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 with funding from Creative Scotland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and Argyll and Bute Council. Its purpose is to support craftworkers and makers 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 maker’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:

• Travel and subsistence costs to attend a major conference or symposium or to visit galleries or fairs with a view to future exhibitions of your work
• Training costs related to extending your practice (eg into a new medium or technique)
• Costs of preparing for an exhibition (eg framing, packing, etc)
• Research and development costs for a new project

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 are encouraged to contact Pamela Conacher to discuss their project prior to making their 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?

Makers 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 Visual Artists who would normally apply to the Visual Arts Department of Creative Scotland: they should apply to the HI~Arts Visual Artists Awards scheme.

We are principally concerned with contemporary creative work conceived, designed and made by individual practitioners in ceramics, furniture and wood, glass, jewellery and metalwork, lettering, musical instruments, textiles and basketmaking. Our remit does not extend to conservation or restoration.

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
• the quality of your work
• the extent to which your proposal will benefit your professional practice

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

• how the proposal will make a significant difference to your work
  Decisions will be based entirely on the quality of the applicant’s work, and the benefits which will accrue from the proposed project.

Decisions will be based entirely on the quality of the applicant’s work, and the benefits which will accrue from the proposed project.

Exclusions to eligibility

• Funding cannot be given towards the costs of undertaking major courses of study (ie 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 (eg production of posters, brochures, promotional websites, etc).
• Applications will not be considered for projects already started, or planned to start before a decision on funding can be made
• Applications cannot be made simultaneously to this scheme, and to Creative Scotland’s Creative Development Awards, 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 Professional Development Awards.
• 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. Please note, that if successful, applicants can only receive a maximum of three awards in any five year period. They are however eligible to apply to other Creative Scotland schemes during this period, but only for a different project.
• 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 Craft Development Coordinator 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 maker 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 procedure is available from the officer contacts 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, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Creative Scotland or (if relevant) Argyll and Bute Council through the media or other means.

Officer contact:

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

Laura Martin
HI~Arts
Fourth Floor
Ballantyne House
84 Academy Street
Inverness
IV1 1LU
Tel: 01463 717091

e-mail: laura@hi-arts.co.uk
website: www.hi-arts.co.uk
enquiries: craft@hi-arts.co.uk

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

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

---

The Cultural Enterprise Office has produced the following factsheets which may also be of interest:

Making Applications And Proposals Factsheet 

This factsheet gives practical advice to assist you in making effective applications and proposals. It provides useful tips in the following sections: initial research, what to include, final checklists, further reading and useful web links.

and

Funding Sources Factsheet

This factsheet aims to highlight key sources of funding available to support any self-employed person or business working in the visual arts sector in Scotland. The funds listed include those to support professional development, business start-up, as well as activities such as skills training.