Arts Council funding….well, that’s a bit of an enigma. I’m looking at all of the alternatives for getting funding to take some of the group to Stockholm to hang the show.
The obvious thing would be start with AC funding. ( So I thought) rather than going straight in and filling in the multi page application form which asks for more or less the same answers in duplicate, I first filled in the basic eligibility check and passed, no problems.
Double checked the wording on the 4 page ‘Grants for the Arts – International activity’..and yes, we fit the bill in several areas. e.g. Link with Peers internationally…opportunities for artist and arts organisations from England to attend networking events… tick.
The document advises that we contact the enquiry team to get good advice and to save time. OK – I was in work, so it was easier for me to email.
The response I got was : Your project must be a self-contained, time limited activity with a definite start and end date that demonstrates a clear engagement for the English Public. It cannot be of a purely commercial nature or designed to gain financial profit.
OK – so I wrote back that perhaps I hadn’t explained myself very well, although it was classed as an ‘Arts Fair’, the work is not for sale – it is purely a networking activity and will hopefully raise the profile of a UK artist led group.
Got exactly the same response back, so they obviously didn’t read it.
So – are they saying that no UK artist can be funded by AC for an exhibition, as there is a very small possibility that the work will sell?
Hmmm… time to make some phone calls? Or should I give up now with them?
