We will assess all eligible applications using the information in the proposal, application form and any other information we ask you to send.

We will also use the knowledge of our assessors and comments from specialist staff across the country to inform our assessment of applications, and will request comments from British Council staff as part of the assessment process.

You will be asked to present your proposal under three assessment criteria.

Our assessors will use their expertise and judgement to come to a 'word score' for each of the criteria. The word scores we use are as follows:

Met - outstanding
The application meets the criteria and shows outstanding qualities. The application has elements that can be identified as showing best practice in the sector, innovative ways of thinking, or exceptional low risk to success.
Score = 4

Met - strong
The application meets the criteria and shows strong qualities. The application exceeds our basic expectations, is highly likely to succeed and there are elements identified as a particular strength.
Score = 3

Met
The application meets the criteria. The application meets expectations and is likely to succeed; there may be areas for improvement but these are not detrimental to success.
Score = 2

Potential
The application does not meet the criteria but shows potential to do so. The application has elements that can be identified as needing improvement and if remedied, the application would succeed.
Score = 1

Not met
The application does not meet the criteria. The application is unlikely to succeed as it fails to meet the criteria and would require considerable improvement.
Score = 0

Our assessor will recommend that we fund any application that is judged as met, met - strong, or met - outstanding against all of the assessment criteria.

If your application is assessed as 'potential' or 'not met' against any one of the four assessment criteria, it is unlikely to be recommended for a grant. There is a high demand for our grants, and we cannot fund all of the applications that meet our criteria.

When and how we will reach a decision

If you provide all the information we have asked for, we will reach a decision within six weeks of the deadline. We will consider how well the applications met the assessment criteria and then the range and spread of work we fund (aiming to fund a balanced range of activities across artforms and geography in England and abroad).