HI~Arts is pleased to announce that it has secured funding from Creative Scotland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Argyll and Bute Council, to continue its programme of Creative and Professional Awards for Visual Artists and Makers.

There have however been a number of changes to the scheme for 2010/11, so please check the guidelines before making an application. In particular, please note that there are now two-monthly deadlines for applications, and that artists and makers in both the Western Isles and Shetland Islands Council areas should apply to their own versions of these schemes.

Purpose of Fund

This fund has been established by HI~Arts with funding from Creative Scotland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Argyll and Bute Council. Its purpose is to support visual artists based in the Highlands and Islands (defined as the Highland, Moray, Argyll and Bute and Orkney Council areas: Western Isles Council and Shetland Arts have their own versions of this scheme ) by helping to meet the costs of a range of activities which can assist the development of an individual artist’s creative and professional practice.
 

Scope of Fund

Grants of up to £500, and in exceptional circumstances up to £1,500, are available to support initiatives which will assist you to develop and extend your own creative and professional practice. This may include:

• To attend a major conference or symposium or to visit galleries with a view to future exhibitions of your work
• To undertake training to extending your practice (eg into a new medium)
• Costs of preparing for an exhibition or other project (eg framing, packing, transport, etc)
• Research and development for a new project (eg exploring a possible site-specific installation)

This is not an exclusive list. If you are unsure if your project may be eligible, please consult HI~Arts before submitting your application.

Applicants should request the appropriate funds required for their project and will not automatically be awarded the maximum grant available. HI~Arts reserves the right to offer an amount different from that requested. Successful applicants will be invited to discuss the outcome on completion of their project.

Who is eligible?

Visual artists who have been resident in the Highlands and Islands (Highland, Moray, Argyll and Bute and Orkney Council areas) for at least 12 months prior to the date of application to the Fund. This scheme is not open to craftworkers who would normally apply to the Crafts Department of Creative Scotland, and who can apply to the HI~Arts Makers’ Awards Scheme. It is, however, open to visual artists who use film, video or other new media in their practice.

The scheme is additionally open to those who are wishing to develop their Curatorial Practice rather than their artistic practice (eg presenting work by a range of artists in a temporary venue).

Criteria for decision making

• the extent to which your proposal meets the scope and purpose of the fund
• the relationship of your proposal to your own work as an artist or curator
• the quality of your work
• the extent to which your proposal will benefit your personal creative and professional practice

And, for applications over £500 and up to £1,500:

• how the proposal will make a significant difference to your work as an artist or curator

Exclusions to eligibility

• Funding cannot be given towards the costs of undertaking major courses of study (i.e. lasting 6 months or more), whether part-time or full-time
• Funding is not available, for any purpose, if you are currently undertaking a full-time course of study
• Funding is not available for marketing costs (e.g. production of posters, brochures, promotional websites, etc). Production of a website or printed material may be eligible where they form an integral part of an art project.
• Applications will not be considered for projects already started, or planned to start before the relevant application deadline
• Applications cannot be made simultaneously to this scheme, and to Creative Scotland’s Creative Development Awards schemes, for the same project. It is however possible to apply subsequently to this scheme for a project which has been the subject of an unsuccessful application to the Creative Scotland scheme.
• Successful applicants cannot reapply for an additional award from this scheme for a period of not less than one year from receipt of the award. . They are however eligible to apply to other Creative Scotland schemes during this period, but only for a different project. Please note, that if successful, applicants can only receive a maximum of three bursaries in any five year period
• This scheme cannot be used to gain additional funds for any project which has already received funding from Creative Scotland or Highlands and Islands Enterprise. That is, this scheme cannot be used to ‘top up’ grants already received from these agencies.

How to submit a proposal

Applications should be made to HI~Arts using the appropriate online application form. The form should be accompanied by supporting visual material, all clearly labelled and accompanied by an itemised list. As applications are assessed by a ‘virtual’ panel, all material should normally be submitted electronically. Please indicate on the application form if you need to submit supporting material in a physical form (eg catalogue or DVD).

All physically submitted visual material will be returned. Please note that HI~Arts and Creative Scotland cannot accept responsibility for damage or loss of submitted material.

When to apply

There will be a series of two-monthly deadlines throughout 2010/11, as follows:

1st September 2010 - 5pm deadline

1st November 2010 - 5pm deadline 

10th January 2011- 5pm deadline

1st March 2011- 5pm deadline

1st May 2011- 5pm deadline

Applications should not be submitted less than four weeks before the start of any specific project or event. The budget for the scheme is however fixed for the year, and applications submitted towards the end of the year may not be able to be funded

Your application will be acknowledged on receipt by HI~Arts. Applications will then be considered within two weeks of the deadline by a Panel consisting of the Director of HI~Arts, and three independent members. You will be informed of the decision by HI~Arts within three weeks of the relevant deadline.

Equal Opportunities

This scheme is open to any artist based within the catchment area, regardless of race, colour, gender, disability, or sexual orientation. Decisions will be based entirely on the quality of the applicant’s work, and the benefits which will accrue from the proposed project.

Appeals

You can appeal against a funding decision only if there was additional information which existed but was not made available at the time the grant was considered, which would have materially altered the decision, or if the applicant considers there has been malpractice. Information on HI~Arts’ appeals procedures is available from the officer contact given below.

Publicity

You should note that it is Creative Scotland’s policy to publicise the award of grants. All grants may be announced by either HI~Arts or Creative Scotland (or, if relevant, Argyll and Bute Council) through the media or other means.

Officer contact:

Applications should be submitted to Laura Martin, Funding Schemes Manager, HI~Arts, at the laura@hi-arts.co.uk, and any supporting material should be sent to Laura Martin at the address below, and marked ‘visual arts awards’. Information on the scheme, and on other Creative Scotland funding for visual artists, is available from Creative Scotland at 12 Manor Place, Edinburgh EH3 7DD Tel: 0330 333 2000.

Laura Martin
HI~Arts
Fourth Floor
Ballantyne House
84 Academy Street
Inverness
IV1 1LU
Tel: 01463 717091
Fax: 01463 720895
e-mail: laura@hi-arts.co.uk
Website: www.hi-arts.co.uk

HI~Arts operates a formal policy on conflicts of interest, downloadable on this page.

This scheme is funded by the Creative Scotland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise Argyll and Bute Council and administered by HI~Arts.