Connections through Culture recognises that collaborative projects do not just move straight from idea to execution: there is almost always a necessary stage of ‘development’.

In order to support that process, we are able to offer a range of support, from simple advice and contacts to getting directly involved in helping to pull together appropriate partnerships.

Additionally, in recognition of the extra costs of developing collaborative projects, particularly over such geographical and cultural distance, small grants are available to assist with those extra costs – essentially to enable organisations to spend time together.

Who is eligible to apply?

Applications should come jointly from an arts producer or representative of an arts organisation in the UK and a counterpart in India. Applications must demonstrate serious intent and commitment from the partner organisations in both countries.

How much is the grant?

Grants are available between £500 and £5,000 or the equivalent in Indian rupees, depending on the needs of the project, according to the criteria set out below, and the funds available at the time.

What is the grant for?

The grant is expected to form part of the income side of a simple budget for a collaborative development process, to develop a specific project or a relationship.

Allowable costs include (but are not limited to) travel (both international and local), visas, accommodation and subsistence costs, technical, venue, production and translation costs.

Our grant is not for artists’ fees, as it is intended to cover the actual cost to artists, producers or organisations, not pay them for their time. However, a certain amount of match-funding (including in-kind) is expected, and if a project wishes to pay fees to artists out of those matched funds then that may be perfectly reasonable.

Does the idea or relationship need to have emerged from a Connections through Culture Creative Networking project?

No – we do not expect to have a monopoly on creating and generating good networks and relationships. As long as the project meets the criteria below, it does not matter how the project has originated

Can you help with the arrangements?

We are more than happy to advise on the development of your project or relationship, and offer advice or brokerage where appropriate: this could be to help make contact with potential partners, funders or sponsors in the partner country, for example. We are prepared to be flexible about the amount of our involvement, although it is essential in all cases that we are kept informed of the project’s progress.

You are ultimately responsible, however, for securing your own visa, travel, insurance and accommodation arrangements, although in some circumstances we will be happy to give advice.

How will my application be assessed?

There are several criteria on which development grant applications will be assessed:

			The proposal must embody the core principles of UK-India Connections through Culture
			Evidence that the relationship has potential to become a long-term, sustainable one
			Evidence of the anticipated broader impact (if any) on other artists, producers or organisations
			Awareness of the risks to the development process
			Evidence of interest from partners. How much partnership funding (including in-kind) is there?
			Evidence that the proposal will result in finished work
			That the proposed work will be of high quality. Please send us evidence or samples of your previous work where appropriate.
			Evidence of plans for how the presentation of the finished work (assuming there is finished work) will be financed – and for that presentation to be ideally in both the UK and India?
			Evidence of the reach, likely audience and wider impact of the finished work. This is an important criterion, and applicants should be aware that it is often easier for larger arts organisations to demonstrate to us their reach and potential impact, particularly in the UK context. If you are from a smaller organisation in the UK, we would advise you to give some thought to how you are going to enable a larger number of people to experience or benefit from whatever emerges from your visit.
			Evidence of how you will evaluate the development process

Please be aware that we have been receiving far more strong applications than we have resources to support. This means that some applications that meet all the criteria may still be unsuccessful, and we make final selections based on how well the proposal can meet the core principles, artistic quality and audience reach.

Please also be aware that we are aiming to build a balanced ‘portfolio’ of organisational relationships and collaborative projects, across artforms, geographies and approaches, in order to help develop the capacity of both countries to work together, and to better understand what collaboration can mean.

Priority will be given to artists, producers and organisations that have not previously received a UK-India Connections through Culture grant.

What will my responsibilities be if I am successful?

We will request a full report on your trip and the collaborative project or relationship that you have developed, within four weeks of the trip being completed. We will in principle look to place that report on this website for other artists and organisations to see, although we will be sensitive to issues of confidentiality. We are open to creative ideas about what form that report should take.

If and when the development process contributes to work being shown in either the UK or India, we expect crediting in any publicity materials, appropriate to the investment that will have been made. We will also expect further reporting after work has been shown.

How do I apply?

Download the application form and email the completed form along with a simple project budget, to preeti.gaonkar@britishcouncil.org. by the relevant deadline (see below). Please include evidence of the commitment of partners in both countries.

Please also consider including examples of both partners’ previous work, ideally in electronic format, such as images, sound clips, links to online videos, etc. This will be particularly important if your work is not currently well-known to the British Council.

In case of any queries, please contact Preeti Gaonkar on preeti.gaonkar@britishcouncil.org or (0091) (0)22 6748 6777 or Eleanor Douglas-Allan on eleanor.douglas-allan@britishcouncil.org or (0044) (0) 20 73894193.

What’s the timescale for applications and decision-making?

The remaining deadlines for applications in 2010 are given below.

We’ll acknowledge your application within one week of the closing date (please contact us if you haven’t received an acknowledgement), and you’ll get a response within a month of the closing date. It may be that we need to discuss your project further with you, in which case it may take a little longer to get a firm answer. Please bear this timescale in mind, along with the appropriate timescales for visas and other logistics, when planning your project.

			Deadline		Response
			30 June2010		31 July 2010
			30 November 2010		7 January 2011