NAVA strongly encourages visual arts applicants for RISE Funding
Applications for the remaining $40 million in RISE Funding close 24 October 2021 at 23:59 AEDT.
Image: Barbara Cleveland, 'This is a stained glass window', 2019 (still). Single Channel HD video. Courtesy of the artists and Sullivan+Strumpf, Sydney.
Goulburn Regional Art Gallery and Museums & Galleries of NSW touring exhibition. This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, its arts funding and advisory body. Supported by the Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) Fund – an Australian Government initiative.
Please note: The RISE program guidelines were updated on 8 October 2021 to clarify that rescheduling costs for projects impacted by COVID-19 restrictions are eligible, and that existing recipients are eligible to apply for additional costs that will be incurred due to rescheduling because of COVID-19. The guidelines can be accessed at grants.gov.au.
The next Batch closing date is 24 October 2021 at 23:59 AEDT. Applications submitted by this time will be assessed as Batch 6.
The latest batch of successful Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) Fund applications have seen a significant increase in support for visual arts projects, with twelve visual arts grant recipients announced last week in the fifth batch of RISE Funding. This reflects the increased eligibility for visual arts and craft applicants in the recent updates to the criteria. With $40 million remaining, NAVA strongly encourages the visual arts, craft and design sector to start working on their applications now.
Initiated in response to the impacts of COVID-19 on the arts industry, the federal government’s RISE Fund aims to support the arts and entertainment sector to reactivate and rebuild confidence in artists, investors and audiences. The program is targeting funding to assist the presentation of new, re-shaped or existing cultural and creative activities and events.
NAVA congratulates the 21 visual arts RISE Fund grant recipients announced in the last two batches. Batch four and five recipients of the RISE Fund include:
- Museums & Galleries, NSW to support regional galleries to re-engage with audiences through community outreach programs aligned with the nationally touring Barbara Cleveland ‘Thinking Business’ exhibition
- Metro Arts Visual Art (MAVA) Program, Qld invests in visual artists to build their capacity through innovative use of digital and public engagement opportunities to create sustainable career pathways.
- Fremantle Biennale, WA 'First Lights’ is a place-responsive, Aboriginal-led story-telling project and choreographed drone light show, to be delivered across 2021 - 2023.
- Melbourne Art Foundation, Vic to support Indigenous owned art centres to ethically exhibit and sell art in a fair of regional significance as part of the Melbourne Art Fair Indigenous Art Centre Program.
RISE Fund applications are now open
The next Batch closing date is 24 October 2021 at 23:59 AEDT. Applications submitted by this time will be assessed as Batch 6. NAVA strongly encourages the visual arts, craft and design sector to start working on their applications now. NAVA has received advice that independent artists, S2M arts organisations and ARIs are eligible to apply. Approximately 75% of successful applicants are S2M organisations.
If you need help making, articulating or strengthening your application, please contact the RISE Team directly via RISE@arts.gov.au or call 02 6271 7971.
RISE Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
NAVA RISE Fund info session recording and transcript
The revised guidelines clarify that:
- Sole traders with employees, local governments, museums and galleries, and business units of state and territories are now eligible to apply for funding.
- Entities of a university whose principal purpose is arts and entertainment (e.g. a museum, gallery or performing arts venue) are eligible to apply for funding. In these circumstances, the Australian Business Number of the University is used as it is deemed the applicant.
- You may apply for any costs associated with your event or activity. This includes all planning and development of your activity, the employment of artists and arts workers, staffing costs associated with your activity, and consultant fees in the planning process.
- Re-shaped or existing cultural and creative activities and events are now also eligible for funding.
- Independent artists not registered for GST and have less than 75K turnover are eligible.
- Skill retention in the arts sector has been added to the main objectives of the RISE Fund. You can now apply for funding to support artists and cultural workers in gaining employment and retaining skills in the sector.
- Rescheduling costs for projects impacted by COVID-19 restrictions are eligible.
- Existing RISE grant recipients may apply for additional costs that will be incurred due to rescheduling because of COVID-19.
- No more than 40% of anticipated marketing costs for rescheduled projects are eligible for support.
- Applications that clearly demonstrate and seek direct investment for significant employment opportunities for artists, managers, crew and other parts of the supply chain will be prioritised.
- Grant funds identified for artists and suppliers are required to be paid as a priority, with a minimum of 33% paid within 30 days of the first instalment of the grant being received, or where suppliers or artists have not been determined at the time the funding agreement is executed, 33% within 30 days of the suppliers or artists entering into a legally binding arrangement with the grant recipient.
About the RISE Fund
The Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) Fund is supporting the arts and entertainment sector to reactivate. The program is targeting funding towards the arts and entertainment sector organisations to assist in the presentation of cultural and creative projects, activities and events to rebuild confidence amongst investors, producers and consumers. Projects that target audiences in outer metropolitan, regional and remote areas will also be taken into account, as well as projects that involve tours and use local regional pre-production and production, services and support acts.
