We can fund projects up to 100% but you are encouraged to think about any partnerships that would support your project/activity before applying as they might help you to demonstrate resource and demand for the project. Partners and collaborators may not be able to provide cash support but they may be able to provide in-kind support such as mentoring in specific areas, reaching broader audiences, access to spaces or equipment, or skills training.
Work that involves public presentation is usually supported by a framework of partnership working, that might involve support in kind from organisations, sponsorship by local businesses, a significant investment of time-in-kind from a pool of volunteers, income from other funding sources, ticket sales or donations.
Research and development for creative work is usually supported to a degree by the artists or creative practitioners themselves, especially in the early stages of exploring an idea, with support from public funds coming to support a time-limited section of working and to allow the opportunity for focus as well as the resource to pay for associated research costs unable to be covered elsewhere. It is exceptionally unusual for the full cost of the time needed to take an idea from inception to a finished piece to be covered by public funds, whatever level of experience you have in creating work for print or performance.
Depending on the context of the work, some of your development costs may be supported in part or in full by the infrastructure that may share them in the future, and we would expect to see this reflected in your budget where this type of work is confirmed or expected. For example, an advance against royalties as part of a publishing contract or a fee for a residency. Support in-kind in terms of space to work or stay, mentoring or access to specific research materials or staff time to assist in interpreting them for creative work should also be included in your budget, where relevant.
We would usually expect to see proof of any guaranteed cash income from other sources included with your application, for example a scan of a letter or screenshot of an email confirming sponsorship, other funding, donations achieved through a crowdfunding campaign, of offer of financial support from an organisation, or relevant pages from a contract.
It may also be helpful to include proof of any significant in-kind support that has a material bearing on the quality or likely outcomes of your project, for example in-kind venue or equipment hire, a letter of support from your agent or editor, a letter of support from partner organisations or artists. These help us understand the investment in your project from other sources, whether that is in the form of cash or through other means.