2012 London Cultural Skills Fund
Date: 17 October 2008
The 2012 London Cultural Skills fund has been developed to help ensure that many more people can develop and gain skills in the arts and creative sectors. It is aimed at small organisations and community groups who want to contribute to the range of cultural activities taking place during the Cultural Olympiad.
The Cultural Olympiad is the four year period to the beginning of London 2012 Games during which there will be a series of cultural events and activities taking place.
While we expect projects applying to this fund to reflect the values of the Cultural Olympiad, confirmed recognition or branding is not a requirement.
Purpose of the Fund
The purpose of the fund is to support strong community-based skills, training and employment support projects, so we’re keen to receive applications from local third sector organisations particularly minority-led organisations. We are seeking projects that will work with groups who are not usually involved in arts or cultural projects to explore the different cultures that exist in London.
The aims are to fund:
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Projects which provide specific skills training (which does not need to be accredited) to enable beneficiaries to meet identified skills shortages in the creative and cultural industries. Applicants will be required to evidence this demand within any full application; and/or
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Initiatives supporting beneficiaries' transition to cultural and creative employment and career development for emerging cultural practitioners through showcasing and exhibition opportunities; and/or
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Activities which encourage active learning and participation in arts and cultural events, which are taking place across the capital in the run up to the Olympic and Paralympic Games; and/or
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Projects that increase the reach of services either geographically or in order to improve access in the target groups.
We also want to fund projects that involve local people in their design and implementation.
Who can apply?
You can apply to the 2012 London Cultural Skills Fund if you can respond positively to all of the following statements:
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You are a local authority or third sector organisation. Third sector organisation include charities, credit union, self-help groups, social and community enterprises and community based co-operatives
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Your organisation is not-for-financial-profit, i.e. an organisation that does not share profits to members or shareholders
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You have been operating for more than two years and have audited accounts for this period or longer
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Your project has the support and engagement of local communities
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You can monitor the progress and contribution of your project to beneficiaries, both during the activity and after six months
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Your project will promote diversity and community cohesion by providing inclusive services, and engaging people from a variety of backgrounds
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You require funding between £25,000 and £50,000
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All project beneficiaries must live in London
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Your proposed activity will take place before 31 March 2010 (although we expect a six month, post-event follow up with beneficiaries which may take place up to 30 September 2010)
How to apply
There are four steps to the application process:
Step 1. Pre-qualification check
All applicants must register on the CompeteFor website.
By completing the questionnaire on the website, your organisation and project will automatically be assessed for qualification to make a full application. Only eligible organisations and projects will be invited to submit a full application.
Step 2. Eligibility check
All full applications received by Arts Council England (ACE) will first be checked to ensure that all sections of the form have been correctly completed, all of the eligibility criteria has been met, all required evidence has been sent, two hard copies of the bid have been duly signed and an electronic version on CD has been enclosed.
Failure to meet any of the criteria will mean that your project will not be eligible and will not progress further. The background information on your organisation will be sent to the LDA for checking.
Organisations that do not pass our checks will be considered ineligible for funding and will be notified in writing.
Step 3. Scored assessment
ACE will take all full applications through a scored assessment, using a scoring framework incorporating the following criteria:
a. Project
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Appropriateness of project proposal
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The fit of the aims of the fund and the objectives of the Cultural Olympiad
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Evidence of demand/need
b. Project Management and Budget
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Management arrangements and capacity, including track record of delivery organisation
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Accuracy and appropriateness of project budget
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Identification of risk and exit strategy
c. Equalities and Beneficiaries
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Appropriateness of target beneficiaries
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Consideration of accessibility
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Potential for longer term impact on beneficiaries
d. Recruitment and Communications
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Relevance of recruitment methods to targeted beneficiaries
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Effectiveness of approach to project publicity
e. Monitoring and Evaluation
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Implementation of monitoring requirements
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The assessors use their expertise and judgement and the evidence in your application to determine a score for each criteria. Once scored, all projects will be passed on for moderation
The assessment will then be subject to appraisal by the 2012 London Cultural Skills Fund Moderation Panel. This scrutiny ensures an objective appraisal of the strategic value of the package of projects recommended for approval, the value for money this represents and a reality test of the proposed activity. The panel members will comprise:
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Head of Combined Arts, ACE
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Head of Resource Development, ACE
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Head of Diversity, ACE
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Head of Finance & Business Analysis, ACE
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2 x 2012 London Cultural Skills Fund grants officers, ACE
Timeline
The funding will be made available in three competitive rounds. Please click here to view the timetable.
Times and dates given may be subject to change with all activities to be completed by 31 March 2010.
The application pack is available in large print, Braille, audio and on BSL DVD. Please contact ACE for any of these formats as soon you have completed your Compete For registration, so they can get this to you in accordance with the timetables above.
Further enquiries
All queries relating to this fund should, in the first instance, be directed to the Cultural Skills Fund grants officer who is based at ACE, London.
Phone: 0845 300 6200
Email: 2012LondonCulturalSkillsFund@artscouncil.org.uk
Fax: 020 7608 4100
Textphone: 020 7973 6564
