Artsbridge (October 2021)

The peers considered the overall quality of the applications to the October 2021 round of Artsbridge and made the following comments:

• Applications to Arts Tasmania’s program are assessed by multi-artform panels of artists from diverse backgrounds.
• Applicants were reminded to write in Plain English and to avoid artform specific language.
• Applications relating to larger, long-term projects with complex components should clearly outline what would be funded through this application.
• Applications should include a clear and realistic timeline to assist the peers in understanding the benefits and give them confidence that the proposed activities can be achieved.
• Applications that clearly articulated the specific benefits and outcomes (for the artists’ own practice, audiences or the community) that would result from Arts Tasmania funding were more likely to be supported by the peers.
• The peers recommended that applicants read the program guidelines closely and speak to Arts Tasmania staff before applying for support, to:
  • ensure their grant request was within the program cap
  • discuss whether this program is the best fit for their proposed activity.
• Budgets should be clear and detailed.
• Applications with budgets that included appropriate artist wages and fees in line with industry rates were more likely to be supported by the peers.
• Applicants were encouraged to make use of the budget notes section to include any additional information, especially around:
  • the arrangements in place for in-kind contributions
  • explaining industry wages
  • detailing financial partnerships or co‑contributions
  • other grants and funding.
• Stronger applications included:
  • a clear and direct summary of the proposed activities
  • targeted letters of support that spoke about the integrity, viability and/or benefit of the activity (these letters directly related to the funding application)
  • clear evidence of any confirmed partnerships
  • information around the timeliness of the proposed activity
• Applications that did not include travel components were not supported by the peers.

The following peers assessed in Arts Tasmania’s October 2021 round (including Artsbridge [October 2021], Cultural Heritage Organisations 2022-23, Cultural Heritage Organisations (multi-year) 2022-23, Low-interest loans [October 2021], Roving Curators 2022, Tasmanian Residencies 2021-22, the FIND Contemporary Jewellery Collective Bursary and the Tasmanian Aboriginal Arts Mentoring Scheme 2021-22):

• Belinda Cotton
• Chris Gallagher
• Jeff Michel
• Joel Fenton
• Luana Towney
• Malcom Bywaters
• Michelle Maynard
• Natasha Parker
• Stephen Salt
• Warren Mason