Arts Development Panel Feedback – February 2009

Read more Panel Information and the Grant Recipients 

ASSESSMENT REPORT – February 2009

The Arts Development Panel met on April 23rd and 24th 2009  to consider the first round of grant applications for 2009 (closing date 27th February).  Applications were considered across all artforms for projects commencing after July 1, 2009.

This round included applications to the Development, Distribution, Publishing Assistance Program, A Few New Words and Short-term Artist in Residence (STAR) in all art forms. 
Total Applications Received: 86
Total Applications Approved: 36
Success Rate: 42%
Total Requested: $1,601,966
Total Approved: $638,127
Allocation Rate: 40%

GENERAL COMMENTS

The Panel stressed the importance of speaking to a Project Officer when drafting an application, as applications submitted without prior consultation with the Department were often less competitive. This remains important even in cases where the applicant has submitted previous successful applications to the Panel. It is particularly important to speak to a Project Officer when applicants have applied to other funding sources and are using the content of that application in their application to DCA as different funding agencies will have slight or major differences in selection criteria.

The Panel requested access to acquittals in order to assess the value of previous funding to the applicant. This information is currently not available for disclosure beyond DCA and is not, therefore, available to the Panel. The Panel were highly encouraging that the Department move to an on line acquittal process enabling acquittal outcomes to be shared with the arts community, allowing peer to peer exchange of information and enabling Panelists to see the benefits of funding to applicants over the long term. As an interim measure, applicants are encouraged to give DCA permission to share outcomes of their acquittals when filling in their acquittal form, by checking the appropriate box on this form.
The Panel commented favourably on the changes to the application form. The general standard of applications was noticeably improved from earlier rounds with comprehensive information provided by the majority of applicants. As a result the Panelists were able to focus fully upon the creative intent of each proposal.

The Panel also noted and approved changes to the 2009 Arts Grants Handbook, which include a clarification of selection criteria as well as the inclusion of Director's notes for applications within theatre as Support Material, in response to the Panel's request in 2008.  

They noted that Arts Grants Categories were losing pace with current practice and were not as useful as they could be in helping the Panel to make assessments. This will be reviewed in 2009/10.
 
The Panel commented that the 2010 Arts Grants Handbook should include a clearer articulation of community cultural development in the context of these selection criteria to assist applicants in this area of practice to better address the selection criteria.

PANEL COMMENTS

Artistic Merit

The Panel emphasised the importance of artistic merit as a key selection criteria for this Panel. While other funding exists across the Department and through other agencies supporting a wide range of arts practice, the Arts Development Panel regard it as critical to the professional WA arts sector that this particular pool of funding remain focused on supporting artistic excellence.

Artistic merit remains at the heart of assessment even if a project has additional outcomes, such as resulting in a design with the possibility of commercial outcomes, or the involvement of non arts specialists in the creation of a work. Consultation with a project officer can be a great assistance to applicants in addressing this key selection criterion as it relates to their practice and project prior to submitting an application.

Support material

Applicants should make clear the relevance of support material to the proposal under discussion, as well as observe limits to support material as outlined in the Arts Grant Handbook. This request for relevance to be stated will be included in the 2010 Application form.  Applicants should be aware that excess support material is returned unviewed to applicants. 
Budgets
The Panel stressed the need for applicants to review the accuracy of their budgets, as the Panel was unable to support a number of artistically strong proposals due to poor financial planning. This Panel continued with the standard set by earlier Arts Development Panels where budgets for successful applications were funded to the full amount of the request. If budgets were not substantiated with appropriate quotes or adequate budget notes, this was a reason for rejection due to poor financial planning, rather budget trimming.  The Panel noted the increased ask by applicants in this round, but commented favourably upon the extensive planning in place that would bring projects to fruition at a high standard.

Statistical Information 

Arts Development Panel
Round Closing February 2009
Applications Received and Amounts Requested by Artform