants must be acknowledged on all publicity and marketing material;
• Applicants in receipt of a Shetland Islands Council Development Grant cannot be considered for a Shetland Arts Fund grant and vice versa;
• Any Award will depend on the availability of funds by Shetland Charitable Trust;
• Applicants are encouraged to investigate other sources of funding prior to applying for a Shetland Arts Fund grant;
• All applications for grant assistance are ultimately decided by Shetland Charitable Trust;
  

 

10. What happens if you are successful?

Once you have completed your grant application, attached all the necessary documents and worked through the application form checklist please send the application and enclosures to the Grants Unit c/o the Council’s Education and Social Care Department (see address in section 13).

• Successful applications will be issued with a grant offer letter and acceptance docquet detailing the terms and conditions of the grant award;

• Once you have accepted the terms and conditions of the grant and returned the acceptance letter the grant will be paid in full directly into your bank account;

• You must comply with grant conditions and only use the funding for the purpose(s) as set out in your application form;

• You will be required to complete a project evaluation form and submit a certification of expenditure form together with details of all relevant expenditure within 12 months of the grant offer date.

 

11. What happens if you are unsuccessful?

We will tell you the main reasons why in a letter within 6 weeks of receiving the completed
application. You may also find it useful to contact the Council’s Grants Unit or staff at Shetland Arts for further advice and assistance.

Following receipt of the written explanation you may wish you to revise your application and resubmit it or appeal the original decision.

 

12. Service pledges

In order to improve service delivery, we have the following service pledges that apply to this grant aid scheme:

• The Council’s Grants Unit will provide accurate information about this grant aid scheme and the application procedures.

• All grant application forms requested will be sent out within 2 working days.

• All grant application forms received will be acknowledged within 5 working days.

• All applicants will receive a decision on completed grant application forms within 6 weeks.

• All applicants who have had a grant application rejected will receive a written explanation of why it was unsuccessful.

• All applicants who have had a rejected grant application advised in writing have the right to appeal against the decision.

 

13. Contact details

The Grants Unit officers are available to give advice and guidance with grant applications and project planning and all applicants are advised to discuss their project the earliest opportunity before completing your grant application form. Alternatively you may also seek assistance from staff at Shetland Arts Development Agency. Contact details are provided below.

 

Grants Unit Education & Social Care Department Shetland Islands Council Hayfield House, Hayfield Lane Lerwick Shetland ZE1 0QD Tel. (01595) 743828 / 743827

Shetland Arts Development Agency c/o Toll Clock Shopping Centre North Road Lerwick Shetland ZE1 0PE Tel. (01595) 743843 www.shetlandarts.org

The Shetland Arts Fund guidelines are available as a single file for download here (202 Kb PDF file)