Application Guidelines
Introduction
The following guidelines provide information about Collide and the application process under the following headings:
What we are looking for
Collide is looking to commission exciting, innovative new projects from culturally diverse artists that can be developed from September 2006 for September 2007.
Collide is keen to support artists that have never been funded before as well as those already in receipt of funding from Birmingham local authority or other sources.
We are looking for artists who are committed to devoting time and energy to develop both their own work and also play an important role in the Collide 07 festival.
Collide will provide funding of up to £5,000 for individual artists and arts organisations to help them realise their project. However, commissions of less than this will be more likely to succeed.
Collide will cover costs of 'umbrella' marketing for the commissioned works, but we will ask you to carry out additional marketing for your own project. Therefore, please think about how your project will attract an audience.
Collide funding can meet 100% of the costs of your project. However we would like you to think about whether you may be able to attract other sources of funding for your project (e.g. grants or box office) and whether you can get any support provided in-kind (e.g. equipment or rehearsal spaces provided free of charge)
Collide will present all of the new work it has funded in the Collide season during September 2007.
Criteria
You will need to consider at least one of the following criteria as part of your proposal
Demonstration of your ability to push your artistic boundaries.
How will you do this, what methods will you employ?Exploration of connecting with an audience.
How will you engage with your audience, what is unique about your methods?Exploration of an art form
How will you explore your chosen form, what new ways will you be working in?
In any of the above cases what must be clear within the proposal is a sense of innovation in either your idea, artform approach, or both.
What we will commission
Emerging and established culturally diverse artists, and organisations working to support culturally diverse artists in visual arts, crafts, public art, live art, dance, theatre, music, film/video, new media, writing, inter-disciplinary arts and other related performance arts.
Commissions that take place in Birmingham.
Proposals that demonstrate artistic creative and professional development.
New projects, or a new development of an existing project.
You may refer to the Collide website (www.collide-arts.co.uk) for examples of previously commissioned projects.
What we will not commission
Projects that are not relevant to the arts (arts in this context means visual arts, crafts, public art, live art, dance, theatre, music, film/video, new media, writing, inter-disciplinary arts, and not fashion, graphic design)
Projects that do not support the creative and professional development of artists
Capital purchases such as production equipment, CD production
Projects that have already started or taken place
Projects that have no immediate or long term artistic and public benefit
Items not included in the development, production, and post production of the commission
Projects that happen outside of Birmingham, Wolverhampton or Coventry
Projects that are taking place as part of formal / other education
Applications that arrive after the deadline, and applications submitted by e-mail. Original signatures will be needed on completed applications.
Writing your Application
When filling in the form, please refer to the specific guidelines which appear on the right hand side of the form. These explain in more detail what we require in each section.
Please make sure that you read each section carefully and answer in as much detail as possible.
Each section is headed, so do try to put required information into the relevant sections.
Try to keep the word limit in the 'Proposal' section of your application form (section 3) to under 2,000 words if possible.
Please write clearly or use type.
How your application form will be assessed
We will focus on the proposal section of your application, although all areas of the form are important. We will make an assessment on the quality of the idea, selecting projects that possess innovation, creativity and with benefits to your artistic practice and the public based upon the Collide criteria as listed above
We will also take into consideration how realistic the management of the commission is, based on the budget proposed and the time-scale given
A selection panel composed of independent specialist practitioners and arts officers will assess the application forms
We will aim to let you know the outcome within two weeks of the application deadline
If you have any relevant documentation of previous work that you feel will specifically support your application, then this can be included and any items will be returned using standard postage. Please do not send original artworks or anything of significant value as we cannot guarantee its safe return.
If you are selected, you will be asked to attend an informal interview with your local authority arts officer who will then explain the commissioning process. If you are not selected, we will write to you explaining why your proposal was unsuccessful. You may contact your local authority arts officer should you wish to receive further detailed feedback. Unsuccessful applicants can re-apply for the following year and receive other guidance and sign-posting.
All Collide award recipients will be required to write and send us a short end of project evaluation report.
How to get form
You may download a Word Doc application form from the Collide website www.collide-arts.co.uk or contact your local authority arts officer
Birmingham
Bob Jowett
Cultural Partnerships Officer
Arts Team,
Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery,
Chamberlain Square,
Birmingham, B3 3DH.
T: 0121 303 4962
F: 0121 303 1394
Textphone: 0121 303 3321
E: bob.jowett@birmingham.gov.ukCoventry
Clare Huby
Arts Development Officer
Coventry City Council,
Herbert Art Gallery & Museum,
Jordan Well,
Coventry, CV1 5QP.
T: 024 7683 2342
F: 024 7683 2410
Textphone: 0121 303 3321
E: clare.huby@coventry.gov.ukWolverhampton
Sajida Aslam
Outreach and Social Inclusion Officer
Wolverhampton Art Gallery,
Lichfield Street,
Wolverhampton, WV1 1DU.
T: 01902 552 055
F: 01902 552053
Textphone: 0121 303 3321
E: sajida.aslam@wolverhamptonart.org.uk
How to book advice session
You may book an advice session with your local authority officer using the contact details listed above. Advice sessions are particularly useful for you to obtain information about the programme, the application criteria, and how you are most likely to attract a commission award.
Advice sessions can be in person or via a pre-arranged telephone discussion
We will also review and comment on draft applications if sent in prior to the deadline.
A few suggestions
Once you have read the guidelines and received your Proposal Form, make sure that you are aware of all the information you will need to provide, including artists' CVs and biographies as well as examples of previous work.
Start thinking about your project now. For example:
What other artists and organisations may you need to work with?
What specialist help will you need?
How much money and time will your project need?
What is the timetable for your project?
Whilst we want you to be imaginative PLEASE BE REALISTIC about what you can achieve within the time scale and level of funding available from the Collide scheme
Go back to the form and make several photocopies of it. It is very useful to make several draft versions of your form before submitting the final version.
Start to fill it out in draft with a clear idea of:
What you want to create
Who you want to work with
Where and when it will be shown
Who do you think will want to see the work
How will you get an audience interested and how much will it all cost
Why not show your draft application to a friend or colleague to see if your project proposal is clear and can be easily understood.
Download Guidelines for 2006-2007
