Somerset Council’s Arts Engagement & Outreach Service: Open Grant Programme

Somerset Council’s Arts Engagement & Outreach Service, are inviting applications to our open grant programme. We are seeking independent creatives, non-profit groups and charitable organisations to work in partnership with us to deliver the key aims of our Arts Engagement & Outreach Strategy.

We’re going to do this through three funds:

1. Creative Commissions

2. Creative Ideas Grant

3. Support Grant

The Arts Engagement & Outreach Service based at Octagon Theatre & Westlands Entertainment Venue are distributing these funds on behalf of Somerset Council to support creative and cultural activities in South Somerset that engage and benefit residents and visitors to the area. South Somerset has been designated a priority place by Arts Council England and an area identified as one of the government’s Levelling Up for Culture Places, that aims to bring more cultural experiences to communities that have been underserved in the past.

What are we looking for?
We are looking to support innovative ideas and programmes that reach and engage Somerset residents as participants, audiences and artists.

We want to support ideas, projects and activity that will positively contribute to at least one of the following contextual factors in Somerset:

• Rurality & Rural Isolation
• Deprivation
• Poor Mental Health
• Ageing Population

These contextual factors are embedded in our Arts Engagement & Outreach Strategy. For more information on these significant challenges and to read our strategy click here.

We want to support all forms of creative art whether that’s art & craft, circus, dance, film, music, opera, photography, poetry, puppetry, sculpture, song, storytelling, theatre, or another art form.

Why are we doing this?
We want to invest in local professional creatives, organisations & companies.
We want to nurture ideas that help develop Somerset’s cultural resilience.
We want to make art & culture accessible to Somerset’s residents, where they live.

For more information on our open grant programme and what we are able to fund dowload our guidance here: Somerset Council’s Arts Engagement & Outreach Service: Open Grant Programme

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Our Funding Programmes

There are three funds open to applications over the course of the year as funded by Somerset Council and distributed by the Arts Engagement & Outreach Service. Take a look at our Open Grant Programmes Guidance for more information and eligibility guidance for each grant programme to help you decide which fund is right for you.

1. Creative Commissions

This fund is for independent creatives working in any discipline to develop new ideas that are at an early stage.

One-off grant of up to £500.

Project activity to be delivered within 6-months of awarded grant.

This fund is currently closed. Applications for our Creative Commissions fund will reopen in Autumn 2024.

In the meantime, should you wish to discuss an idea, a potential application or to find out more information about the fund, please contact our Arts Engagement & Outreach Officer, Nick White, nick.white@somerset.gov.uk

2. Creative Ideas Fund

This fund is for independent creatives, community groups, non-profit organisations or charitable companies to deliver creative art projects in South Somerset that will engage and benefit local residents and visitors to the area.

Grants of up to £1,000.

Project activity to be delivered within 12-months of awarded grant.

What is the Creative Ideas Fund for?

• Innovative non-profit creative and cultural projects in South Somerset.
• Creative and cultural projects that engage residents and visitors in artistic activities such as, carnival, circus, combined arts, dance, festival, film, literature, live art, music, opera, painting, photography, poetry, puppetry, sculpture, song, storytelling, theatre, or another art form.
• To support new activity that engages residents and visitors in innovative ways (this can be as part of a reoccurring event e.g. annual festival)
• To support the delivery of the Arts Engagement & Outreach Strategy and positively contribute to positively contribute to at least one of the following contextual factors in Somerset: Rurality & Rural Isolation, Deprivation, Poor Mental Health, Ageing Population.

What support you will receive from us?

• In-kind creative development space at Westlands Entertainment Venue in Yeovil, where needed, subject to availability.
• In-kind bespoke project support.  This may include project development, project management, creative, marketing, fundraising, technical, programming consultation etc., according to the needs of the work.

Applications for our Creative Ideas Fund open on Monday 25 March at 12noon and close on Monday 6th May 2024 at 12noon.

Read our Guidance

Apply for our Creative Ideas Fund

3. Support Grant

A two-year fund for independent creatives, community groups, non-profit companies or charitable organisations working in any cultural or creative discipline to deliver specific long-term activity, larger projects with multiple partners, or for operational costs. You’ll have a business plan or strategy that guides your plans. You will be able to demonstrate clear connections with our own ambitions.

An annual grant of up to £10,000 for two years.

What is the Support Grant for?

• Independent creatives, community groups, non-profit creative and cultural organisations or companies delivering activity in South Somerset.
• Creative and cultural programmes that engage residents and visitors in artistic activities such as, carnival, circus, combined arts, dance, festival, film, literature, live art, music, opera, painting, photography, poetry, puppetry, sculpture, song, storytelling, theatre, or another art form.
• To support the delivery of the Octagon’s Arts Engagement & Outreach Strategy and positively contribute to positively contribute to at least one of the following contextual factors in Somerset: Rurality & Rural Isolation, Deprivation, Poor Mental Health, Ageing Population.

What support you will receive from us?

• Partnership support including in-kind project planning and development with a member of our Arts Engagement & Outreach team.
• In-kind creative development space at Westlands Entertainment Venue, where needed, subject to availability.
• Quarterly progress meeting with a member of our Arts Engagement & Outreach team.

Applications for our Support Grant open on Monday 25 March at 12noon and close on Monday 6th May 2024 at 12noon.

Read our Guidance

Apply for our Support Grant

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Open Grant Programmes

Fund	Applications open	Applications close	Decision
Creative Ideas Grant	25th March 2024	6th May 2024 (Midday)	Mid-late May
Support Grant	25th March 2024	6th May 2024 (Midday)	Mid-late May

 

 

 

 

 

Anyone interested in applying to the Creative Ideas Fund or the Support Grant Fund is invited to attend an Information Session, or to book a 30-minute one-to-one meeting to discuss your application.  These will be held online.

These sessions are not mandatory and will not influence the outcome of your application.  All sessions will be chaired by a member of our Arts Engagement & Outreach team.

Information session #1: Thursday 4 April, 11am-12pm

Information session #2: Monday 15 April, 11am-12pm

30-minute one-to-one sessions: on request

Please contact our Arts Engagement & Outreach Officer, Nick White, to book your space or request a one-to-one discussion on your application. Email: Nick.White@Somerset.gov.uk

Please note the key dates below. We reserve the right to amend all dates as necessary.

Application Process

All applicants must complete our online application form. We recommend all applicants download and read our guidance before applying.

All applicants will also need to provide the following attachments with your application: 

1. An Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Monitoring form (download template)

2. Budget for your project showing income and expenditure and balanced outcome (download template)

3. Recent Accounts

4. A copy of your governing document or constitution.

5. Safeguarding Policy and Procedures

Once you’ve submitted your application you’ll receive an email from us to let you know we’ve received it. We will then assess your application and may contact you with further queries if needed.

 

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Dowloads, Guidance & Templates:

Download the Application Guidance, Budget Template, and Equality Diversity and Inclusion Monitoring form.

Application Guidance: Somerset Council’s Arts Engagement & Outreach Service: Open Grant Programme - Guidance for Applicants

Budget template: Creative Ideas Fund & Support Grant Budget Template

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Monitoring form: Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Monitoring form 

Ready to apply? Links below to our Creative Ideas Fund and Support Grant online application forms.

Creative Ideas Fund Online Application: Apply Here

Support Fund Online Application: Apply Here

Download and read our Arts Engagement & Outreach Strategy (2022-2032): Arts Engagement & Outreach Strategy 

 

Should you require any of the above documentation in another format please contact us.