Grant funding / top tips for creative businesses

Catherine Herbert Arts & Regeneration Officer

Kent County Council

Do you need grant funding?

There are easier ways to make moneyGrant funding = transparency and reporting Is it commercially viable? Could you do this another way? Such as…

Private donors / sponsorship•Virtual fundraising / Crowd funding• Sharing resources and partnership

Grant Funding – overview

Who holds the money?

Public funding – local government, ‘arms-length’ bodies e.g. Arts Council England, British Council, British Film InstNational Lottery - BIG, Awards for All, Arts Council (Grants for the Arts)Trusts and foundations - Elephant Trust, Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, IdeasTap, Lloyds et al

Before you apply• Economic downturn and cuts – it’s competitive (artists make

one application every 20 years to Arts Council England, and have a 50% success rate)

• Outcomes – consider how do you meet the objectives of the funder.

• Don’t be a newbie – get evidence and test ideas• Budget – match funding? Support in kind? • Be ambitious, innovative but realistic• Seek advice with the application – people who have been

successful, Local authority arts officers, and the grant administrator…

Grant funding for artsCheck ‘other sources of funding’ doc on Arts Council England website for

others… e.g. • Local Authority Arts Grant schemes – individuals, groups and orgs• Arts Council England – cross artform, individuals and orgs• IdeasTap – cross artform, individuals • Creative England – film, individuals and orgs• MeWe 360 – cross artform, individuals and orgs• UnLTD – social entrepreneurs • Elephant Trust – visual arts, orgs• Esmee Fairbairne – cross artform, orgs • Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation – cross artform, orgs, groups of

individuals

Top tips for creative businesses

1. Business model development – what are the bits that pay?

2. Know the true costs of what you are offering, how much you can get for it, and profile your clients

3. Lean business principles – low cost ‘trial’ – test it and get feedback.

4. Commission co-workers to build credibility and get experience

Continued…

5. Have a voice and a strategic position – social networks, linkedin as well as w/site

6. Be visible - attend, and tap into local networks, likeminded people, coworking etc

7. Be GREAT to work with… Time management, honesty, communication