Scottish Arts Council Flexible Application Process

Scottish Arts Council,
30 April 2008, Scotland

The Scottish Arts Council has published the outcomes of its recent application process for flexible funding for 2009-2011.

‘Flexible’ funding was introduced in 2006 as a consequence of the Scottish Arts Council’s strategic review and it is designed to make room for innovation, growth and development within the sector, by supporting:

  • the development and presentation of programmes of activity that are artistically driven
  • the development and presentation of programmes that aim to maximise audience attendance
  • arts organisations which have a strategic role in the development of a key policy area or serve a particular community of interest

More than 100 applications for flexible funding were received, seeking total support of £15 million pounds.  Sixty-three organisations were successful and £6.9 million has been awarded by the Joint Board of Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen for two years beginning in April 2009.

The standard of applications was high overall and demonstrated that many organisations are ambitious to create new work or to work in innovative ways. Jim Tough, Acting Chief Executive, Scottish Arts Council, commenting on the conclusion of the application process said:

‘This flexible settlement will allow artistic leadership to flourish and meets our original aim of responding to innovation, growth and new developments within the sector. 

‘The opportunity offered by this extensive and complex process to take a national and common sense approach to significant areas of work, such as Scots and the voluntary sector, I believe will serve us well into the future.’

The criteria applying to organisations applying for flexible funding were:

  • excellent artistic vision and leadership, demonstrated in your activity or your role in relation to supporting artists and art organisations to fulfil their creative and business potential;
  • a commitment to continually improving your engagement with the public in your programming, education and marketing, or in your role in supporting artists and arts organisations to do this;
  • good practice in the governance and management of your organisation, including your financial management;
  • the practical implementation of your equal opportunities policy and your plans for widening access to ensure inclusion in all your services, employment and artistic programme;
  • sources of income from other partners to support your programme as we will not fund the whole cost: at least 25% of the total cost must be from sources other than the Scottish Arts Council, or from your own resources and at least 10% of the total cost must be in cash.

http://www.scottisharts.org.uk/1/latestnews/1005439.aspx