Arts Council NI: Local Government Challenge Fund
Overview
The Arts Council is making £1.5m available within this Fund which is open to the 10 council areas outside Belfast. The Arts Council will match each council’s contribution, up to a maximum of £150,000.
Each council area is working to different timescales within an overall deadline of delivering community plans by April l2017. To facilitate this, Councils may submit their application at any point up to 31 March 2017. Applications will be considered by the Arts Council within a maximum turnaround period of 3 months.
Please note that the Arts Council funds cannot be used for any contracts entered into before it makes its decision.
Applications must be discussed with an officer of the Arts Council prior to submission.
Under this programme the Council wishes to support programmes which:
- Evidence a strategic approach to arts delivery in the area;
- Strengthen and underpin local measures;
- Build on existing activity;
- Are grounded within the themes of the area’s community plans
Projects will be assessed on their:
- Relevance of application to local community plans and emerging themes
- Artistic Quality
- Public/Community Benefit
It is anticipated that delivery of the programme will normally take place over a 12-month period. However, they can consider a longer-term programme of activity subject to agreement in advance of submitting the application.