Arts Council NI: Rural Engagement Arts Programme

Overview

Background

The primary theme of REAP is combatting isolation and loneliness, promoting social inclusion and to improve equality of access and opportunity to arts provision across all Section 75 groups, encouraging greater participation in the arts within all communities.

There are a number of ways to differentiate between loneliness and social isolation:

• Loneliness can affect any age group; it is the subjective, unpleasant and distressing phenomenon stemming from a difference between an individual’s desired and achieved level of social relationships.
• Social isolation is a forced isolation from normal social networks caused by loss of mobility or deteriorating health.

Participating in the arts, and coming together as communities, can make a vital contribution to improving health and wellbeing, building confidence, and integrating communities. The Arts Council has worked with local authority community development and arts officers to ensure that information on REAP is available and that this public funding is as widely distributed as possible.

About the programme

Groups can apply for one-off projects or for a programme of events. Projects do not have to be new - existing, successful programmes which meet the strategic themes of REAP, are also eligible for support.

While engagement must be targeted at rural communities as defined here, Local Authorities and other groups based in urban areas may apply to fund programmes delivered in rural communities. The definition of rural is outlined in Appendix 1 at the end of the guidance notes, page 14, and is taken from the NISRA review of statistical classification and delineation of settlements in March 2015 (opens in a new tab)

Strategic Themes of the Programme 

Projects should demonstrate how they would target participants from rural areas and must meet one or more of the following strategic themes:

• Isolation and Loneliness
  • Providing opportunities for social interaction through the arts.
  • Working with communities to combat feelings of isolation and loneliness.
• And/or Social Inclusion
  • Combating social exclusion through the arts by promoting inclusion and sharing.
  • Improve equality of access and opportunity to arts provision across all Section 75 groups.
  • Working to create a more peaceful, fair, and inclusive community that does not discriminate against anyone.
  • Provide opportunities to participate in activities which may help improve physical, mental, and social wellbeing

Who can apply?

They welcome applications from the widest possible range of organisations. You will be required to provide proof that you have a legal constitution.

• Registered charities and other organisations which cannot distribute profits
• Groups of organisations working together to deliver specific projects
• Formally constituted parent-teacher associations
• Local Authorities
• Arts Organisations
• Organisations based in Republic of Ireland or based outside the UK and Northern Ireland, may be eligible to apply however, any proposed project must benefit people living in rural communities within Northern Ireland.
• Organisations currently in receipt of Arts Council grant funding (Annual Funding or National Lottery Project Funding) can apply providing they demonstrate that project costs are additional to any programme and administrative costs already funded under other grants.
• In exceptional circumstances, organisations based in Belfast who are partnering with other organisations to deliver REAP projects in rural areas may be eligible to apply.
• Groups who are partnership organisations in another REAP application. That is, if your organisation is a named partner in a consortium application to the programme, you can submit a second application in your own name, provided that the programme and activities are completely distinct from the consortium application you are named in, and that there are other partners.

Partnerships/consortiums

Applications from single organisations are permissible but must demonstrate partnership working. Consortium applications demonstrating partnership working will be prioritised. Partnerships might include sector providers such as rural development organisations, older people’s providers and agencies, arts organisations, or Local Authorities. See the Arts Council’s REAP Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for examples of good partnership working.

For partnership/consortium applications, a single organisation must be the lead applicant, that is, the group in whose name the application is submitted, to whom the grant will be awarded and who will be accountable for delivering the project and reporting on it to ACNI. You must clearly identify in the application form the organisation(s) you are partnering with and have a signed letter of agreement form them, see the Guidance Notes for further information.

Funding Level & Notes

The maximum award available is £10,000

You can apply for an award between £500 and £10,000 for a project. Projects can last up to 1 year duration and can take place on any dates between 1 December 2025 and 30 November 2026.

You can apply for the following eligible costs, which are indicative and not limited to:

• Costs of artists and tutors (including fees, accommodation and travel). Also, if you are applying for artists and/or tutor costs, you must supply the relevant CVs, biography, or history of artistic practice information.
• Transport costs, including vehicle hire (for example this could be to transport participants to courses/activities)
• Existing programmes which meet the criteria of the scheme are eligible – but only for activity which will not begin prior to issue of funding decision letters
• Previous recipients of REAP funding for either new or continuing projects. If your application is to continue an already existing REAP project you should clearly set out how you hope to develop the project and the enhanced objectives, you wish to achieve through continuation.
• Materials
• Attendance at a show or art exhibition for project participants
• Travel expenses within Northern Ireland – please note the Arts Council has a maximum allowance of 25.7p per mile. If applicants are partnering with organisations in border communities and the project would necessitate travel across the border, this additional travel is eligible within reason
• Equipment hire
• Volunteer expenses
• Accessibility costs - these are costs associated with the delivery of a project for people with particular needs as defined under Section 75 of The Northern Ireland Act 1998, e.g. sign language interpretation, Braille paperwork, transport costs, carer costs.
• Venue hire for workshops, training, rehearsals and performance
• Publicity and marketing costs
• Evaluation costs
• Participation, education and outreach work in film and media
• Equipment costs to a maximum value of 50% of your requested amount
• Equipment items will only be considered if identified as essential within your project and where it is vital for its successful delivery. Arts Council will not fund equipment only projects. Contributions towards laptops or PCs will be up to a maximum of £1,200; and, towards tablets, up to £500

Notes

The Arts Council aims to support all art forms under REAP the list below is illustrative only. If you are unsure if your art form is included, please ask.

• Drama
• Dance
• Visual arts inc. photography and crafts
• Literature inc. prose, poetry
• Music and Traditional Arts
• Participatory Arts includes Community (including Social Inclusion), Arts & Disability, Minority Ethnic Arts, Circus, Carnival, Arts & Health, and Youth Arts

You can hold only one Rural Engagement Arts Programme award at a time. An award is not finished until they receive your End of Project Report. You will not be eligible to apply for another REAP award where a previous award, if applicable, has not been completed.

In addition, groups who are named partnership organisations in other REAP applications may not submit a second application in their own name to the same funding round of the programme

Mandatory Enclosures:

• Constitution and/or Memorandum and Articles of Association - if this document is already available on the Government Funding Database, you do not have to upload it with your application.
• Detailed Income and Expenditure budget for your project - where possible, all costs above £1,000 should be broken down.
• CVs of proposed artists/tutors etc. to be involved in your proposal.
• A copy of the template partners letter signed by each partner named in your application. (See Resources below).