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
Small awards (up to and including £30 000)
You must complete and submit an application form [Word 287KB] by the published deadline.
You should refer to the application guidelines [PDF 105KB], Grant Conditions and evaluation guidelines [Word 162KB] before completing the form.
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)
The large awards have a two-stage application process. In the first instance, you must complete and submit a preliminary application form [Word 162KB] by the published deadline which outlines the nature of the project, the partnerships involved, and provides a budget summary.
You should refer to the preliminary application guidelines [PDF 74KB], Grant Conditions and evaluation guidelines [Word 162KB] before completing the preliminary form.
Forms should be sent to our postal address, marked for the attention of Arts Awards.
Your preliminary application will be assessed by the Arts Awards Committee. If successful, you will be invited to submit a full application (usually about two months after the preliminary deadline). Your full application will be peer-reviewed by at least two independent reviewers, and you will be invited to respond to their comments.
You will then be asked to present your proposal to the Arts Awards Committee. At this meeting, reviews and applicants' responses will be discussed and a funding decision will be made.
Application advice
Projects should involve the creation of new artistic work and must have some biomedical scientific input either through a scientist taking on an advisory role or through direct collaboration.
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 eligibility of your project or how to apply, please contact the Arts Awards office well in advance of the deadline.
Deadlines
For small to medium-sized projects (up to and including £30 000) upcoming deadlines are:
- 30 July 2010
- 29 October 2010
- 28 January 2011
- 29 April 2011
Decisions will be made approximately three months after the relevant deadline.
For large projects (over £30 000) the deadline for preliminary applications will be 8 January 2010. Decisions will be made approximately six months after the deadline.
Contacts
Arts Awards
Wellcome Trust
Gibbs Building
215 Euston Road
London NW1 2BE, UK
T +44 (0)20 7611 7222
F +44 (0)20 7611 8269
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.