Funding Context
Having a well thought out project only goes so far if I can’t actualise it through funding. Throughout the weeks of lectures we have had varying conversations about how organisations and exhibitions receive their funding, from Creative Scotland supporting ATLAS arts with Francis Davis in Week 5 to Marcus Jack’s discussion whilst in Glasgow at The Hunterian Gallery of working with a commissioned project like in Derek Jarman’s retrospective. Even when James Clegg from the Talbot Rice Gallery talked about how he organises his public programming as a result of what funding is available. Projects and events need to be altered and tailored depending on what is financially possible.
Ethical Consideration
In order to run my project, I know that I will not need the most funding since I am not commissioning any new artwork, and I don’t need to pay for staffing costs beyond the Guest Artist talks where, as a part of my ethics I will pay them a fair living wage, currently going off the Scottish Artists’ Union rates of pay. With the basis of my exhibition being community engagement and communication within the local community, I think that the majority of funding should come from Community Grants as opposed to exhibition funding.
Grants:
Edinburgh Council acts as the predominant funding body for socially engaged work within the city of Edinburgh, having a dedicated Community Grants Fund which is divided into separate areas of the city. For the nature of this discussion of grant application, I will focus on the City Centre NA neighbourhood, but in order to cover my costs and create a cross-city network I will apply to numerous neighbourhood’s grants. This covers multiple village halls that I could use as venues. As described by their website, the Community Grands Fund ‘is a small grants scheme provided by the Council. Grants of up to £5,000 can be awarded to constituted groups for local community activity.’ According to their funding guidance document, the grant is only to be used for community benefit which my proposed project is. Any organisation that is set up for charitable purposes can apply, with special consideration for organisations that support Edinburgh’s target to be a net zero city by 2030. I firmly believe that my proposed project does just that, with materials being purchased from local businesses, encouraging communication and interaction between the community by creating this new method through which to have conversations. My network also encourages the use of recycled materials, again contributing as to why I think we would be a great candidate for this grant.
Here is their grant application form: https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/sfc/c6f35817/consultation/subpage.2024-11-04.0015975449/
Based off this, before I can apply I need to create my website for my project, giving them an understanding as to what I am going to do with the money. After my previous post on audience, I can give them a clear description of who my project will benefit and why, with also using the form as a chance to demonstrate my EDI considerations such as making the space accessible for all, affordable, and upholding feminist ideals, constructing a safe space for women. Based on their previous funding uses such Artists Collective Gallery gaining £1000 towards community play sessions and Bare Productions being awarded £2805 to launch a theatrical opportunities programme, I think it is realistic for me to aim for £3000 in grants in total. As I know I want to work in 4 venues, I will apply for 3 separate community grants (City Centre being doubled due to two venues in that catchment area) each valued at £750, (£1500 for City Centre), which is relatively low in comparison to other groups and so hopefully I will be successful in my funding. This will encompass all of my costs, and as I finalise this project I can reassess to refine this amount. I also know that in order to complete this form I need more exact cost calculations, and so this is what I will shortly prepare. The councils I will apply to where my venues are located are: Pentlands NA (Juniper Green Church Hall), City Centre NA (Lauriston Hall, Walpole Hall), and Southside/Newington NA (Salisbury Centre).
https://www.gla.ac.uk/hunterian/visit/whats-on/index.html/event/13578
https://www.artistsunion.scot/rates-pay
https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/community-planning/community-grants-fund
https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/community-planning/community-grants-fund/3
https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/downloads/file/36544/cgf-applicant-guidance-2025-26
