Cultural and Creative Events Fund 2024/25

THIS FUND IS NOW CLOSED

Please note that applying for a grant does not guarantee you will receive funding.

Introduction

Colchester City Council in partnership with The North East Essex Health and Wellbeing Alliance will together make available a Fund with a total value of £30,000, and consider applications for micro grants of between £250 and £1500 maximum for cultural and creative events/activity taking place between 1st May 2024 and 30th April 2025. The closing date for applications will be the 5th of Feb 2024.

Criteria for funding

• Only applications which demonstrate the planned activity will achieve at least three of the following aims will be considered for funding:
  • Deliver a high-quality cultural or creative experience to local audiences 
  • Develop or showcase local creative talent 
  • Celebrate, explore and raise awareness of local heritage 
  • Encourage visitors to the City of Colchester local authority area
  • Celebrate the diverse communities within the City of Colchester local authority area

In addition, ALL projects should demonstrate how they will contribute to the health and wellbeing of residents. Please note events/projects which do not explain how they will meet this overarching objective will not be considered. In this round of funding projects which specifically provide opportunities for older people to access and engage with arts and culture will receive weighting in the assessment process, so please reference how your event will seek to deliver this outcome if possible.

• The definition of a ‘cultural/creative event’ is flexible. It may be a multi event festival covering a period of some weeks/months or a one-day event/activity but must be open to anyone to attend.
• If you are charging for the event/activity you must make clear where any income generated will be assigned. Commercial events for profit are not eligible for support from this funding stream.
• The event/activity must take place within the City of Colchester but can be centred in any community or area within the local authority boundary.
• The application must be submitted by an individual, voluntary or professional organisation, or community group active within the City of Colchester local authority area. Please note while applications from individuals are not precluded, there needs to be wider public benefit beyond that to the individual themselves, and it is expected that in most cases applications will be submitted on behalf of organisations.
• Only one grant will be awarded to an individual/organisation in any one financial year. Multiple applications for separate events falling within a ‘Festival’ will not be accepted.
• If you are applying for an established annual or pre-existing event/activity you should demonstrate how funding will build upon and add value to the existing activity – for example providing a new activity/experience/performance; engaging with an additional /different audience or group; or taking the event to a different location/venue within the City of Colchester.
• Applications must be completed online

Please note unfortunately it is not possible to save a draft application form within the live online portal and return to complete it later. If you exit the process part way through your application will not be saved.

Completed forms will receive an automated e-mail receipt. If you have not received a notification within 48 hours but believe your form was submitted successfully, please contact culture@colchester.gov.uk.

Colchester City Council will not fund;

• 100% of the cost of the project; we expect to see partner contribution(s)/sponsorship, either in cash or ‘in-kind’ (minimum 25% contribution)
• Current projects in deficit
• Projects which have already taken place or start within the grant assessment and administration period (12 weeks from the closing date)
• Projects which take place mainly outside of the City of Colchester local authority
• Projects for commercial gain
• Any project where the applicant has outstanding debts to or in dispute with Colchester City Council
• Previous grant recipients who have not supplied event evaluation where this been requested.
• The procurement of Colchester City Council services, commercial or otherwise (e.g. hire of venues). This does not preclude the planned activity utilising chargeable Council facilities or services, but you must prove these can be paid for by resources other than any grant awarded by CCC (Colchester City Council).

Awarding and administration of grants/terms and conditions

• Applications will be assessed by a Panel chaired by the Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Culture and Heritage.
• Applications will be assessed against the criteria.
• Decisions about awards will be made within the available resources. If the Fund is oversubscribed successful applicants may be granted a proportion of and not the full amount of their request.
• Decisions will be made within a maximum of 6 weeks of the closing date and applicants will be informed in writing of the outcome of their bid. Applicants are strongly advised to factor in sufficient time from the assessment and administration period (12 weeks from the closing date) to start their projects.
• The decision of the Panel is final. However, you are welcome to seek feedback.
• These one-time project grants will be paid as set out in the Offer Letter. The total grant amount will not exceed £1500.
• The amount written in the Offer letter is the maximum we will pay.
• No funds will be released until a Conditions of Grant Agreement has been signed and returned. Funds will not be released to personal bank accounts
• In most cases funds will not be released before 01/04/2024.
• If you expect your activity to be delayed or the event has to be cancelled, you must contact us as soon as possible to explain and we will confirm whether this is acceptable. If we consider that this is not acceptable, we reserve the right to rescind the grant.
• Furthermore, we reserve the right to rescind the grant under any of the following circumstances:
  • Failure to obtain necessary artists’ insurance
  • Failure to obtain necessary Disclosure & Barring Service checks
  • If your organisation goes into financial administration or you go into bankruptcy or insolvency
  • If you do not follow our reasonable instructions or special conditions imposed on your award
  • If you do not use your award for the purpose for which it was awarded
  • If you changed your award-related activity from the application specifications without requesting permission from us first
  • If you act illegally or negligently at any time during the funded activity, related to that activity
  • If we believe your actions harm the reputation of Colchester City Council or The Alliance
  • If you sell or transfer the grant to another person or organisation

Evaluation

All event organisers in receipt of funding should be prepared to complete and submit evaluation of their event should this be requested. Failure to do so could lead to the applicant being barred from future applications.

Marketing

Successful applicants are to include the Colchester City Council logo on all promotional materials as an acknowledgement of the financial support provided.

Additional guidance on completing some of the fields in the application form:

• Name of Applicant/ Lead Organisation: refers to the individual, group or organisation applying for the grant.
• Lead contact name: should be someone who has a good working knowledge of the project. All future correspondence relating to the application will be addressed to this contact name so please ensure these details are correct.
• Tell us how your event meets the criteria in as much detail as possible. Only applications which demonstrate the planned activity will achieve at least three of the following aims will be considered for funding: Not all projects will be able to demonstrate how they meet all five criteria, but you must complete at least three of the five text boxes here.
• Please tell us how your event will contribute to the health and wellbeing of residents and our communities. Note failure to complete this section will mean your application cannot be submitted or considered for this funding stream:This Fund is a partnership between Colchester City Council and the The North East Essex Health and Wellbeing Alliance, in recognition of the potential of arts and culture to contribute to the reduction of health inequalities. Therefore, this is a mandatory field, and you must complete it to submit your application. Things you might want to consider when completing this section: does your event/activity provide accessible cultural opportunities specifically to older people; provide accessible opportunities for people to participate in or experience something which might support and improve their mental health; help develop inclusive communities; have a direct or indirect aim of reducing social isolation; encourage people to be more physically active; raise funds for health and wellbeing related charities; provide opportunities to volunteer in the community; help people engage with the natural or built environment in which their community is set.
• Amount of grant request: This should be the total amount you are requesting from Colchester City Council to part fund your application proposal.
• What are your other sources of funding? Here you should state how much match funding (money from other sources) you have either applied for or have received to support your event. You should also include support “in-kind”. Please note that it is anticipated that this scheme will be oversubscribed; applications with robust evidence of partnership funding will have a greater chance of success

Jan 2024