Arts Upper Hunter First Nations Creative Engagement Community Grants Program – Round 2
Arts Upper Hunter (AUH) is launching another round of these grants program so local groups can present creative projects and workshops designed for First-Nations people.
Applications close 5pm Monday 22 August 2022.
Click to download a pdf of these guidelines
Click to download application form (Word .doc format).
If you are unable to download, please contact us.
Overview
Arts Upper Hunter (AUH) is launching a second round of First Nations Creative Engagement Community Grants Program of up to $2,000 for organisations to present Creative Participation Activities and Workshops across our region.
The grants are aimed at helping local organisations promote artistic activity and First Nations participation, to assist events recover after the difficult Covid years, and to promote the connection of Arts Upper Hunter with local Aboriginal communities. More than half of the funding for these grants comes from an unspent portion of the NSW Government’s Rescue & Restart program that was so successful in 2021. The rest is from our core funding, which is primarily provided by Create NSW and our four Participating Councils (Dungog, Singleton, Muswellbrook and Upper Hunter LGAs).
Smaller grant applications (anything from $500 up) are welcome.
Note: Unspent funds will roll over and another round will be offered in a couple of months.
Eligibility
- You must be based in the AUH region (Dungog, Singleton, Muswellbrook and Upper Hunter LGAs)
- You can be an arts organisation or an organisation with significant connection to the local Aboriginal communities. Typically, you would be an incorporated association or a Council entity and have Public Liability Insurance. (In the case of schools, we greatly prefer applications to come from the P&C, P&F or other incorporated group). The applicant organisation must have an ABN or be auspiced by an organisation with an ABN. Artists who are engaged will also need their own personal protection or income protection insurance.
- Your proposal must be arts or culture related, any artform.
- Your proposal must be for a First Nations-centred creative activity with a focus on First Nations participation (eg workshop attendees, students, participants in an event), as well as First Nations facilitation (eg an artist, teacher or performer). A project with specific completed work (by participants) would be favoured.
- Projects devoted to young participants (eg primary or secondary school children), towards families or older people, may be favourably viewed. Projects with Letter of Support from local Aboriginal organisations will be favourably viewed – this may be required before any funding is released. An on-Country component or activity is acceptable. For projects involving young people, facilitators and helpers will need to provide a Working With Children Check.
- Non-First Nations participants may also be included as long as a good proportion of attendees identify as First Nations. Exclusively Aboriginal cohorts are also encouraged. The prime goal of this grant is to encourage participation in creative activities by Aboriginal people.
- Arts Upper Hunter is committed to promoting First Nations Creative Arts in our region. We would welcome the opportunity to promote your project / activity as a free service. We would also appreciate photos of events and finished work, with clearances: these will help promote AUH’s future First Nations projects.
What can the grant be used for?
- We are open to anything that creatively engages Aboriginal people, such as a small-scale project or workshop to be held over a day or days, a cultural heritage event with a focus on participation by attendees. Please discuss with Arts Upper Hunter if you are concerned about whether your idea qualifies or not.
- Payment to artists is essential and should be a good proportion of the spend. Other costs might include marketing and promotion, venue hire, purchase of consumables such as paint, equipment, software and skills development.
- Some assistance to support participation (eg transport to workshop) may also be funded.
- You are welcome to add to the grant with in-kind costs, your own funds or other grants or sponsorship.
- All applicants must discuss their project with Arts Upper Hunter before applying (see below).
This grant will NOT support:
- Competitions, Awards, Prizes, Judging, Fundraising events
- General operating expenses or ongoing costs of long-term continuous projects
- Projects that have commenced or are completed
- Activities which could be considered part of the curriculum for schools or tertiary institutions
- Non-arts related activities
Key Dates
- Applications open on Monday 25 July 2022.
- Applications close 5pm on Monday 22 August 2022.
- Applications will be assessed soon after. We are happy to provide feedback to both successful and unsuccessful applicants.
- Funding agreements will be sent out soon after and need to be returned ASAP with an invoice and completed Supplier Application to Arts Upper Hunter for the amount granted..
- Projects or expenditure of the grant can commence once a successful organisation has signed the contract. Projects and expenditure should be completed by 31 December 2022: an extension may be possible to be negotiated with AUH.
- AUH will provide you with a report form. You’ll need to send a short report on how the money was spent by 28 February 2023, with photos and other supporting materials you reckon are suitable (unless we take our own during the event).
Next round of funding
The next round (unspent funds, if any) will close 5pm on Monday 31 October 2022 ( TBC )
Note that projects will be judged on merit and there is no obligation on Arts Upper Hunter to approve grants even if there are unspent funds in the grant pool.
How to apply
You will need to
- download the form
- fill it out – typing is fine and all the text boxes are expandable, and
- email to rado@artsupperhunter.com.au.
If any attachments are too large to send, talk to us.
It is essential that you ring or email John O’Brien at Arts Upper Hunter before you apply to ensure your project is eligible and discuss the amount you will be requesting.
John’s details: 0409 382 509 rado@artsupperhunter.com.au