21/02/2012
NITB Meet the Buyer Workshop
The NITB Meet the Buyer Workshop offers an opportunity to showcase your product to over 150 tour operators. It is being held on the 18 & 19 April at Titanic Belfast.

2012 is an extremely important year in the Northern Ireland tourism calendar, one of the most important parts of which is the centenary of the launch of the famous RMS Titanic. NITB is joining the celebrations by bringing over 150 carefully targeted tour operators into Northern Ireland to attend the 2012 Meet the Buyer Workshop. This is the ideal opportunity for you to showcase your product to a select, focused audience and, in so doing, increase your share of the tourism market in Northern Ireland.

A free half day pre workshop training course will be held at Holiday Inn Belfast on Thursday 15th March. This course will be invaluable for anyone who has not attended this type of event before or anyone who is unsure of how to make the most of their attendance. The morning will give you an understanding of the types of buyer who will be in attendance, the buying process of the operators, how to best set different types of rates and much more. The aim is to assist you to maximise your time at the event.

https://nitb.com

Deadline for registration is 24th February 2012.

21/02/2012
Do you know an excellent fundraiser?
Institute of Fundraising Northern Ireland is inviting nominations for the Annual Fundraising Awards 2012. Nominations are sought in four categories:

• Fundraising Event of the Year
• Fundraising Partnership of the Year
• The Bryan Walliker Fundraising Volunteer of the Year
• IoF Fundraising Team of the Year

The Institute of Fundraising awards are open to all individuals and fundraising teams across Northern Ireland’s vibrant voluntary and community sector. Making a nomination is simple and free of charge and you can download the application form here.

Winners will be announced at the Institute of Fundraising Northern Ireland Awards Lunch to be held on Friday 30th March at Belfast Harbour Office from 12-3pm. The Awards be hosted by Pamela Ballentine with special guest speaker Gill Raikes Director of Fundraising at the National Trust.

If you would like more information or to reserve a place at the Awards Lunch, please email Arlene Creighton arlene.creighton@princes-trust.org.uk or call 028 9075 8131.

Deadline for nominations is Wednesday 14th March 2012.

21/02/2012
Arts and Older People Programme – Deadline extended
The Arts Council of Northern Ireland Arts and Older People Programme awards grant funding for projects that assist older people in accessing and participating in the arts. The programme provides the opportunity to use the arts as a creative vehicle to explore and highlight social justice issues through a series of artist-led interventions. The Programme opened on 13th February and the deadline for applications is now 4pm on Thursday 15 March 2012.

For more information visit http://www.artscouncil-ni.org/award/older.htm

Information Sessions:

Monday 27th February 2012 10am – 12 noon, Burnavon Arts & Cultural Centre, Cookstown.

Monday 5th March 2012 10am – 12 noon, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, 77 Malone Road, Belfast.

Please register your attendance at the information sessions by contacting Emma Dargan on 028 90385200 or by e-mail edargan@artscouncil-ni.org.uk

03/02/2012
Arts and Heritage Grants - Larne Borough Council
Larne Borough Council seeks to encourage all aspects of creative and cultural activity as the basis for a rich, diverse and sustainable community. The Council acknowledges the valuable contributions of local groups and individuals to community life and recognise the need to support and work in partnership with them.

One way in which they support local cultural initiatives is through financial assistance. Arts & Heritage grants usually range from £50-500, with lower sums being more typical according to level of demand and funds available. Grant schemes are also available for Events and Community Relations, applicants will need to consider carefully which may be the most appropriate for their project.

Each application is considered on its own merit but these guidelines should be observed, as only the information provided with the application can be considered. Supplying clear information of your requirements enables the Council to make informed decisions as to how best they can support you. If you require further information or assistance please contact:

Rachael McMaster (Arts Officer) mcmasterr@larne.gov.uk or Jenny Caldwell(Heritage Officer) caldwellj@larne.gov.uk or telephone 28279482

The closing date for the current round of funding is 2 April 2012

http://www.larnemuseumandartscentre.com/

02/02/2012
Scholarships for research and education
The Leverhulme foundation has three separate arts funding schemes currently open:

Arts Bursaries provide funds for up to three years to enable institutions to offer training Bursaries – for training in the fine and performing arts; Mentorship Bursaries are also available for postgraduate students to develop their teaching and administrative skills.

Arts Initiatives provide support for up to three years for Innovative Teaching Activity Awards – supporting the artistic development of the students concerned.

Artists in Residencegrants support the residency of an artist of any kind or nationality in a UK institution in order to foster a creative collaboration between the artist and members of that institution, where creative art is not part of the normal curriculum or activity.

For more information see www.leverhulme.ac.uk

The closing date for all three of these programmes is 21 March 2012

02/02/2012
Deadline reminder; Connecting Older People - The Big Lottery
The Big Lottery Fund’s Reaching Out programme – Connecting Older People will invest up to £20 million into supporting older people most at risk across Northern Ireland.

The Big Lottery Fund in Northern Ireland is making up to £20 million available over the next two years to promote the inclusion of older people by targeting those individuals at greatest risk of exclusion or isolation.

Older people can go through a number of transitions in their lives where they are especially at risk of becoming isolated and excluded, such as retirement, health changes, bereavement, or moving into residential care or sheltered housing.

We will support projects that:
• focus on older people aged 60 and over
• last from three to five years
• target older people at greatest risk of exclusion and isolation, who could be perceived as ‘hard to reach’
• involve older people in designing and running the project.

To check eligibility and to make an application visit http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/prog_reachingout_older_people.htm?regioncode=-uk

The closing date for this current programme is 29 February 2012

02/02/2012
Deadline reminder: Creative Industries Innovation Fund (CIIF)
The current round of the Creative Industries Innovation Fund is open until 23 February.
CIIF 2 offers Grants to creative businesses through the Creative Industries Innovation Fund administered by the Arts Council, in association with NI Screen and Digital Circle.

There is one remaining open session with the Arts Council on Friday 10 February at 11.00am in MacNeice House, 77 Malone Road, Belfast. For details and to register a place contact Beverley Coomber on 02890 385271 or bcoomber@artscouncil-ni.org

Full details, guidelines and application forms are available at www.artscouncil-ni.org/award/innovation.html

02/02/2012
Clore Leadership Programme Fellowship applications
The Clore Leadership Programme is currently inviting applications from exceptional individuals with the potential to take on significant leadership roles within culture.
Sponsored by Arts Council England, these general fellowships are open to candidates with at least 5 years' paid work experience either in employment, self-employed or freelance, usually in the cultural sector. Applicants should be able to demonstrate a knowledge, understanding and passion for culture.

The Fellowship Programme aims to shape emerging creative leaders through in-depth learning to about 25 to 30 individuals a year. Fellows also benefit from unparalleled access to senior cultural leaders and to extensive networks.

The structure of the programme includes residential courses, a placement and a selection of training mentoring and coaching.

Fellows can choose to take a period away from work and receive a bursary, or in some cases continue to be attached to their place of work, with their employer being compensated.
Applications are welcome from people working across a wide range of creative and cultural activity, and also from those from outside the cultural sector who want to develop as a leader within it.

Fellowships include Arts Council of Northern Ireland Fellowship - supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and consortium fellowships.

Further details on the specific criteria for each Specialist Fellowship can be found on our website www.cloreleadership.org

The closing date for all applications is by 12 noon, 24 February 2012.

01/02/2012
Funding Clinics in L'Derry
NICVA and North-West Community Network are hosting funding advice sessions in Derry~Londonderry on Tuesday 14 February 2012.
The sessions will be in the boardroom of Apex Housing, off The Diamond, Derry~Londonderry. Sessions are available on a first-come-first-served basis: 9:00; 10:00; 11:15; 12:15; 14:00.

If you need information on why your organisations applications fail, help in completing an application form or finding funders to match your project then these sessions are relevant to your organisation.

This is a fantastic opportunity for smaller groups to pick up more knowledge or skill and leaves them better placed to navigate the funding applications.

Two demonstration sessions of Grant Tracker are also available – 15:00 and 16:00, maximum group size of twelve people, ideally one per organisation.
Groups successful in securing a session are required to submit, in advance, copies of any draft application(s) and/or failed applications and/or a project description.
To book your session please contact Georgie Finlay at NICVA on 028 9087 7777 or email georgie.finlay@nicva.org

31/01/2012
Support for the Individual Artist Programme (SIAP) - Arts Council of Northern Ireland
Support for the Individual Artist Programme (SIAP) general arts awards are now open for applications. SIAP is a funding programme for individual artists working in Northern Ireland.

Awards can be for specific projects, specialised research, personal artistic development and certain materials/ equipment. Artists of all disciplines and in all types of working practice are eligible to apply.

The maximum award is £1,500 for one project only (which can be extended in exceptional circumstances). Collaborative applications from individual artists working together in cross-discipline projects/ activities are encouraged.

The Deadline for applications is 4pm 1st march 2012.

Full details and online application portal is available at http://www.artscouncil-ni.org/award/award.htm

31/01/2012
Funding Information sessions in Belfast
Belfast City Council is launching The Community Festivals Fund and the Development & Outreach Initiative this Friday. Both funds target communities in areas of deprivation, and they both promote sustainability and community / skills development through arts, cultural and heritage activities.

The Community Festivals fund offers grants of up to £10,000 for Festivals happening between 1st April and 30th September 2012. The closing date is 24 February. A second Tranche will open on 20th June (not as previously stated 7 July) and closes on 10th August for Festivals taking place from 1st October 2011 to 31st March 2012.

The Development and Outreach Initiative offers grants up to £20,000 for partnership projects taking place between May 2012 and April
2013. The Closing date is 5 March 2012

Belfast City Council have organised open Funding Information Sessions throughout February in community locations. Community Arts Partnership will also be available for advice and information in relation to the Development and Outreach Initiative. BCC Arts Officers will offer practical advice to communities considering holding a festival.

BCC will also offer one-to-one meetings with organisations needing specific advice and guidance, and CAP can offer further assistance if a particular need is identified.

Dates and venues of funding sessions:

Tuesday 7th February
2-3pm: Ballynafeigh Community House (Ormeau Road)
4-5pm: Groundwork NI (63-75 Duncairn Gardens)

Thursday 9th February
10-11am: Richview Regeneration Centre (337 Donegall Road)
12-1pm: Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich (216 Falls Road)

Friday 10th February
10-11am: Andersonstown Leisure Centre (Andersonstown Road)
12-1pm: Mount Conference Centre (2 Woodstock Link)

Tuesday 14th February
11.30-12.30: Spectrum Centre (331 Shankill Road)
2-3pm: Belmont Tower, (82 Belmont Church Road)

http://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/culture/festivalsfund.asp

http://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/culture/developmentandoutreach.asp

24/01/2012
Children & the Arts - Start Programme
The Start programme is now open for applications for projects taking place in the 2012-13 academic year that aim to build sustainable relationships with schools over a period of three years. Grants of up to £15,000 can be awarded per year of the project.

How it works
Start provides support to cultural venues (such as theatres, galleries and concert halls) for up to three years. This enables them to build lasting relationships with young people in their local area – unlocking the arts for a new generation.

Access and participation
The young people involved in Start don’t just get to visit their partner venue at least twice each year, they also have the chance to go behind the scenes to meet artists, directors, actors, dancers and choreographers.

All Start projects include an opportunity for the participants to take part in workshops and explore different art forms before they become the artists themselves, creating their own art works, plays or dance pieces.

For more information about the project visit http://www.childrenandarts.org.uk/our-projects/start/get-involved/

The deadline for applications is 5pm Wednesday 1st February 2012.

For more funding news visit http://www.caf.ie/funding_news.asp

Date:14/03/2012
Writing successful funding applications

Date:24/02/3012
Matching services to need in an age of austerity

For more training visit www.caf.ie/training_courses.asp