Applications open on Monday 17 April 2023
Applications close on Sunday 28 May 2023 at 11:59pm ACST
For activity occurring between 1 July 2023 and 31 December 2023
1. PURPOSE OF CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT FUNDING
The purpose of the Creative Development Grants is to provide graduates and final year students with the means to continue or expand their career development and creative practice.
Our Creative Development Grants support eligible emerging creatives with grants of up to $3,000 to kickstart new projects, research and develop ideas or new works or build skills, markets and creative practices.
Funding is designed to support projects over six-months, and can include:
- The creation or realisation of new work
- Research and development of new ideas
- Developing new skills
- A creative or business mentorship
- Professional development programs
2. WHO CAN APPLY?
Applications are invited from final year students and graduates (up to five years following final year of study*) from an eligible program at one of Helpmann Academy’s partner institutions.
Click here for our eligibility information, including a complete list of eligible programs.
*Final year of study means the final year you participated in study at your institution, not the year in which you participated in your graduation ceremony, or the year you received your qualification parchment. You must be within five years from your final year of study.
If you are unsure, please contact the Helpmann Academy at info@helpmannacademy.com.au before you commence your application.
3. EXCLUSIONS
- Funding is not provided for any support directly related to final year students’ course requirements, including any graduation activities, or for any activity taking place prior to the end of their final year of study.
- Funding will not be granted for projects embedded within educational programs and coursework or to facilitate study for higher qualifications such as Honours, Masters or PhD level.
- Funding is not provided for projects already started or completed (i.e., there is no retrospective funding).
- Funding cannot be used for purchases or expenses that have occurred prior to the return of your signed funding agreement. Any purchases or expenses that occur prior to the return of your funding agreement will not be reimbursed.
- Funding is not provided for opening night catering.
- Funding for equipment, musical instruments, and supplies will only be provided for specific project-based hire (not purchase).
- If your application seeks funding for materials, you must seek approval from Helpmann Academy before submitting your application and include a copy of your correspondence with Helpmann in the project confirmation section of the application form.
- Applicants who are ineligible to complete their academic qualifications.
- Single subject students.
4. FUNDS AVAILABLE
- A maximum of $3,000 will be allocated per application.
- The panel reserves the right to award an alternative amount to the sum requested.
- All funding decisions are final.
5. CONDITIONS OF AWARD
Applicants must not have any outstanding acquittals with the Helpmann Academy.
Any changes to the submitted budget or timeframe must be approved by the Helpmann Academy before proceeding. Failure to gain approval for budget changes may result in funds needing to be returned to the Helpmann Academy.
Acknowledgement of the Helpmann Academy must be included in any publicity, signage or other distributed material relating to the project for which the grant is awarded. This includes logo placement on any and all promotional material including print, digital and social media materials and verbal acknowledgement of the Helpmann Academy at any openings, launches etc.
Examples of these materials must be included with the Grant Acquittal report. Grant recipients will be provided with the Helpmann Academy logo suite for this use.
A Grant Acquittal must be provided within six-weeks of the completion of the project.
The Grant Acquittal report must include:
- Responses to the required questions.
- Details of any major diversions from the activities outlined in the original proposal.
- A full financial report, relating back to the original budget, including a full itemisation of all expenditure, and income if applicable.
- Receipts must be provided for any expenses over $50.00.
- Examples of print materials and/or photographs.
6. COMPLETING YOUR APPLICATION
Before starting your application, make sure you have fully read and understood the information provided.
If you are unsure of the eligibility of your project, please check with the Helpmann Academy before commencing your application.
Start getting your support material (in particular, letters of endorsement) organised as soon as you commence your application.
You may only submit one application per round.
If you have an overdue acquittal, you will not be eligible to apply.
All applications must be submitted via the Helpmann Academy website.
A copy of your application will be emailed to you, please keep this for your records.
The application form will consist of the following questions and requirements:
- Information to be provided
- Applicant information (name, address etc).
- Qualification/Study Information (year commenced/completed study).
Questions
- A detailed description of the project (what do you plan to do). Include in this section details about any collaborators, their role in your project and your reasons for working with them. Maximum 500 words.
- Project outcomes: What will the outcomes be from undertaking your project – how will the project contribute to your career development (Why me? Why this? Why now?) Maximum 1,000 words.
Required Support Material
You will be required to provide the following support material:
- Project timeline.
- Artist CV(s) (maximum two pages each).
- Scans of official academic transcripts.
- Confirmations of your project (e.g., gallery bookings, acceptance into study programs etc).
- Project confirmations may include:
- Written confirmation of venue bookings
- Written confirmation of offers for travel/study/placements interstate or overseas
- Written offers of exhibition or invitation to participate in performance
- All applications must include a written statement (maximum one page letter) endorsing the applicant and the proposed project, with specific reference to this grant application.
- The endorsement letter can be from a current or previous lecturer or head of school (provided on letterhead), or an industry leader. Endorsements must be included with your submission by the deadline, not sent directly from the endorser.
- Project Budget (click here for a budget example).
- Please provide an itemised budget for the whole project, including both income and expenditure.
- Include both cash and in-kind income and its source, including any other pending grant applications from other sources.
- Indicate whether income is already secured or is pending confirmation and provide written confirmation of secured income if possible.
- If you plan to earn income in any way from the project (for example by charging workshop fees, other participatory fees, income from ticket sales, artwork etc) this projected income must be listed in your application.
- Calculations for these income streams must be clearly indicated (note that it is unrealistic to budget for box office income based on 100% of the venue capacity).
- All anticipated cash expenditure and income required to stage your project must be itemised within the budget. Include an indication of where the Helpmann Academy funds you are applying for are to be spent.
- You should provide support material for your budget such as quotes etc.
- The income and expenditure must break even (i.e. it cannot show a profit).
Optional Support Material
In addition to the required documents, you can also provide any additional support material you feel may benefit your application. This may include:
- Images or showreels
- Media coverage
- Additional support letters
The Helpmann Academy is happy to look at applications and budgets before you submit your final application. Draft applications must be sent as a Word document to info@helpmannacademy.com.au by Sunday 14 May 2023. If you have any problems submitting your application, please contact Helpmann Academy at info@helpmannacademy.com.au or call (08) 7089 0720.
7. ASSESSMENT PROCESS
The Creative Development Grants are assessed by a panel comprising of invited members of staff of the Helpmann Academy partner institutions, the Helpmann Academy CEO and an independent arts practitioner.
You will be notified of the outcome within one week of the assessment date.
Please direct all enquiries about your grant application and requests for feedback to the Helpmann Academy.
Applications will be assessed on the following criteria:
- The potential of the activity to contribute to and progress the applicant’s creative practice.
- The budget is viable and realistic. In addition to the Creative Development Grant request, the applicant has sought support from other sources.
- The inclusion of a viable timeline indicating the level of planning required to undertake the proposed activity.
- The capacity and merit of the applicant(s), based on the support material and other information provided.
- The panel reserves the right to award an alternative amount to the sum requested. All funding decisions are final.
8. TALK TO US
You are encouraged to make an appointment with the Helpmann Academy to discuss your application and learn more about how we can support your career development. This will provide the opportunity to discuss your plans and how you might be able to refine your proposed program and application.
Please contact us at info@helpmannacademy.com.au or call (08) 7089 0720.