Cultural Grants Guidelines

Through arts, heritage and culture we connect to our past and present and embrace the possibilities of our future. In this way, we develop deeper connections with each other, our community and the places we live.

The Cultural Grants program is a financial support program for organisations and individuals within the City of Cockburn.

Who can apply?

Cultural grants are available to:

• Organisations that are based within the City of Cockburn and primarily serve the residents of Cockburn.
• Organisations that will be working with a majority of Cockburn residents and can demonstrate a high level of community support.
• Individuals who are residents of the City of Cockburn who have:
  • Been invited by the community and demonstrate community support for ‘Artist in the Community’ or ‘Telling Community Stories’ programs; or
  • Been selected as an ‘Artist in the Community’ outside of Cockburn may be considered on presentation of supporting documentation.
• Individuals from outside the community who have been invited in by the Cockburn community to participate in ‘Artist in the Community’ or ‘Telling Community Stories’ programs may be considered on presentation of supporting documentation demonstrating a high level of community support.

Applicants must be able to demonstrate the ability to manage financial affairs effectively.

Within the grant applications we will be looking for applications that:

• Develop and nurture the skill base of the local community.
• Develop and nurture the skill base of individual artists (in all art forms).
• Express local culture and identity.

Applications are invited from not-for-profit community-managed groups, welfare, education, arts/cultural, youth, seniors, children, ethnic and related groups.

What can I apply for?

Cultural Grants can be used for a range of purposes including but not restricted to:

• Events
• Pilot programs across all art forms
• Cultural and Heritage programs and activities
• Workshops across all art forms
• Residencies - local, regional and further afield

Cultural Grants need to embody one of the diverse art and cultural interests of the City of Cockburn through one of the following:

• Artist in the Community Program
  • To assist community groups, organisations or schools (where there is currently no art specialist) with bringing in an artist from any arts discipline to develop and nurture the skills base of that group and the wider community.
  • To assist a local artist/s who has been invited as an artist in residence at a regional, interstate or international venue.
• Celebrating Community Program
  • To celebrate place and local communities and express local culture and identity through festivals and events developed by local not for profit groups and organisations. These events will need to follow the Community Events guidelines when organising their event.
• Creative Community Program
  • Development of activities and programs that promote community participation in cultural, creative and artistic activity that will develop and nurture the skill base of the community through expression of local culture and identity. May include but are not confined to:
    • Pilot Programs
    • Workshops
    • A collaborative approach or joint project between an artist and a community or cultural group.
• Telling Community Stories Program
  • Supports projects that enhance an understanding of and interest in Cockburn’s heritage and social history for the benefit of current and future generations.
  • Supports development of community stories across a range of platforms including the written word and performance.

How much can I apply for?

The maximum funding available to any individual, group or organisation in the Cultural Grant category will not exceed $5,000, however grants will generally be approved for a lesser amount.

Applications that can demonstrate a financial or in-kind contribution will be considered favourably, as will those who source funding from other sources.

When can I apply?

Cultural Grant applications will be open each year in March and September. Funding rounds are advertised publicly in local newspapers, on the City’s website, in e-newsletters, and the Cockburn Soundings newsletter.

Closing dates are noted on the online application forms, and will be assessed and notified within two months of the outcome of the application.

Projects or events must not commence within two months of the application closing date, as funding cannot be awarded retrospectively.

Limitations and Conditions

• The successful request for a Cultural Grant in any year does not imply any ongoing commitment of the same or similar contribution in following years.
• Applicants must be based in the City of Cockburn or be able to demonstrate that you primarily serve the Cockburn community or looking to provide a service in Cockburn that will benefit the Cockburn community.
• Applications from Schools, P&Cs, P&Fs and other educational institutions must be in accordance with Council Policy ACS7, and satisfy the following additional criteria:
  • There is an identified community need for the project or activity.
  • The project or activity is extra-curricular and accessible to the wider Cockburn community outside of school hours (clearly outside the Education Department’s area of responsibility).
  • There is a financial contribution of at least 50% or more to the project or activity.
• Priority will be given to applicants who haven’t previously been funded.
• Funding will not be provided:
  • Retrospectively for events or projects that have already occurred, or due to occur within two months’ of the application’s lodgement.
  • For any activity or event that will be divisive in communities by denigrating, excluding, or offending community groups.
  • If your activity or event may present a hazard to the community or environment.
  • If you have not acquitted any previous City of Cockburn funding.
  • To private organisations.
  • For entire cost of any project.
  • For ongoing or core organisation costs.
  • For personal items such as costumes, food consumables or catering costs.

Before you apply

Please remember to contact the Cultural Development Coordinator on (08) 9411 3444 during business hours or email culturalgrants@cockburn.wa.gov.au before proceeding with an application.

IMPORTANT: Please read the information below to assist you in completing your application online.

BEFORE YOU BEGIN THE ONLINE APPLICATION FORM

Welcome to the City of Cockburn's online grant application service, powered by SmartyGrants.

You may begin anywhere in the application form. Please ensure you save as you go as you will be logged out after 60 minutes of inactivity.

If you need more help using this online form, download the SmartyGrants Help Guide for Applicants or check out Applicant Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

NAVIGATING (MOVING THROUGH) THE APPLICATION FORM

On every screen (page of the form) you will find a Form Navigation contents box, this links directly to every page of the application. Click the link to jump directly to the page you want.

You can also click 'next page' or 'previous page' on the top or bottom of each page to move forward or backward through the application.

SAVING YOUR DRAFT APPLICATION

If you wish to leave a partially completed application, press 'save' and log out. When you log back in and click on the 'My Submissions' link at the top of the screen, you will find a list of any applications you have started or submitted. You can reopen your draft application and start where you left off.

You can also download any application, whether draft or completed, as a PDF. Click on the 'Download' button located at the bottom of the last page of the application form.

SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION

You will find a Review and Submit button at the bottom of the Navigation Panel. You need to review your application before you can submit it.

Once you have reviewed your application you can submit it by clicking on 'Submit' at the top of the screen or on the navigation panel. You will not be able to submit your application until all the compulsory questions are completed.

Once you have submitted your application, no further editing or uploading of support materials is possible.

When you submit your application, you will receive an automated confirmation email with a copy of your submitted application attached. This will be sent to the email you used to register.

If you do not receive a confirmation of submission email then you should presume that your submission has NOT been submitted.

ATTACHMENTS AND SUPPORT DOCUMENTS

You may need to upload/submit attachments to support your application. This is very simple, but requires you to have the documents saved on your computer, or on a storage device.

You need to allow enough time for each file to upload before trying to attach another file. Files can be up to 25MB each; however, we do recommend trying to keep files to a maximum of 5MB – the larger the file, the longer the upload time.

COMPLETING AN APPLICATION IN A GROUP/TEAM

A number of people can work on an application using the same log in details as long as only one person is working at a time. Ensure you save as you go.

SPELL CHECK

Most internet browsers (including Firefox v2.0 and above; Safari; and Google Chrome) have spell checking facilities built in – you can switch this function on or off by adjusting your browser settings.