International Changemakers Bursaries  

Background

Coventry UK City of Culture 2021 has been inspired by the city’s pioneering activism in inventing the twin cities movement after WW2, extending the hand of friendship and building cultural partnerships with cities around the world. Our programme will reflect the internationalism of the city, as a home of diverse migrant communities and a place of sanctuary for refugees and asylum seekers, its role in peace and reconciliation, and its position as a dynamic, revolutionary city tackling global social issues. Coventry has always been a city of movement and exchange, a city of changemakers.

Delivered in partnership with the British Council, this International Changemakers Bursary seeks to evolve this spirit of internationalism, exploring who we are now and who we want to become. Through building partnerships with cities across the globe who have similar values, we wish to use art and culture to create a collective movement of connected changemakers. 

The programme will support Coventry’s individual creative and cultural practitioners, including artists, activists, third sector professionals, and community leaders. Aimed at developing artistic or socially engaged practices through working internationally, these bursaries will support professional development, partnership building and research and development. Applicants can use the bursary to do one or all of the following:

Attend festivals, conferences and other events  Collaborate with, and learn from, creative and cultural practitioners, including artists,

activists and changemakers working around the world Research and develop potential collaborators and create early relationships with a

long-term view of developing partnerships and projects

How much can you apply for?

Applicants can apply for up to £2,500 to cover international travel, accommodation, per diems, loss of earnings and reasonable expenses. Fees, production costs and freight are not eligible costs. 

Access Support

Access support is available for all applications, including alternative formats and tailored support. Please see ‘Who Can Apply?’ for more details.

About the Travel Bursaries

These travel bursaries will support international connections that align with one or more of our Coventry UK City of Culture 2021 programming stands: 1) Dynamic Cities, 2) Collaborative Cities, 3) Caring Cities. Each programming strand includes a number of distinctive themes. Applicants must demonstrate how the travel bursary would support them to develop international connections around one or more of these themes. 

Programme Strand 1: Dynamic Cities

Coventry is a dynamic city. We are playful by nature, 7 years younger than the national average, a test bed for 5G technology and acutely aware of the impact we’re having on our planet. We aim to foster exchange and new partnerships to create a dynamic city for the future, connecting Coventry’s pioneers with international partners around the globe. The thematic areas within this strand include:

Digital Cities – The role of smart, connected cities, data and how innovative, immersive technologies can tell new stories in new ways.

Green Cities – Exploring a range of climate and environmental issues across the fabric of the city include white (sky), green, brown, grey (urban) and blue (water) spaces.    

Playful Cities – Developing the architecture and design of public spaces and city's capital infrastructure. Making our cities more inclusive, playful, accessible and liveable for all.  

Youthful Cities – Engaging with cities with a young average age, that demonstrate the attributes of youthfulness including being curious, playful, connected, open, dynamic and inventive. We will develop programmes led by and with young people, engaging with creativity to become active citizens. Cities of interest include Bogota in Columbia, Beirut in Lebanon and Nairobi in Kenya.

Programme Strand 2: Collaborative Cities

The City of Culture belongs to the people of Coventry. We are working closely with community organisations across the city to co-create a programme that is continues beyond 2021. Collaborative Cities is about connecting our grass roots, people powered approach internationally. The thematic areas within this strand include:

Working with Communities – Developing projects with and for diverse communities across the city. We will be working in schools, libraries and community centres to create projects which animate the spaces beyond the city centre.

Socially Engaged Practice – Actively engaging with everyone across the city to decide what counts as art and culture, where it happens, who makes it, and who experiences it.

Social Action – Working together to tackle issues and supporting people and existing volunteer or community-own services and peer networks to improve our city through art and culture. We place people at the heart of our process.

Global/Local – Connecting local communities across the world. With greater connectivity we can work together to explore the big social issues affecting our communities.

Programme Stand 3: Caring Cities

Coventry, like many cities, is facing complex social challenges, which are relevant to communities across the globe. Coventry City of Culture Trust has a team of four associate producers who are embedded within third sector organisations, developing a creative programme that responds to challenges relevant to communities within the city. The thematic areas within this strand include:

Poverty and Homelessness – Creating social change through participation and engagement with art and culture for people with lived experience of homelessness and poverty.

Young People at Risk of Exploitation – Developing a creative programme with young people at risk of exploitation, specifically focusing on empowerment, arts activism and cultural entrepreneurship.

New Communities – Working with refugee and migrant communities to create a cultural programme which celebrates Coventry as a place of welcome. Exploring Coventry’s position as a global centre of Peace and Reconciliation and its role in responding to contemporary conflict around the world.

Mental Health and Wellbeing – Exploring how art and culture can respond to and improve isolation, mental health, wellbeing and loneliness. The programme will include models of social prescribing and time banks.

Who can apply?

Applicants should live and/or work within Coventry (CV postcodes) Applications are welcomed from both emerging and established creative and cultural

leaders, working across arts, education and civil society We actively welcome applicants with little to no international experience Visits must take place to one or more of the eligible countries listed below Applicants are not required to have a host partner in the country they wish to travel

to, but we encourage applicants to identify and contact with potential hosts or potential collaborators before applying. This might be an individual artist, cultural organisation, community group, charity, university etc.

The fund is designed to support travel to the following countries:

Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bosnia, Botswana, Brazil, Burma, China, Colombia, Cuba, Egypt, Ethiopia, Georgia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kosovo, Lebanon, Libya, Macedonia, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestinian Territories, Peru, Philippines, Rwanda, Senegal, Serbia & Montenegro, Sierra Leone, South Africa, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Access Support

As the UK City of Culture, we want our projects to be accessible to everyone by providing help to people with access needs when applying for this bursary.

We can provide additional access support for anyone with physical, sensory and invisible impairments, learning disability, mental health, neurodivergent and fatigue conditions. If you identify as such, and/or have experienced access barriers, there are a number of ways we can help you:

Pre-application support provided on a case by case basis Providing our guidance in another format such as BSL, Easy Read and Large Print Ensuring applicants can apply via written application and via video application. We

will translate applications made in BSL into written English Contribution towards the cost of an access support worker during your travels, and in

the management of the bursary. This is dependent on the type of support you need and will be on a case by case basis

Any further help making this project accessible for you

Support provision and guidance will be managed on a case by case basis.

Other Useful Information

We advise applicants to check the Foreign and Commonwealth Office regarding travel advice including entry requirements, safety and security, local laws and customs. If applicants have particular concerns or questions, Coventry City of Culture Trust and the British Council may be able to offer further advice. 

Assessment Criteria

Applications will be assessed by a small group made up of Coventry City of Culture Trust (Senior Producers), the British Council and Arts Council England. Assessments will be made according to the following criteria:

Individual or organisational track recordWe will review the track record of the individual in undertaking similar work. We aim to support a variety of individuals in the city, not just artists or cultural practitioners. 

Impact of the experienceWe will assess the level of impact the bursary will have on the applicants working practice, international connections and career development.

Strength of connection with programme strands and themesApplicants must identify alignment to one or more of the following programming strands – Dynamic Cities, Collaborative Cities, Caring Cities and associated themes.

Skills and network development opportunityWhere the applicant is focused on sector development, we will assess the skills and networks which will be created. Successful applicants will also need to demonstrate how they will share their experience, skills and networks in the city after their return.

Future collaborationWe will assess the potential for future collaborations generated by the bursary.

FinancesWe will assess the viability of the proposed budget. Applicants who apply up to £2,500 must clearly articulate why they require the full amount available. Although not necessary we will favour applications which include match funding or in-kind support. 

Application Timeline

Application Opens 29th October 2019 Application Surgery w/c 18th November 2019 Application Closes 10am, 2nd December 2019Assessments and Interviews (if necessary) 9th - 13th December 2019Confirmation of Successful Applicants 16th December 2019Travel Period 6th January 2019 - 1st June 2020

How To Apply

Applicants should fill in an application form below or alternatively, you may want to submit a video application where you respond to each of the questions. This can be in English or British Sign Language.

For those submitting video applications you may send us your videos directly or upload it onto a file sharing platform like Vimeo or Youtube. Videos do not need to be highly edited; they can simply be a recording of you chatting directly to camera via your phone or laptop. If your media is password protected, please include the password.

Completed applicants forms or videos should be sent to Stephanie Ridings at BursaryManager@coventry2021.co.uk.

At the point of submission you should also complete the Equal Opportunities Form which can be found here - https://forms.gle/uHyWEv81VytUrEdu7

Any Questions?

If you have any questions, require any assistance with the language and terminology, or your eligibility for this application, contact Stephanie Ridings at BursaryManager@coventry2021.co.uk or call the Coventry UK City of Culture 2021 office on 02476 998 221 asking for Stephanie who will be able to clarify any questions for you and/or arrange support for you.

Access support is available for all applications, including alternative formats and tailored support.

Payment Schedule

Successful applicants will receive 80% of the travel grant prior to their trip. The remaining 20% will be paid on completion of a final report to an agreed format. Applicants who may find this challenging, please contact the team. We will make exceptions based on discretion. 

Monitoring and Evaluation 

Coventry UK City of Culture 2021 has the following aims:

Coventry’s citizens positively influence and shape the city they want to live in Coventry’s culture contributes to the social and economic prosperity of the city and

region Coventry is a global and connected city Coventry is recognised as a future facing pioneering city

Applicants will be required to complete a final report within one month of the completion of the visit. Questions will be based on the number and types of cultural exchanges and partnerships made, your professional development and the impact that the trip will have on your work in relation to one of the thematic areas of the Coventry UK City of Culture 2021 programme.

Documentation 

Successful applicants will be required to write a blog or document their trip with video, images etc. This may be showcased on the Coventry UK City of Culture 2021 website. 

Environmental Considerations

In a time of Climate Emergency, we are committed to delivering the most environmentally friendly and sustainable City of Culture as possible. We encourage all applicants to consider environmental impacts at each stage of their creative process. We are on hand to offer support and guidance or a sounding board when needed. A full version of our ecological charter will be supplied within the bursary agreement. 

Equal Opportunities

We are committed to equal opportunities and will treat all applications fairly on the basis of their submissions. Applicants from currently under-represented groups, including those with disabilities, are especially encouraged to apply. 

Application Form

Your Details

Name:

Job Title (if applicable):

Organisation (if applicable):

Phone Number:

Email Address:

Please tick the box for the programme strand(s) your application responds to: 

Programme Strand 1: Dynamic Cities 

Digital Cities

Green Cities

Playful Cities 

Youthful Cities 

Programme Strand 2: Collaborative Cities 

Working with Communities

Socially Engaged Practice

Social Action

Global/Local

Programme Strand 3: Caring Cities

Poverty and Homeless 

Young People at Risk of Exploitation

New Communities

Mental Health and Wellbeing

Please tell us how you would like to use this travel grant, including:

Where you will visit and why The proposed dates for your visit Your proposed programme including individuals, organisations, festivals or

other events you wish to visit How your trip will connect with our programme strands and thematic areas

Please keep your answer to no more than 750 words (maximum 5 minutes for video applicants).

Please tell us about your professional experience, including:

Your connection with Coventry e.g. whether you live or work in the city Your professional practice and how it relates to the aims of the bursary and

Coventry UK City Of Culture 2021

Where you have any experience of working international

Please keep your answer to no more than 750 words (maximum 5 minutes for video applicants). You can include up to 3 links to photographs, videos and other media in support of your answer.

This opportunity is designed to support professional development, partnership building, project research and development. Please tell us more about how this bursary will support your professional development within these areas. If you have plans to use this opportunity to develop a future project, please let us know here. 

Please keep your answer to no more than 750 words (maximum 5 minutes for video applicants).

Please complete the budget template below for the total bursary amount requested:

Expenditure Flights  Visa  Accommodation  Domestic travel (buses, trains, etc)  Subsistence (per diems e.g. food, drink)  Programme related costs (conference tickets etc)  Other (please use the notes section to provide further detail)  Total Expenditure  

Income Requested Bursary Amount  Other  Total Income  

If you are funding other aspects of your proposed visit by other means, or if this bursary will supplement an existing visit, please provide further details.

If you require extra funding, in addition to the £2,500, to support your trip due to access requirements please include costs in the Other section of the budget above.

Reference details

Name:

Job Title (if applicable):

Organisation (if applicable):

Phone Number:

Email Address:

Relationship to You:

Have you received information or support from Coventry UK City of Culture Trust or the British Council on this application? If so please name who:

Please complete the equal opportunities form which can be found online here - https://forms.gle/uHyWEv81VytUrEdu7