Accessibility Impact Fund: FAQs

1. How much funding can I request?

You can request up to $20,000 in your expression of interest.

2. How much funding should I request?

Ask for what you think you would reasonably need. We want these grants to have a positive impact on the art sector and fund at a level for success. We want to offer as many grants as possible so please only request as much as you need.

3. How many grants are available?

We don’t know. The number of grants will depend on how many expressions of interest we get and how much each applicant requests.

4. Who is eligible?

To be eligible, you or your organisation must be based in Aotearoa New Zealand. You must also be al least one of the following:

• Arts organisations: For the purposes of this fund, an arts organisation services and furthers the interests of artists and audiences and could include but is not limited to galleries, museums, theatres, venues and performing arts companies.
• Access organisations: For the purpose of this fund, access organisations are businesses or individuals acting in a professional capacity offering a product or service that supports an arts organisation to increase accessibility.
• Artist: A person engaged in an activity that is creating, practising or demonstrating an artform.
• Art worker: A person who works for an arts organisation or access organisation whose primary business is with the arts sector. Their role may be paid or voluntary.

5. What can I use the grant for?

This fund is to increase accessibility in the arts sector. There are many ways you could do this and we want you to tell us what you want to use the grant for. We will be in touch if we think your proposal is something we aren’t funding.

Here are some things we aren’t funding:

• Academic course of study
• Competition or fundraising
• Previous expenses
• Grants may be used for capital works and building works. However, in the assessment process other expressions of interest may be prioritised.
  

6. How do I show commitment to accessibility

We are interested in seeing how accessibility is or has been part of your organisation’s mahi. We want to get a sense of your capacity to deliver the project from what you share and your approach to accessibility. Listed below are a few ways you could show your commitment in your expression of interest:

• Previous accessible programming
• Previous accessible projects
• Relationship with Deaf and disabled communities or artists and art practitioner
• Organisational policies
• Employment of Deaf and disabled people
• Deaf and disabled people in positions of leadership in your organisation.

7. How can I submit an expression of interest?

You can submit your expression of interest in various ways, by:

• Using a Word document and emailing us
• Making an NZSL video and sending it to us on Dropbox or WeTransfer
• Telling us over the phone or Zoom so we can record the conversation
• Making an audio or video file and sending it to us on Dropbox or WeTransfer
• Completing the survey monkey form online, which you will find on the application pages.

Applications, or links to them, should be sent to caleb.gordon@artsaccess.org.nz

8. When do expressions of interest close?

Expressions of interest close at 5pm Monday 29 July 2024.

9. When can I expect to hear if I was successful?

You will hear by 5pm Wednesday 7 August 2024.

10. This grant sounds like just what I need but I can’t wait until the end of July. Do you have a quick response fund?

We understand that funding and support for accessibility can be hard to come by. While this fund is not set up to offer quick response grants we would be interested to receive an expression of interest directly to caleb.gordon@artsaccess.org.nz and we may be able to assist.

11. Who is assessing?

Expressions of interest will be assessed by a panel made up of staff from Arts Access Aotearoa and the arts and access community.

12. What will happen if I am offered a grant?

If your expression of interest is offered a grant, Arts Access Aotearoa will work with you to confirm details. This may include a budget and timeline, and an agreement on how you will report on the use of your grant. We will support you in this.

13. What do I need to do if I am offered a grant?

If you are offered a grant, Arts Access Aotearoa will work with you to supply any further details required to confirm the funding. As part of this process, we will develop with you a reporting plan so we can share the impact the funding has had on the arts sector.

14. Do I need to prepare a budget?

A budget is not required as part of your expression of interest but you may be asked to prepare one if you offered a grant.

15. Do I need a timeline?

A timeline is not required as part of your expression of interest but you may be asked to prepare one if you offered a grant.

16. When can I expect to receive the grant?

Payment of grants will be made in August 2024.

17. When do I have to complete the project?

Your project needs to be completed or able to be reported on by 30 November 2024.

18. Will the Accessible Impact Fund be offered again?

No. Arts Access Aotearoa can offer these grants because of one-off funding through Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage Regeneration Fund.