Please take your time to read the guidelines before applying for a grant. Waterford City & County Council aims to financially assist artists, arts groups and arts organisations. Priority will be given to projects in keeping with the stated arts policy and aims of the local authority. The delivery of quality arts experiences using local talent and services and supporting artists in their work is the key objective.
Criteria for Grant Application
- Grant aid is only open to artists, arts groups and organisations based within Waterford City & County’s administrative area. The project must have some public manifestation within Waterford.
- An arts group or organisation is defined as a body whose primary activity is arts based. In terms of Festivals/Cultural Events more than 80% of the overall activity must be of an artistic nature to be eligible for this scheme. This Scheme does not cater for arts workshops which are an addition to the usual activities/work of a group. It does not cover ‘Add on’ arts activities for events. Neither does it cater for groups whose primary function and constitution is other than artistic.
- This scheme does not cover the area of crafts, craft projects and the associated activities such as enterprise, fairs and exhibitions. Nor does it cover occasional arts festivals/events that may travel to the region. Pantomimes and novelty acts are also outside the remit of this scheme. Publications must be of an artistic nature, we regret that we cannot consider historical/archival and non artistic publications. Musical endeavours, such as choirs must employ the services of a professional conductor to qualify for grant aid. We regret that we cannot fund religious based choirs of any denomination under this scheme.
- The project must take place in the calendar year in which the money is granted.
- Grants will not be allocated to cover general administrative costs.
- Applicants must be prepared to furnish further particulars or information to the Council if requested.
- Applications will only be accepted via the on line application process on or before the stated closing time and date.
- Only projects which have been approved in advance will qualify for grant aid. No retrospective grant aid can be applied for, nor in relation to the payment of former debts.
- Applicant groups must have been formed and active since October 2015 to qualify for grant aid during 2016. Proof of this may be requested.
- Professional and Emerging Individual artists must be pre registered on www.artlinks.ie
- Recipients of grants of €650 and over must produce the relevant receipts for the grant to be drawn down.
- All recipients of grant aid of €1,000 and over must produce a set of accounts including the relevant receipts.
- Waterford City & County Council reserves the right to terminate grant aid if statutory or criminal negligence is involved. Any publicity/printed/web material must credit the project as being grand aided by the local authority and carry the appropriate logo. The Arts Office will provide successful applicants will full details of this requirement.
- Waterford City & County Council shall not be held responsible in part or otherwise for any costs incurred for an event which does not take place for whatever reason. Recipients are expected to have adequate insurance in place to cover such eventualities (if the activity takes place in a public place, public liability shoiu;ld be no less than €6.5m)
- Groups who find it necessary to re-schedule their activity to another date within the approved timeframe or who need to change their planned activity in any manner should contact the Arts Service immediately with this proposal. Groups who are unable to re-schedule within the approved timeframe will not be entitled to draw down the funding.
- A list of successful applicants will be published on www.waterfordcouncil.ie
- The recipients must follow the procedure as confirmed in writing to them regarding drawing down the grant and the Acknowledgement of Funding requirements. A grant may be withheld if the above is not adhered to.
- Groups which are in receipt of sponsorship from alcoholic drinks companies must complete the question in relation to this on the application form.
- The local authority views the successful applicant as the primary artistic recipient and thus will not support any secondary funding (i.e. From the recipient to a charity for a fundraiser or to a non-specified commercial entity).
- If you are dealing with persons under the age of 18 you must submit a copy of your Child Protection Policy in digital form.
- Specific conditions may be attached to the funding which will be outlined in the letter of offer.
- Submission of an online application means that the applicants agree to be bound by the conditions pertaining to the administration of this scheme.
- Also check Individual Grant Criteria for Arts Practice Grants (Which will be outlined on the relevant online section of each application form).