Description
Grants are available for arts and cultural organisations in Northern Ireland to purchase equipment and/or carry out minor works to their premises to address requirements created due to Covid-19, or to address outstanding maintenance issues.
- Current Status
- Open for Applications
- Maximum value:
- Discretionary
Objectives of Fund
The programme aims to enable organisations to purchase equipment and/or carry out minor works to their premises which will address any health and safety issues that has been created due to Covid-19 or has been an outstanding maintenance issue which has rendered the space not fit for purpose.
The funding is for organisations across Northern Ireland to:
- Maintain their creative spaces addressing any issues that may hinder the work to take place
- Ensure they have proper measures in place to welcome their staff, artists and audiences
- Ensure their delivery of the arts in new and creative alternatives.
Particular priority will be given to equipment and minor works which:
- Address Covid-19 requirements.
- Improves the accessibility of the arts.
- Continues the safe practice for continued accessibility of the arts.
- Improves the environment for the arts sector.
- Enhances or broadens the audience/participants’ experience.
Value Notes
A total of £400,000 will be awarded in grants.
No minimum or maximum grant sizes are specified. Applicants are asked to be realistic in their expectations and budgets and bear in mind that the Arts Council may choose to fund specific elements of the proposal rather than the full request.
All purchases and minor works must be completed by March 2023.
Match Funding Restrictions
Only local authorities must provide partnership funding. The minimum partnership funding provided by such organisations is 50% in cash from non-Arts Council sources (in kind contributions will not be considered).
For all applicants, the assessment process may take into account the other funds they are able to bring to the project and this may influence the outcome of the assessment.
Who Can Apply
The Arts Council welcomes applications from the widest possible range of organisations and in particular from organisations whose projects benefit individuals categorised under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.
Applications will be considered from the following:
- Registered charities and other fully constituted organisations which cannot distribute a profit.
- Commercial organisations if their request is primarily for the benefit of the public rather than their own commercial interests.
- Consortia.
- Local authorities (but they are a low priority).
- Groups of organisations (consortia) working together to deliver specific projects.
If an organisation has a limited membership, it must show that the equipment/minor works will benefit the wider public.
Applicants do not have to be primarily an arts organisation, however, the purpose of the requested equipment and/or minr works must be clearly focused on the arts.
Restrictions
The following are not eligible for funding:
- Individuals.
- Broadcasters (excluding community service broadcasters).
- Central Government Departments.
- Bands seeking musical instruments (the Arts Council has a separate Musical Instruments for Bands programme).
- Schools, Colleges and Universities.
- Organisations who are in breach of the terms of previous ACNI grant awards.
Eligible Expenditure
The funding is for any equipment and/or minor works to help adapt the venue or working practice.
Eligible costs include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Covid-19 equipment in line with Government requirements
- Creation of safe spaces in relation to Covid-19 needs
- New equipment / structures to enable delivery outdoors
- IT equipment to address the new working environment
- Software (pre-loaded operating systems and packages)
- Accessibility equipment and minor works
- Works in relation to upgrading and maintaining existing systems
- Transport.
How To Apply
The deadline for applications is 9 June 2022 (12 noon). Decisions will be made by 9 September 2022.
Applications must be submitted through the online system of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.
Guidance notes are available on the Arts Council of Northern Ireland website.
