UK/Australia Season 2021/22 Expressions of Interest
Arts and Cultural Funding Program
Expressions of Interest (EOI) for the UK/Australia Season 2021/22 are closed.
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Guidelines
We recommend reading the full guidelines on this page before completing your EOI.
Apply now
To submit your EOI you will need to complete and submit the relevant application form through our secure online grants system, SmartyGrants.
Key dates
- EOIs open Monday 7 June 2021
- EOIs close Sunday 20 June 2021 at 11.59pm AEDT
- Notification of successful EOI’s July 2021.
*Activities must take place in the United Kingdom from March 2022. Later start and end dates may be proposed and will be negotiated with the successful applicants in line with current Government travel and health advice.
Accessibility
If you are an applicant with disability, and you require this information in a format which is accessible to you, or if you require this information in another language, you can contact us on the details above between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday.
- Telephone: (02) 8289 6520
- Email: arts.funding@create.nsw.gov.au
- Or contact the Arts Funding team directly.
The National Relay service numbers are:
TTY users: Phone 133 677 then ask for (02) 8289 6520
Speak and Listen users: Phone 1300 555 727 then ask for (02) 8289 6520
Internet Relay users: Connect to NES then ask for (02) 8289 6520.
Overview
The UK/Australia Season 2021/22 explores and celebrates the relationship between Australia and the United Kingdom (UK) across the arts, creative industries, and higher education.
The Season reflects on both nations’ shared history and culture, explore our current relationship and imagine our future by bringing together artists, universities, and civil society leaders from both countries to consider the question: Who are we now?
The NSW Season will take place in the UK from March 2022.
The theme, Who are we now? provides a platform to celebrate the best of our arts and cultural life, with points of connection and collaboration around our shared successes.
The Season is a celebration of the diversity of cultures and languages in both countries including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures of Australia and the nations of Wales, Scotland, England and Northern Ireland, as well as the rich societies that have emerged in both the UK and Australia through migration.
It is an opportunity to look at who we might be in the future in the face of global challenges.
You can apply for up to $100,000.
This funding will support NSW artists, performers, writers and musicians to deliver work in the UK after March 2022. Costs may include creatives’ fees, travel and accommodation, visas and costs of quarantine as required in the UK and on return to Australia.
The UK/Australia Season aims to:
- Present a showcase of NSW’s best arts and cultural programs on an international stage
- Support established clients with a history of successfully delivering international tours to represent NSW
- Enhance international partnerships between the UK and Australia to increase touring opportunities for NSW
- Increase diplomatic ties between Australia and the UK via working with the British Council and DFAT (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) to influence outcomes for NSW.
Who can submit an EOI?
To be eligible for the UK/Australia Season 21/22 you need to meet the following criteria:
Applicants must be a NSW based organisation or company (with an ABN) that:
- has a registered office address in NSW;
- has a history of delivering international touring programs;
- is currently in receipt of organisational funding from Create NSW; and
- has a program ready to tour.
What information do I need to include in my EOI?
Applicants should submit a one-page EOI describing the project, how it addresses the funding program objectives and how it provides benefits to NSW.
Attached to the EOI, please include the following:
- a detailed project budget – with a range of income sources including cash and in-kind support for the tour;
- the list of artists engaged, detailing their roles, which region of NSW they are from and if they are confirmed;
- optional letters of confirmation from venues and endorsement from the sector. If these are not available before the closing date Create NSW will seek confirmation of venues if you are successful;
- a timeline of travel, delivery and return to Australia including start and end dates of the tour;
- a COVID-19 safe contingency and risk management plan. This could include alternative ways of delivering your tour if needed, such as livestreaming, webinars, publications, digital engagement, online residencies and exchange.
What can I apply for?
The UK/Australia Season EOI will support a range of activities such as residencies, a festival, symposia, workshops, site-specific work, digital work, exhibitions, tours and broadcast. This includes filmmaking, screen production, mainstream animation or film festivals.
Examples of funded activities could include, but are not limited to:
- a residency at a museum, art gallery, theatre company, digital streaming or broadcast;
- presentation of an exhibition;
- presentation of a concert, opera, theatre or musical theatre performance as part of a dedicated festival or program.
Eligible costs
You can apply for up to $100,000. EOIs can request support for costs associated with presenting touring activity in the UK. This covers a range of expenses including:
- NSW artists fees – these must be based on Industry rates and include per diems for overseas travel
- production costs, temporary staging and equipment hire
- travel and visa costs
- crew and production wages
- quarantine related costs related to COVID-19 restrictions in both UK and Australia
- costs of implementation of a COVID-19 safety plan, risk management plans and permits
- marketing and promotion.
Important Information: you must NOT request funding for the total cost of your activities. You must include an independent financial contribution (cash and/or in kind) from other sources.
Funding cannot be used for the following:
- fees for artists or musicians from interstate or overseas
- purchase of instruments or equipment.
How will my application be assessed?
Applications will be assessed internally, however, advice may be sought from the relevant Create NSW Artform Advisory Board if necessary.
The Create NSW Artform Boards consist of representatives from leading NSW arts and cultural organisations, independent organisations and individual artists. If your application includes leadership, engagement and/or outcomes involving Aboriginal artists, arts/cultural workers and/or communities then your application can be reviewed by the Create NSW Aboriginal Arts and Culture Board.
Applications will be assessed against the following criteria:
- Project Merit
Your application should demonstrate:
- The artistic merit of the program and/or event
- Experience of the applicant to organise the event.
- Project Impact
Your application should demonstrate:
- how you intend to present and promote this work
- intended audience or communities you want to reach and engage with.
- Project Viability
Your application should demonstrate:
- effective planning and use of resources, including where possible details and confirmation of UK partner venues/organisations
- realistic and accurate project budget – note you cannot request funding for the total cost of your activities. You must include an independent financial contribution (cash and/or in kind) from other sources.
Support material
These may include confirmation letters or letters of support related to the program such as letters from venues, partners, key sector contacts or other funding agencies. These letters must be provided as one document. For proposals involving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, letters of support and confirmation of involvement from the relevant communities and/or organisations.
Assessment process
You will receive an automated response from our secure online grants system once your application has been submitted. All applications then proceed through an assessment process as outlined below.
Eligibility check
Once received through the online grants system, all applications will undergo an eligibility check.
Eligible applications proceed to the assessment process.
If you are deemed ineligible, you will be advised in writing within a few days of your submission date and your application will not proceed to assessment.
Assessment Stage 1
All applications will be assessed against three assessment criteria: Merit, Impact and Viability.
Assessment Stage 2
Create NSW staff will make final recommendations with reference to the assessment criteria, artform, demographics and the distribution, range and scale of recommended applicants.
This may include prioritising applicants living and/or working in regional NSW, people living and/or working in Western Sydney, Aboriginal people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, people with disability and young people.
Prioritisation of recommended applicants ensures equity across the state and the best outcomes for NSW Government investment.
Further advice and/or clarification may be requested from applicants by Create NSW during the assessment process.
Recommendation
Final recommendations are submitted for the consideration of the Minister for the Arts.
When will I know the outcome of my application?
All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their applications by July 2021.
What happens if my application is successful?
Successful applicants will be required to sign a funding agreement that covers the following:
Acceptance: Return a signed contract, and completed invoice, within two weeks of receipt.
Payment: Will be in line with State Government payment processes – all attempts will be made to pay successful applicants no later than 4 weeks after notification.
Timing: Your activity must be held after March 2022.
Publicity: The NSW Government must be acknowledged in any marketing/publicity collateral associated with the tour. If you make a public statement about the grant activity funded under the program, we require you to acknowledge the grant.
Marketing: Create NSW, DFAT and the High Commission may be able to assist tours with publicity and marketing support for their work. They may also assist with networking functions and public diplomacy profiling opportunities as part of the overall Season umbrella in the UK.
Reporting: Reporting requirements will be appropriate to the scale of funding received. You will need to complete an acquittal report within two months of the Project ending.
What about COVID-19?
Successful applicants will be kept up to date with the Season’s COVID-19 response, working within the relevant Federal and State Government travel and health guidelines. Companies and organisations are responsible for their own COVID-19 planning and risk management.