Arts Development Panel Feedback - July 2007

ASSESSMENT REPORT

The Arts Development Panel met on 30 and 31 August 2007 to assess the second round of grants for 2007. Applications were considered across all art forms within the project development, distribution, publishing assistance and annual program categories, together with the Short Term Artist in Residence program and the A Few New Words Poetry Publishing Initiative. Applications were considered for projects commencing after 1 December 2007.

Total Applications Received: 107

Approved: 34

Success Rate: 32%

Amount Requested: $2,341,656

Approved: $708,993

Success Rate: 30%

GENERAL COMMENTS

The Panel recommended 34 applications for funding across all categories totalling $708,993.  In terms of the total number of applications, this is a 32% success rate compared against the total request of 107 applications.  In dollar terms, this is a 30% success rate compared to the $2,341,656 requested.  

The Panel commended the high standard of applications.  Individual requests for funding had increased in comparison to previous rounds in response to the Panel’s comments in April 2007 requesting that applicant’s budget realistically for their costs.  The Panel considered that budgets in this round offered a more realistic assessment of expenditure. The success rate in this round of 32% compares to recent years which range from 60% in July 2002 to 35% in February 2004.

The August 2007 Panel continued to set itself the task of funding the full request of successful applications. Applicants are reminded that financial responsibility is a selection criteria for all proposals, and they should include a comprehensive budget and budget notes that include breakdowns as appropriate to their activities.   

In addition, the Panel reviewed the artistic programs of a number of Multi-year Funding Organisations, including the Australian Writers Guild WA, Disability in the Arts Disadvantage in the Arts Australia WA (DADAA), Tura New Music and the WA Youth Theatre Company.

PANEL COMMENTS

1. ARTISTIC MERIT

The Panel considered the definition of “artistic merit”, the principal selection criteria, particularly as it relates to projects that were intentionally open-ended, process orientated, research and development stage only, or focused on community cultural development.

The Panel noted that applicants needed to articulate process, rationale and evaluation to assist in the assessment of artistic merit. These are particularly critical in those applications where a public outcome is not the final objective.

2. SUPPORT MATERIAL

The amount of support material viewed by this Panel was considerable and, often, the material did not directly support the applicant’s proposed activity.

Panellists’ fees have been revised to allow more time to review support material. Applicants are encouraged to included support material that is relevant and succinct. See page 39 of the Arts Grants Handbook 2008, as well as the information in the selected category as support material requirements have been revised.

3. ANNUAL AND MULTIYEAR FUNDING

The Panel commented that they would like to see artistic acquittal reports from organisations requesting Multiyear or Annual Program funding to properly assess these applications.  This is now reflected in Required Support Material, in the Arts Grants Handbook 2008, page 22.

4.  REGIONAL AND MULTICULTURAL APPLICATIONS

‘Regional Arts’ and ‘Multicultural Arts’ are priority areas across all areas of the Department’s operation. The Department’s 2008 Application Forms request more detailed information in these areas to enable the Department to better meet the needs of these applicants.

STATISTICAL INFORMATION

Please see the following tables for a statistical break down of funding.

Table 1 refers to July 2007 and shows a breakdown of success rates in individual artforms.

Table 2 shows the amount available in each round of the Arts Development Panel 2002-2007.

Table 3 shows a comparison success and rejection rates for each round 2002-2007.

COLUMN 1. Total number of applications received from each art form against the total number of applications received (107);

COLUMN 2. Total number of applications funded from each art form against the total number of applications funded (34); and

COLUMN 3. Total amount funded for each art form against the total amount funded ($708,993)

TABLE 1.

TABLE 2

TABLE 3