Arts Awards
Purpose
Arts Awards support imaginative and experimental arts projects that investigate biomedical science.
The scheme aims to:
- stimulate interest, excitement and debate about biomedical science through the arts
- examine the social, cultural, and ethical impact of biomedical science
- support formal and informal learning
- encourage new ways of thinking
- encourage high quality interdisciplinary practice and collaborative partnerships in arts, science and/or education practice.
All art forms are covered by the programme: dance, drama, performance arts, visual arts, music, film, craft, photography, creative writing or digital media. The Trust invites applications for projects which engage adult audiences and/or young people.
Background
We believe the arts are an effective way of stimulating debate and engaging people with biomedical science. Visual art, music, moving image, creative writing and performance can reach new audiences which may not traditionally be interested in science and provide new ways of thinking about the social, cultural and ethical issues around contemporary science. Collaborative and interdisciplinary practice across the arts and sciences can help to provide new perspectives on both fields. The arts can also provide imaginative ways of engaging and educating young people in the field of science.
What's included
Funding can be applied for at two levels:
Small to medium-sized projects (up to and including £30 000)
Funding can either be used to support the development of new project ideas, deliver small-scale productions or workshops, investigate and experiment with new methods of engagement through the arts, or develop new collaborative relationships between artists and scientists.
Large projects (above £30 000)
This funding can be used to fund full or part production costs for large-scale arts projects that aim to have significant impact on the public's engagement with biomedical science. We are also interested in supporting high-quality, multi-audience, multi-outcome projects.
Applicants can apply for any amount within the above boundaries, for projects lasting a maximum of three years.
Eligibility
The scheme is open to a wide range of people including, among others, artists, scientists, curators, filmmakers, writers, producers, directors, academics, science communicators, teachers, arts workers and education officers.
Applicants must be based in the UK or the Republic of Ireland and the activity must take place in the UK or the Republic of Ireland.
Applicants are usually affiliated to organisations, but can apply as individuals.
Organisations might include: museums and other cultural attractions; arts agencies; production companies; arts venues; broadcast media; schools; local education authorities; universities and colleges; youth clubs; community groups; research institutes; the NHS; and science centres.
Partnership projects (between different people and organisations, e.g. scientists and ethicists, educators and artists) are welcomed.
If this is the first time an organisation is applying to the Wellcome Trust an eligibility assessment will be carried out. For this assessment, the following documentation from the applying organisation should be submitted:
- articles of association
- audited accounts from the previous two years
- details of similar projects/grant funding received
- confirmation that no funding has been received or is scheduled to be received from any tobacco company.
Application process
Application advice
Projects should involve the creation of new artistic work and must have some biomedical scientific input either through an expert taking on an advisory role or through direct collaboration. This adviser may be from a scientific or medical humanities background and must be named on your application.
Applicants are encouraged to investigate new methods of interdisciplinary working as well as new models of engagement in biomedical science.
Successful applications will feature projects that will:
- stimulate interest, excitement and debate about biomedical science through the arts
- examine the social, cultural, and ethical impact of biomedical science
- support formal and informal learning
- encourage new ways of thinking
- encourage high quality interdisciplinary practice and collaborative partnerships in arts, science and/or education practice.
Find out about recently funded Arts Awards.
If you would like advice on the general eligibility of your project please contact the Arts Awards office.
We are no longer able to return support material, so we recommend that you submit digital copies of work only.
Small awards (up to and including £30 000)
1. You should refer to the application guidelines [PDF 72KB], Grant Conditions and evaluation guidelines [Word 162KB] before completing an application form.
2. You must complete and submit the application form [Word 805KB] by the published deadline.
3. Forms should be sent to our postal address, marked for the attention of Arts Awards.
All eligible projects will be peer reviewed and assessed individually on merit and need by a Funding Committee.
Large awards (over £30 000)
We are currently seeking proposals for large arts projects. If you have an idea for a project that you think might be suitable then please send a one-page summary to arts@wellcome.ac.uk for one of our Arts Advisers to consider. We will get back in touch to discuss whether it is something that we would like to take forward.
You will then be sent a preliminary application form and guidelines, which will be reviewed by a committee. Shortlisted projects will be asked to submit a full application and attend an interview at the Wellcome Trust.
Deadlines
Small awards (up to and including £30 000)
Upcoming deadlines are:
27 January 2012
27 April 2012
27 July 2012
26 October 2012
Decisions will be made approximately three months after the relevant deadline.
Large awards (over £30 000)
We are currently seeking proposals for large arts projects. If you have an idea for a project that you think might be suitable then please contact one of our Arts Advisers ( arts@wellcome.ac.uk) with a one-page summary at any time before 16 December 2011. We will get back in touch to discuss whether it is something that can be taken forward.
Funding decisions will be made by July 2012.
Contacts
Arts Awards
Wellcome Trust
Gibbs Building
215 Euston Road
London NW1 2BE, UK
T +44 (0)20 7611 8806
E
arts@wellcome.ac.uk
If you would like to join the Arts Awards mailing list, please send your contact details to arts@wellcome.ac.uk.