1. ELIGIBLE TO APPLY:

Applications are invited from individuals/organisations to apply for grant support for events/activities that promote culture and the arts.

Organisations must either:

(a) be registered as a charity
(b) a not for profit organisation

2. GEOGRAPHICAL COVERAGE:

Grants will only be awarded to activities/events that will provide tangible benefits to the local community. The County Council will have particular regard to the type and quality of the events/activities proposed.

3. GRANT RATE:

Grant support will be awarded on a percentage basis of the total project cost (less income) up to a maximum of 50% in some cases.

Grants support will only be for one-off events/activities, ongoing yearly costs will not be supported e.g. salary /rent etc.

The degree of support to be offered will be at the absolute discretion of the County Council.

4. IMPLEMENTATION:

Events/Activities put forward for assistance by the applicant must be capable of being undertaken within an agreed timescale. And that the grant must be capable of being claimed from the County Council by the financial year-end in which the grant application is made.

5. RETROSPECTION:

No grant will be payable to an event/activity that has already occurred prior to the date of application to and acceptance by the County Council.

6. ELIGIBLE EXPENDITURE:

Examples of eligible expenditure that may receive grant support are:-

(a) Contribution to specified capital costs.
(b) Contribution to funding shortfalls of specified events, exhibitions etc.
(c) Contribution to match fund projects that have secured other sources of funding.

7. FINANCIAL SUPPORT:

Due to the limited financial resources available to the Scheme, all applications will be determined on merit with each application being assessed against a set of selection criteria viz.

(a) General access/opportunities for disabled people:

The application must show how many people will benefit from the events/activities and in what way. Everyone in the community including people with physical or learning disabilities should be able to take advantage of the event/activity if at all possible. The application needs to consider the needs of disabled people and to consult with relevant disability groups to encourage disabled audiences, readers or participants.

If possible it should be shown that there is grass-roots demand for the event.

(b) Suitable quality and scale:

The application needs to show that the quality and scale of the event/activity is suitable for the applicant organisation and for the market or community it will be available to.

(c) Partnership funding:

The application should raise as much money as possible towards the project’s costs from other sources. This shows those local communities, users and other relevant bodies will support the event/activity.

(d) Financial stability:

The applicant making the application needs to be financially stable and must be able to meet any running and maintenance costs associated with the event/activity. Applications must be accompanied by the most recent audited Accounts and Balance Sheet.

(e) Strategic content:

The project should identify whether the project contributes to any strategy, local or national.

An individual/organisation will only be awarded one grant for a specific event or activity in any one County Council financial year. Individuals/ organizations can apply for more than one grant per year for different events/activities.

The Culture/Arts grant scheme will be a funder of last resort and applicants must have first sought other means of co-funding the project.

8. VIABILITY OF THE EVENT / ACTIVITY:

Applicants will be expected to produce evidence of the viability of the proposed event/activity together with submission of a statement of estimated income and expenditure. Grant support will not be given to events/activities that have proven to be unsuccessful in the past.

9. PUBLICITY:

Due acknowledgment to Carmarthenshire County Council must appear in all promotional material published by the organisation receiving a grant.

10. APPLICANT'S DECLARATION:

A person must sign this with the necessary authority within the organisation making the application.

The signature must be an original and signature stamps or persons signing on their behalf will not be acceptable.

11. APPLICATION PROCESS:

All applications received by Carmarthenshire County Council will be registered and acknowledged and checked initially for eligibility.

Applications that fulfill all the grant scheme conditions will be evaluated in relation to the selection criteria as agreed by the County Council and funding will be allocated competitively within available resources.

Carmarthenshire County Council reserves the right to request additional information at its discretion.

Carmarthenshire County Council reserves the right to vary the conditions of the scheme at any time.

Carmarthenshire County Council’s decision will be final and is entitled to refuse any application without disclosing its reasons or purpose in doing so.

Carmarthenshire County Council reserves the right to publicise any grant support.

Carmarthenshire County Council reserves the right to withdraw or reclaim grant monies whereby the above conditions are not met.

12. GRANT OFFERS:

Carmarthenshire County Council in making a grant offer will require successful applicants to enter into a formal agreement setting out terms and conditions for the claiming of grant monies.

13. GRANT PAYMENTS:

The County Council on awarding a grant will only make a payment after the completion of the following: -

(a) the events/activities as stipulated in the application has occurred.
(b) that suitable evidence is presented as proof of eligible expenditure; and
(c) that suitable evidence is presented of the success of the event/activity.

(Suitable evidence will include visits by Carmarthenshire County Council staff; production of paid invoices/income receipts, attendance figures etc. In making a claim for a grant payment the applicant will be required to present a 'Statement of Account)

Only in special cases will payment of grant may be made in advance.

14. GRANT REPAYMENT:

Grant recipients must undertake to notify the County Council of any change in circumstances in regard to the grant award.

(a) To make a formal application complete the attached form and return to:

Community Grants & External Funding,
Community Development Section,
Directorate Of Education & Community Services,
Carmarthenshire County Council,
Town Hall,
Llanelli.
Carmarthenshire.
SA15 3AH.

**** No E-mail or faxed versions can be accepted ****
**** Signed hard copies only ****

Please note:

The application form must be accompanied by the following attachments:

(a) Constitution of organisation.
(b) Estimates of income and expenditure.
(c) Previous year Accounts of the organisation.

For further information please contact:

Business & Community Grants
Regeneration Department
Directorate of Economic Developmnent
Carmarthenshire County Council
Parc Amanwy
New Road
Ammanford
Carmarthenshire
SA18 3ED

Fax: 01269 590290

Note: Carmarthenshire County Council in partnership with the City and County of Swansea and the Arts Council for Wales provides free marketing advice and support through the marketing the arts in Swansea and Carmarthen (MASC).

For further information contact:

Rebecca Shepperd
MASC,
Millennium Coastal Park,
Project Office,
North Dock,
Llanelli.
SA15 2LF.

Tel: 01554 755557.

15. EXAMPLES OF RELEVANT OUTPUTS:

Jobs safeguarded
Construction jobs (nos.)
Users of service / facilities
Nos. of people trained
Nos. of New Deal clients trained
Nos. of people trained who obtain qualifications
Nos. of people trained who obtain jobs
Private sector investment levered
New Business start-ups
Businesses expanded
Businesses advised
Floorspace of business / commercial units built or improved
Buildings improved for economic, social, recreational, environmental purposes (nos.)
Land improved for recreational, social, environmental purposes
Nos. of events held
Nos. of users of service
Studies completed
Nos. in the audience
Nos. of participants
Others (please specify)