Young People and the Arts Panel Feedback - September 2008

Read more Panel Information and the Grant Recipients

ASSESSMENT REPORT

The Young People and the Arts Panel met on 7 November 2008 to assess the third round of grant applications for 2008.
Applications to the Development, Distribution and Young People and the Arts Fellowship funding categories were considered.

Development and Distribution Applications

Total Applications Received: 27

Total Applications Approved: 7

Success Rate: 25.9%

Total Amount Requested: $316,789

Total Amount Approved: $68,502

Allocation Rate: 21.6%

Young People and the Arts Fellowship Applications

Total Applications Received: 7

Total Applications Approved: 5

Success Rate: 71.4%

Total Amount Requested: $69,770

Total Amount Approved: $49,770

Allocation Rate: 71.3%

GENERAL COMMENTS

This was a competitive round of applications.  Applicants are reminded to speak with the Project Officer when developing their application and further reminded that they can receive feedback on drafts.  Applicants are urged to show a draft in its entirety; that is, include the budget and prepare for a discussion regarding support material.
Note: The 2009 Arts Grants Handbook and Application Form are currently under revision and will be available by the end of 2008.  Please do not use the current handbook and application form unless applying to the Quick Response or Artflight categories before the end of 2008.

PANEL COMMENTS

Overall the standard of applications this round was high; they were well written and articulated main ideas well. 

For applications involving professional artists working with and for young people, the panel stressed how important it was for young people’s involvement in an application to be apparent.  This can be either through referencing young people’s desire for the activity to take place through letters of support, quotes (particularly if the application is building on an existing arts project) and/or a description of the consultation process.  Applicants should also describe what the involvement of, or outcomes for, young people involved in the project will be.

The panel noted that it is important to try and submit a word processed application, as handwritten applications are often difficult to read.

SUPPORT MATERIALS

A number of applicants submitted lengthy, irrelevant and outdated support material; it is important for applicants to read the Arts Grants Handbook and talk to a project officer for guidance noting specific support material requirements for the category and/or artform.

It is important that support material is relevant.  Whilst it is difficult, in some instances, to document an artform, think about how your materials will be viewed and submit materials that will assist the panel in visioning what the project is trying to achieve, or that demonstrates the skills of key personnel.  For example, theatre applicants should try and submit DVDs; but can also submit a script, directorial treatments, stills and reviews of previous work, and draft set and costume designs (if available)

In many instances the support material such as DVDs and CDs needed to be more concise.  If you have difficulty in accessing appropriate editing facilities, then applicants should at the very least indicate which section of the DVD/CD needs to be watched/listened to.

Many CVs/bios (particularly of administrative personnel) were lengthy and not specific to the project.  Applicants are urged to ensure that CVs/bios are limited in length to ONE PAGE ONLY and are specific to what you are applying for. 

Try to ensure that samples of artwork submitted (DVD, CD, images, etc.) are as recent as possible. 

APPLICATION FORMS

Applicants are asked to note that the Arts Grants Handbook and Arts Grants Program Application Form are currently being revised for 2009.  Please do not use the current handbook and application form unless you are applying to the Quick Response or Artflight categories before the end of 2008.  Please do not re-format the 2008 application form.   Contact the Project Officer to request a new version for the February 2009 round.

ELIGIBILITY

Some applications were unclear regarding the start dates of component/s of the project for which funding was being requested.  Applicants should read the relevant handbook carefully for guidance. 

It is important to speak a Project Officer if the intention is to submit to more than one DCA arts grants panel for that round of applications, especially if the projects are connected in some way. 

STATISTICAL INFORMATION

The following tables provide a further statistical breakdown of funding for this round.  Note that some applications consisted of multiple artforms and have been tallied according to the perceived dominant artrform.

Table 1: Individual artforms in the Development and Distribution categories and the percentage of the total allocated funds 

Table 2:  Success rates in individual artforms within the Development and Distribution categories expressed relative to number of applications.

Table 3: Individual artforms in the Young People and the Arts Fellowship category and the percentage of the total allocated funds.