Organisations 2020-21

Stimulus funds

Contract extensions

Existing multi-year agreements

The peers were impressed with the diversity of applications received from arts organisations and community groups and the innovative and exciting projects proposed.

The peers provided the following feedback to help current and future applicants:

• The peers recommended that all applicants speak to Arts Tasmania staff before applying to seek guidance on preparing their application
• The peers recommended applicants read the program guidelines clearly. They noted that a number of applications included prize money, equipment, and capital works in their budgets – all of which are ineligible for support under this program
• Stronger applications specifically stated how and where Arts Tasmania funding would be directed. They also included information around financial contingencies – either in the budget description or the budget notes
• Stronger applications directly linked budget items to key artists (using award rates for artists wages and fees).
• Applications that included letters of confirmation or relevant artist CVs were strongly supported by the peers
• Stronger applications included letters of support from industry bodies, community leaders or artists that did not have direct involvement or a financial interest in the proposed activities
• Applications that were able to speak to the wider benefits of the activity to the arts ecology, for audiences and the community more broadly, were more likely to be supported
• Stronger applications included carefully curated supporting material that was relevant to the activities in the application
• The peers noted that letters of support should be current, and where possible be dated, signed and use appropriate letterheads
• The peers recommended that organisations take appropriate time and care when submitting an application, particularly in proofreading and editing their projects. Carefully prepared applications spoke to the professionalism of the applicant
• The peers encouraged applicants to avoid artistic jargon and art-form speak and to use plain English Applicants were reminded to write clear and concise applications with a multi-art form panel in mind
• Applicants were encouraged to use the body of the application form to explain the project, the outcomes, detail the participants involved and explore the potential benefits.
• Applications that overlooked detail in the budget and project timelines were less likely to be supported.

Arts Tasmania carefully manages actual and perceived conflicts of interest for both staff members and peers involved in the assessment process.

More information on the management of conflicts of interest