Six weeks now since we applied for ACE funding….five weeks since they acknowledged receipt.
We know that they were never going to fund an overseas project – that is just their policy. Our application was for funding that would enable us to develop a long term collaborative plan in the UK, that would be in response to the Stockholm project.
Private sponsorship and money collected from the artists, has paid for the flights for two artists, transport of work and exhibition costs.
Two other artists are going ahead of us – both self funded. One, a performance artist, will be ‘settee surfing’ and camping his way to Sweden (!) before performing on the press night ( something we’ve had to book in advance)
Although all this is doable, it’s such a shame that it has to be done ‘on the cheap’. Without extra funding, this trip could possibly be just a ‘one off’, and we will have to rethink our long term plans.
Come on Arts Council………….
Sponsorship money…. we’ve been given some! Yeah – crack open the bubbly !! …well, maybe not go that far, but it would be nice to at least acknowledge having a little success.
Now I’m wondering if I hadn’t written the thousands of words ACE asked me for on the application form, they would have finished reading it by now. When are they going to tell us the outcome??
If anyone has the time… look up the sponsors on the Supermarket website and please let me know if you see a UK backer or sponsor!!
http://www.supermarketartfair.com/content/press-room-2012
Nah… I didn’t think so!
‘The Arts Council should encourage arts organisations to build on their core audiences, but should not put pressure on them to relentlessly pursue those who are not interested in the arts.’
Taken from one of the many excellent blogs from our partners in crime, Basement Arts Projects in Leeds.
http://southleedslife.wordpress.com/2012/01/09/do-we-get-the-culture-we-deserve-in-south-leeds/
Publicity – why is it so important to give quotes? I spent a lot of time and effort yesterday writing press releases , only to get a reply from a local newspaper of ‘Can you send some quotes on what an exciting opportunity this is …and why?’.
Don’t get me wrong, I am hugely grateful for any publicity we may get, but feel that these cheesy type quotes may make us seem a little less ‘serious’.
I suppose if the ultimate aim is to attract sponsors… then we do what we are asked to do and grin and bare it!
Grants are free money that is awarded to someone to fund a particular endeavour or project. There is no shortage of free money being awarded if you know where to look.
I found that in an article while searching for other funding sources : http://www.ehow.co.uk/list_6700324_travel-grants-artists.html
They do make it sound so easy don’t they?
I, in the meantime, have been continuing to write what really amounts to ‘begging letters’. We’ve had some promising feedback, but it really is an energy draining task.
This afternoon, I’m going to write to some local newspapers to see if they will help.
There has been a lot to do in the last few weeks, so as we’ve been chasing up various funding bodies…or getting our artists to supply images of their work ( now – why is that so difficult??) ..writing proposals for future exhibitions, doing art work ..all while holding down full time jobs…. writing the a-n blog has sort of slipped.
I really will try to update more often.
