Grant Aid
GRANT-AID POLICY FOR ARTS AND CULTURE
This policy should be read in conjunction with the general grant-aid policy and guidelines of Omagh District Council.
1. Introduction
Omagh District Council acknowledges and values the quality and quantity of work which is being done within its district in the fields of arts and culture, by voluntary organisations and individuals. The Council recognises that this work makes a valuable contribution to the enrichment of communal and individual life within the area and makes a major contribution to the promotion of a very positive image of the area to the outside world. Omagh District Council wishes to support and help develop this work and to this end the grant aid policy detailed herein has been developed.
2. Openness
Omagh District Council will consider applications for grant-aid from bona fide organisations and individuals engaged in arts and cultural development activities within the Council area.
3. Equality
Each application will be considered on merit, regardless of the race, religion, political affiliation, gender, age or sexual orientation of the applicant/s. The Council will also strive to achieve an urban/rural balance in the allocation of financial support.
4. Retrospection
No application will be considered retrospectively. That is to say no application will be considered after the activities to which it relates have taken place.
5. Other Funding Sources
In considering applications for grant aid, Omagh District Council will take account of whether or not grant-aid would be available for the proposed activity from any other source. Where such a grant is available the Council will not award a grant until or unless the other source has been explored and exhausted. Council will seek to maximise financial support for the arts and cultural sector from other sources and will within reason offer support to organisations and individuals to achieve external support.
6. Eligibility and Exclusions
Grant-aid will be considered for the following activities:
- The staging of arts/cultural events in Omagh District Council area.
- Groups/Individuals from Omagh District Council area participating in a representative event/competition outside the Council area.
- Attendance at short relevant training courses likely to enhance the skills base of those working in the field of arts/culture in Omagh District Council area.
- The purchase of items of equipment necessary for the work of groups involved in arts/cultural development in the Council area. Items of personal equipment will not be considered for grant aid nor will grant aid for the purchase of equipment be considered for individuals.
- The cost of professional fees for coaching/training courses for groups/individuals involved in arts/cultural development in the Council will be eligible for grant-aid.
- An establishment grant will be available to assist in the formation of new arts/cultural organisations within the Council area. Where the work proposed by the new organisation is already being carried out by an existing group no establishment grant will be considered.
- The day to day running costs of an organisation such as, the costs of telephones, heating lighting and insurance will not be eligible for consideration for grant-aid.
7. Application Form
No application for grant-aid will be considered unless the official grant-aid form has been completed and signed. In the cases of organisations, the form should be signed by any two of the following Officers: Chairman; Secretary; Treasurer.
8. Criteria
The criteria against which the Council will consider applications for grants for arts/cultural purposes are:
- The extent to which the proposal will promote or realise the objectives of Omagh District Council in relation to arts and cultural development.
- The financial rigor and sustainability of the proposals.
- The extent to which the applicant/s are able to lever funding from other sources.
- The extent to which the proposals promote social inclusion.
- The extent to which the proposals promote community relations.
- The extent to which the proposals are consistent with the events strategy for the area.
- The artistic/cultural content of the proposals.
- The skills development potential of the proposals.
- The potential of the proposals to promote community development.
- The potential of the proposals to promote economic activity.
- The environmental impact of the proposals. (where appropriate).
- The potential of the proposals to promote social and ethnic integration.
9. Levels of Support
The levels and type of support available are detailed below:
- The maximum level of support available for any one event, programme or project will be £500. The Council will require verification of costs in the form of a final statement of income and expenditure in respect of the project/event prior to the grant being paid.
- The maximum level of support available to any single individual/organisation in any one financial year will be £500. Where an organisation receives grant towards the costs of an annual programme, it will be necessary to provide the Council with an audited set of accounts for the year in question prior to the grant being paid.
- The maximum level of support for the purchase of equipment will be 50% of the cost of the purchase. A ceiling of £500 will be applied. In the case of equipment, three valid quotations from bona fide suppliers, must be supplied in advance of purchase and a valid receipt must be furnished, subsequent to purchase for the grant to be paid.
- In respect of the publication of books/local histories, support will be available in the form of a commitment to buy copies of the publication. Applications for this type of support must be made in advance of publication and it should be demonstrated that the publication would not happen without the support of Council. The maximum value of guaranteed purchase by Council will be £500.
- In respect of feiseanna there will be two levels of grant-aid available. The first will apply to major events such as The West Tyrone Feis and Major Provincial and National Championships. The maximum level of support for such events will be £500. In the cases of small local feiseanna the maximum level of support will be £150.
10. Application Process
Advertisements will be placed in local papers in September and March of each year inviting applications for grant-aid. Applications must be made on the official application form. No applications will be accepted outside of the two tranches indicated above. Each application will be assessed and scored on a matrix based on the criteria above. The outcomes of the assessments will be presented to Council with recommendations. The outcome will be notified to applicants after the Council has made final decisions.
