Arts Council NI: Health & Safety Capital Grant

Overview

The Arts Council has designed this programme to enable organisations to purchase equipment and/or carry out minor works to their premises which will address any health and safety issues that has been created due to Covid-19 or has been an outstanding maintenance issue which has rendered the space not fit for purpose.

They want to support organisations across Northern Ireland to reopen their creative spaces in a safe manner. They want to ensure that organisations have proper measures in place to welcome the return of their staff, artists and audiences. They also want to support organisations in their delivery of the arts in new and creative alternatives.

Particular priority will be given to equipment and minor works which

• address Covid-19 requirements;
• improves the accessibility of the arts;
• continues the safe practice for continued accessibility of the arts;
• improves the environment for the arts sector;
• enhances or broadens the audience/participants’ experience

Who can apply?

The Arts Council welcomes applications from the widest possible range of organisations and in particular, from applicants whose projects benefit individuals categorised under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998. In addition, in order to be eligible to apply to this programme, please note the following:

• You do not have to be primarily an arts organisation, (for example, community groups may apply to the scheme), however, the purpose of the requested equipment or minor works must be clearly focused on the arts.
• Local authorities are eligible to apply but they are a low priority.
• Registered charities and other fully constituted organisations which cannot distribute a profit are eligible to apply.
• Commercial organisations can only apply for support if the equipment /minor works is primarily for the benefit of the public rather than their own commercial interests.
• If your organisation has a limited membership you must show that the equipment/minor works will benefit the wider public.
• Groups of organisations (consortia) working together to deliver specific projects may apply.

What Can You Apply For?

You can apply for any equipment and / or minor works to help adapt your venue or working practice. This could be, but not limited to, the following:

• Covid-19 equipment in line with Government requirements
• Creation of safe spaces in relation to Covid-19 needs
• Covid-19 related signage
• Reworking of an area to allow social distancing
• New equipment / structures to enable delivery outdoors
• IT equipment to address the new working environment
• Software (pre-loaded operating systems and packages)
• Accessibility equipment and minor works
• Works in relation to upgrading and maintaining existing systems
• Transport.

* The following maximum contributions towards these particular items of IT equipment should be noted. Contributions above these limits will only be made in exceptional circumstances, where the applicant has presented a strong rationale justifying additional costs per item.

• Tablet Computers: £500
• Laptops/PCs: £1,200

Please note that all purchases and minor works must be completed by Wednesday 16 March 2022. If you are unable to meet these conditions, you should NOT apply to this scheme as the Arts Council will not meet any costs incurred beyond this period.

You should only apply to this programme if you will be able to complete the procurement, purchase and delivery of your requested items of equipment from notification of award and 16 March 2022. Similarly, if you are applying for minor works costs, all work must take place and be completed from notification of award and 16 March 2022.

Eligible expenditure can only be incurred within this timeframe. If you are unable to meet these conditions, you should NOT apply to this scheme as the Arts Council will not meet any costs incurred outside this period.

Funding Level

The Health and Safety Capital Programme budget is £400k.

Please be aware that the amount of money available is limited and demand for funds is likely to be extremely high. It is not usually possible to fund all applications which simply meet the criteria or to fund the entirety of any given request.

They will aim to distribute our funds as widely as possible and may take account in the assessment of your application of the level of support you have previously received or are currently receiving, as well as your organisation’s management of any previous grants.

• You should be realistic in your expectations and budgets and bear in mind that the Council may choose to fund specific elements of your proposal rather than the full request.
• You may apply for multiple items of equipment1 and/or minor works costs.
• You will need to provide at least 2 quotes for each requested item of equipment - more if the value of the item is above £5,000 (see pages 11 and 12 below)
• If you are requesting more than one of any given item of equipment, only one set of quotes is necessary. For example, if you request 3 identical laptops which each cost £1,000, you only need to upload 2 quotes in relation to this; you do not have to upload 2 separate quotes for each of the 3 laptops.
• For minor works applications, you will need to provide a schedule of work, together with at least 2 quotations for each element of the work (see guidance notes), in addition to details of your lease.
• They will not pay VAT on any expenditure incurred by VAT registered organisations with the ability to reclaim VAT costs.
• Remember that the grant will be paid retrospectively on production of invoices/receipts.
• Once awarded, grants cannot be increased.

Partnership Funding

Only local authorities must provide partnership funding. The minimum partnership funding provided by such organisations is 50% in cash from non-Arts Council sources (in kind contributions will not be considered). For all applicants, the assessment process may take into account any other funds you are able to bring to the project and this may influence the outcome of the assessment.