Creative Education Partnerships: Artist-in-Residence (AIR) Initiative or AIR GRANTS PROGRAM – applications are now available online for STEAM 1!

Developed in conjunction with the Australia Council for Arts, the Department of Culture and the Arts and Department of Education, ArtsEdge presents a new pilot grant program, seeking applications in 2009, and initially open to all Western Australian public schools and teacher training institutions, professional artists, arts and cultural organisations.

The AIR GRANTS PROGRAM will give artists an opportunity to broaden their experiences and share their skills while providing students with greater access to the creative development process and encouraging them to consider the arts when making future career choices.

The program will also create opportunities for artists and teachers to work together and develop effective teaching methods and practices for the arts.

The AIR GRANTS PROGRAM is made up of two AIR funding STREAMS.

AIR STREAM 1: Six (6) short term artist(s)/arts organisation residencies for a minimum of 30 days (starting in Term 2 - scheduled consecutively or completed by the end of Term 3 in the school year). Applications close September 4, 2009.

AIR STREAM 2: One (1) long-term (up to one school year) artist in residency project. An assessment panel will determine a short-list of identified Department of Culture and the Arts (DCA) key funded professional arts or cultural organisations already in partnership or offering arts in education programs in WA schools and invite them to submit applications for assessment. Expression of Interest (EOI) applications have already been posted to identified DCA key funded organisations (i.e. Triennial or Multi Year funded organisations). EOI applications are available in electronic format from ArtsEdge. EOI applications close July 17, 2009. Those applications chosen to submit a full proposal will be notified by ArtsEdge. Full proposal applications close September 4, 2009.

 Together these streams prioritise:

• Creative processes that actively engage with young people;
• Partnerships between schools, clusters of schools, artists and arts organisations and the wider community;
• Innovation and 21st century technology;
• Professional development opportunities for pre-service teachers, educators and artists;
• Regional and remote school communities;
• Indigenous young people;
• Young people at educational risk;
• Disability; and
• Cultural difference and diversity.

Successful applicants will be those that deliver one or more of these priority areas.

In 2009, the first year of the four year pilot program, $280,000 will be dispersed to successful applicants as follows:

AIR STREAM 1: Six (6) grants of $30,000 ex GST will be available for projects commencing Term 2, 2010 and completed by the end of Term 3, 2010; and,
AIR STREAM 2: One (1) grant of $100,000 ex GST will be made available for a long-term project developed in collaboration between an identified DCA key funded arts organisation and a school/cluster of schools or teacher training institution commencing Term 2, 2010 and completed by the end of Term 4, 2010.

For full details on the AIR GRANTS PROGRAM, eligibility, assessment criteria (for AIR Stream 1 & 2) and application forms (for AIR Stream 1 only) visit the ArtsEdge website www.artsedge.dca.wa.gov.au or call ArtsEdge on (08) 9224 7300 or Freecall (within WA) 1800 199 090.