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Organisations 2020-21

A delegate of the Minister for the Arts has approved funding of $2 867 011 to 30 arts organisations to deliver high quality arts experiences and activities around the state in 2021.

This funding included $500 000 drawn from the Tasmanian Government’s Cultural and Creative Industries stimulus package.

Funding recommendations for the stimulus funding were made by expert peers drawn from the Cultural and Creative Industries Expert Register.

The Tasmanian Government’s Cultural and Creative Industries stimulus package

The health, safety and wellbeing of Tasmanians is the Tasmanian Government’s number one priority as we face the challenge of coronavirus (COVID-19).

In recognition of the significant impact that COVID-19 is having on Tasmania’s cultural and creative industries, the Tasmanian Government announced a Cultural and Creative Industries stimulus package.

This stimulus package includes additional competitive funding of $500 000 for arts organisations to support additional employment and cultural activity. This funding was allocated by a panel of expert peers from the Cultural and Creative Industries Expert Register.

To further support the arts and cultural sector in Tasmania through the impact of COVID-19, organisations on single year funding or in the final year of agreements under Arts Tasmania’s Organisations funding, have had contracts extended for 2021. These contract extensions are detailed below.

Grants

Stimulus funds

RecipientsFundsActivity
Archipelago Productions $71 322 Towards its 2021 program of Tasmanian led productions
Island Magazine Inc. $129 394 Towards developing, publishing and promoting Tasmanian writers and artists in 2021
Junction Arts Festival $58 913 Towards the 2021 festival’s artistic program
Music Tasmania
(Contemporary Music Services Tasmania Inc.)
$105 124 Towards rebuilding confidence, connectivity, and capability in the Tasmanian contemporary music sector in 2021
RANT Arts Ltd. $71 322 Towards supporting recovery for creative communities in 2021
Tasmanian Youth Orchestra $20 000 Towards its 2021 program
Vibrance Festival Pty Ltd $43 925 Towards the 2021 festival

Contract extensions

RecipientsFundsActivity
Australian Script Centre (Australian Plays) $56 000 Towards its 2021 program
Big hART Inc. $145 000 Towards its 2021 program
Design Tasmania $135 000 Towards its 2021 program
Devonport City Council
(paranaple arts centre)
$22 800 Towards its 2021 performing arts season
Glenorchy City Council(Moonah Arts Centre) $8 580 Towards a project in 2021
Huon Folk Inc.
(Cygnet Folk Festival)
$5 000 Towards a project in 2021
Kickstart Arts Inc. $150 676 Towards its 2021 program
Mudlark Theatre Inc. $82 000 Towards its 2021 program
Sawtooth ARI $90 000 Towards its 2021 program
Second Echo Ensemble - $100 000 Towards its 2021 program
Stompin Inc. $70 000 Towards its 2021 program
Tasdance $200 000 Towards its 2021 program
Tasmanian Theatre Company $150 000 Towards its 2021 program
TasWriters Inc. $50 000 Towards its 2021 program
The Story Island Project (Tasmania) Inc. $70 000 Towards its 2021 program
The Tasmanian Poetry Festival $9 390 Towards the 2021 festival
The Unconformity Inc. $125 000 Towards its 2021 program
Theatre North Inc. $110 000 Towards its 2021 program
Van Diemen's Band $78 000 Towards its 2021 program

Existing multi-year agreements

RecipientsFundsActivity
Constance ARI $49 565 Towards its 2021 program
Contemporary Art Tasmania $210 000 Towards its 2021 program
Performing Lines Limited (Tasmania Performs) $200 000 Towards its 2021 program
Terrapin Puppet Theatre $250 000 per annum Towards its 2021, 2022 and 2023 programs

Feedback from the expert peers

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.

Peer assessors

The following peers assessed in this round (Organisations, the Northern Tasmania Arts Organisations Initiative and Youth Arts Organisations):

  • Alison Wilkes
  • Angela Boxall
  • Chris Bendall
  • Christian Ramilo
  • Danny Gibson
  • Dawn Oelrich
  • Dewayne Everettsmith
  • Lisa Gormley
  • Michael Stocks
  • Michelle Boyde
  • Rohan Wilson

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.