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Accessibility

Support making an application

What access support is available to applicants?
All the key documents you need to prepare your application are available in alternative formats such as Easy Read and audio. If you require the documents in another format such a braille, get in touch and we’ll be happy to help. 

We can also offer access support if you, or the key people working on your organisation’s application:

  • are D/deaf
  • are disabled
  • are neurodivergent
  • experience learning difficulties
  • have a mental health condition, or have a long-term health condition

The access support we can offer includes a named contact in Customer Services who will help support you throughout your application. Where possible or practical we may also pay for a support worker. 

We’ll also consider additional requests for assistance on a case-by-case basis (for example if you need help scribing or connecting to a specialist support worker). We can also agree extensions to the application deadline for those who may need additional time on a case-by-case basis.

Can the Arts Council pay for a support worker to help applicants with their application? 
Yes. Our Customer Services team will help you to arrange payment for your Support Worker. When finding the best way to help, we consider cost and practicality as well as your preference and comfort.

We can either pay for a support worker you usually work with - or where possible, help you directly with support work if you require it.

Who do applicants with access needs contact for support? 

Contact Customer Services >

There is a lot of complex information to navigate, what additional support is there for disabled led organisations?
We recognise that we have published a lot of information. We have done this because this is a new application process based on a new strategy and we are seeking different information than we have previously requested through the NPO application process. We also wanted to give applicants as much information as possible so that new organisations can understand in detail what will be involved in applying for and becoming an NPO or IPSO. 

Recognising that there is a lot of information to digest, following the publication of the Addendum to the Guidance for Applicants we have extended the application deadline from 26 April to 18 May, and added an extra week compared to the original schedule. We have also made clear on our website which information is essential to read and which information is useful to read but not essential

We have a dedicated support team for disabled led applicants within our customer services team. Any disabled led organisation who needs additional support and advice should contact them asap. Through that team we will monitor requests for additional support and consider what further help we can offer to disabled led applicants. Question added 28 February 2022

Reflecting access in your application 

Can we add access costs to our application?
Yes, access costs can be included in your application budget. 

Where do we reflect access costs in the application? 
There is a line in the budget template for access costs (under ‘overheads’).

How should access budgeting be reflected in the application for work that has not yet been planned (as 2023 is far away at this stage)?
Applicants will need to make an estimate of what costs will be needed based on the type of work they envisage delivering. If you are made a conditional offer of funding, then you will need to submit an updated budget during funding agreement negotiation as well as for each funding year, which will be an opportunity to update cost details to be more accurate.

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About the 2023-26 Investment Programme & delivering Let’s Create

What is the 2023-26 Investment Programme?
The 2023-26 Investment Programme is our name for the two funding programmes which will invest in organisations from 1 April 2023 until 31 March 2026: the National Portfolio Organisations (NPOs) programme and the Investment Principles Support Organisations (IPSOs) programme.  

We’ll invest a significant proportion of our income in NPOs and IPSOs, so in return for this investment, we expect them to make the greatest contribution to helping us realise our strategy, Let’s Create.  

National Portfolio Organisations and Investment Principles Support Organisations will provide a backbone of creative and cultural provision across the country and play a major role in helping us realise our new strategy - Let’s Create. NPOs will deliver the Outcomes we set out in Let’s Create, while IPSOs will support organisations and/or individuals to embed the Investment Principles in their work. 

What is the Arts Council’s budget for this funding?
We haven’t yet formally agreed the final budget for this investment programme with our National Council. We expect the overall investment in NPOs and IPSOs to be higher than the current level but can’t confirm an exact budget at this point.Answer updated 28 February 2022

What will be the duration of the funding?
Organisations will become National Portfolio Organisations and Investment Principles Support Organisation on 1 April 2023 until 31 March 2026. 

What’s the application window and when will decisions be made?
The application window is the period of time from when the online application form is available for organisations to work on and complete their application. We anticipate that the portal will open week commencing 28 February and close on 18 May. You will need to complete the form in our online application portal, Grantium, and upload templates and documents to your application. You can find a Word version of the application form and the templates you’ll need to upload, along with the full Guidance for Applicants and other resources, here. 

Applicants will be informed whether we are making a conditional offer of funding by the end of October 2022. 

You can start preparing your application now by reading all the available material and starting a draft using the questions in the applicant guidance and the templates.

What’s Let’s Create and why is it important to this investment process?Let’s Create is Arts Council England’s ten-year strategy, which spans 2020-2030. It sets out our vision and includes the Outcomes and Investment Principles which are central to your application and delivery as a National Portfolio Organisation and Investment Principles Support Organisation.

Where can I find the Elements for each Outcome and what they mean?
The Elements are listed in the Introduction of the Delivery Plan, and you can click through to read more contextual information about the Outcomes. Question added 22 March 2022

One of the elements (Element P) describes ‘bringing world class culture to audiences in England’, does this refer to culture that we create or the facilitation of international work coming to England?
This element of the Outcome ‘A Creative & Cultural Country’ refers to international work coming into England to ensure the cultural sector is innovative, collaborative and international. Each of the Elements are listed in the Introduction of the Delivery Plan, and you can click through to read more contextual information about the Outcomes.Question added 5 April 2022

Two of the elements (Element C & D) describe ‘Widening and improving opportunities for children and young people to take part in creative activities inside schools’ and ‘Widening and improving opportunities for children and young people to take part in creative activities outside schools’. What is the difference between these two types of activity?
Opportunities inside schools would refer to formal activity organised through a school, whereas opportunities outside school would be more general activity aimed at children, young people and families. Question added 5 April 2022

How will National Portfolio Organisations and Investment Principles Support Organisations help the Arts Council deliver its strategy, Let’s Create? 
As we’ll invest a significant proportion of our income in National Portfolio Organisations (NPOs) and Investment Principles Support Organisations (IPSOs), in return for this investment, we expect them to make the greatest contribution to helping us realise our strategy, Let’s Create.  

  • NPOs will help us deliver our strategy by delivering on one or more of our Outcomes, along with embedding our Investment Principles in their work.
  • While IPSOs will support the sector to embed our Investment Principles in their work (along with in their own work).

Will the 2023-26 Investment Programme feature Bands and Sector Support Organisations like the current National Portfolio? 
We will not be banding National Portfolio Organisations, nor will we have Sector Support Organisations from 2023 to 2026. We will however invest in organisations who want to provide support to other organisations and/or individuals to embed our Investment Principles (see previous question). 

How many National Portfolio Organisations will the Arts Council invest in from 2023? 
We don’t have a fixed number in mind. We intend to assemble the strongest portfolio that we can within the budget we have available. We want to build a National Portfolio that will demonstrate the best use of our Investment Principles and which we believe will best deliver our Outcomes.  

Is the Arts Council going to welcome new organisations?
We hope to assemble a group of organisations which is different to the current one, both in its membership and the way its members operate. We expect it will combine new organisations working alongside current National Portfolio Organisations. The balance between the two will depend on the applications we receive.  

The Guidance for Applicants to the IPSO programme states the role of these organisations is to ‘help other cultural organisations and/or individuals embed and progress at least one of the four Investment Principles’. This is quite specialised work; how does this differ from what Sector Support Organisations did previously?
The main difference is that IPSOs’ offer will be specifically focussed on supporting creative and cultural organisations to embed the Investment Principles in their work. These are clearly set out in our strategy, Let’s Create.  Sector Support Organisations’ delivery against the funding agreement focussed on one or more of the five goals in our previous strategy. 
All applicants that are current NPOs (including SSOs) will need to consider whether to apply as an NPO or an IPSO. If the activity you are seeking support for is predominantly publicly focused, then you should probably apply as an NPO. If your activity is predominantly focused on supporting the sector, then you should probably apply as an IPSO. Question added 22 March 2022

If we are a current SSO, is the assumption that we apply to the IPSO programme?
No, this will depend on whether the activity you are applying for best contributes to achieving our Outcomes or supporting the sector to embed the Investment Principles. Question added 22 March 2022

Touring

Why are we being asked whether we define as a touring organisation?
This information helps us to monitor and report on where our investment is being spent. It means we will be able to see the impact of touring in different areas, gather information on touring patterns and understand where activity is reaching and where the gaps are.

Identifying as a touring organisation doesn’t mean your application will be treated differently to other organisations applying to the NPO or IPSO programmes. You will be able to give us more information about touring within your application form and the mandatory templates. Question added 22 March 2022

Is there a definition of when touring forms a significant part of an organisation’s activity? 
Broadly we define touring activity as the distribution of the same product, programme, or event to at least two different locations. If an organisation regularly tours activity and this funding is likely to support part or all of this, then we would class this as a significant part of their activity. This touring could be on an area, national or international basis.

Activity may also include some digital distribution or be a hybrid of digital and live work. It could involve distributing filmed work through our supported disciplines to different locations, again in partnership with two or more venues. Or it could be a mix of physical touring and digital distribution.  

Applicants that solely distribute their work digitally would not be classified as a touring organisation.  Question added 22 March 2022

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Eligibility

Who can apply?
Information about the organisations that are eligible to apply to be a National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) or Investment Principles Support Organisation (IPSO) can be found on our website.

Are University Libraries eligible to apply?
Yes, non-public libraries such as University Libraries are eligible to apply where the primary aims of the application are creative and cultural activity, but your organisation wouldn’t be considered a ‘libraries NPO’ and could not apply for your core library activity, as the criterion for this is that only public libraries operating as part of the statutory service as defined in the Public Libraries and Museums Act of 1964 are eligible to apply for this programme. Information about the organisations that are eligible to apply to be an NPO or IPSO can be found on our website.Answer updated 22 March 2022

Does an organisation need match-funding to apply to be a National Portfolio Organisation or Investment Principles Support Organisation? 
No, although this is a highly competitive programme, and it is very unlikely that we would fund 100% of an organisation’s turnover. We do consider the nature of your organisation, for example how it works and who with, as well as its scale when we think about whether the request for funding (including the ‘match’ you generate) is reasonable.

If you are a current National Portfolio Organisation you will be a given a planning figure that must form the basis of your application. If you are not currently a National Portfolio Organisation, you should discuss an appropriate application level in your Introductory Conversation.

Is there a minimum annual turnover requirement to apply?
No, there is no minimum turnover. The minimum amount you can apply for, however, is £50,000 per year.

Does an organisation have to show a specific level of financial viability in order to apply to be a National Portfolio Organisation or Investment Principles Support Organisation?  For example, do they need a certain amount of unrestricted reserves?
No, but we would expect you to demonstrate viability and to show that you can achieve at least a break-even budget over the length of the funding period and, in general, that you would be able to maintain/contribute to reserves in line with your stated reserves policy. Moved from Templates section into Eligibility section February 2022 
Answer updated 5 April 2022.

Consortium and partnership applications 

Can more than one organisation make a joint application?
We welcome applications from consortiums and partnerships. By ‘consortium’ we mean a group of separate organisations joining together in a contractual arrangement and co-operating to deliver a programme of activity for the whole of the investment period. One organisation must act as the lead organisation and submit the application. If the application is successful, the lead organisation will be accountable for any grant that we award and will be the only consortium partner classed as an NPO or IPSO.

Can a consortium application include organisations that aren’t arts organisations, museums or libraries?
Organisations that deliver creative and cultural activity can apply or form part of a consortium if they meet our other eligibility criteria. Information about the organisations that are eligible to apply can be found on our website.

Can an organisation be part of more than one consortium application?
No. Organisations cannot be part of more than one consortium application and cannot be part of a consortium application and apply as an organisation in their own right.

How should a consortium complete the finance template?
Consortiums should complete the balance sheet for the lead organisation, and the budget and cash flow forecast for the consortium activity. Depending on the nature of the consortium this could be just for consortium activity (so more of a programme budget) or a budget that consolidates the organisational budgets of partners (this would perhaps be where two partners were applying together and the consortium activity is synonymous with the activity of both organisations rather than being a separate strand). Question added 22 March 2022

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Boards and governance

How will the Arts Council work with Boards and governance structures for the new 2023-26 Investment Programme?
For the Arts Council, one of the characteristics of a ‘well run’ organisation is that it has a board or oversight group that is independent of the executive officers and can take responsibility for ensuring the efficient and effective delivery of the organisation’s funding agreement with the Arts Council. This responsibility will include ensuring that the organisation’s executive officers are being held to account for progress against the targets and success measures that are mutually agreed as part of the funding agreement - and that the Arts Council receives regular reports on that progress. 

We will use board papers as the basis for our monitoring and will assess the risk to our funding agreement on the information provided through board papers (you should consider using the Financial, Outcomes and Investment Principles templates that form part of the funding agreement as a mechanism for reporting to your board on a quarterly basis). If we assess that the risk level should be increased to ‘major’ (more information on this can be found in the Relationship Framework), we will expect to hold conversations with the Chair and maybe other board members, as well as with executive officers about action that may be taken to mitigate risk. The conversations would be about helping you to improve the situation, but if no progress is made, your funding could be at risk.

This investment process will see an increased focus by the Arts Council on the governance arrangements that National Portfolio Organisations and Investment Principles Support Organisations have in place. For more information, you should read relevant publications on our website including the role of boards and the Governance: Working with the Investment Principles (PDF, 335.59 KB).

How do the governance requirements for this programme align with Charity Commission guidelines?
NPOs and IPSOs for 2023-26 will work with us in a different way to current National Portfolio Organisations. Organisations will be required to work closely with their governing bodies to take responsibility for delivering on the funding agreement. The funding agreement will set out targets on how an organisation will embed our Investment Principles and deliver agreed Outcomes.  

We expect NPO and IPSO organisations to have a governance structure that includes a body that has independent oversight of the organisation. For many, this will be a formal board of trustees, and this will satisfy our requirements.  

The board/oversight group members should all be independent of the
executive. Where that is not immediately achievable, or where, for example, there is a clear rationale for having executive staff members on the board/oversight group, independent
members will form a clear majority.

We believe the governance requirements for the 2023-26 Investment programme are a set of reasonable actions and behaviours which any group that has aligned itself with a recognised code of good practice will be able to demonstrate. For more information, we recommend starting with the Charity Governance Code.Question added 22 March 2022

Our (local authority or university) service has a structured decision and scrutiny process in place in line with all other services provided. Why do we need an advisory board and what would its relationship be to the legal entity?
Our funding agreement would be with the legal entity, for example the local authority or university, but we would expect an advisory or oversight group to be in place to fulfil all the monitoring, scrutiny and challenge roles that we have set out in our advice notes above. This group might already exist (e.g. a local authority scrutiny committee) or be established specially for the purpose. We are not stipulating who needs to be on that group, and it can be comprised of staff from elsewhere in the local authority or university providing they are not directly delivering the funding agreement. It is important that it should a) be independent of the executive officers delivering the activity set out in the funding agreement and b) fully aware of its responsibilities to oversee the funding agreement.  It is also important that this oversight group is able to have a clear focus on the Arts Council’s funding agreement and its delivery and to provide detailed scrutiny or challenge as required. It is this group that the Arts Council may want to talk to if it has concerns about the operation of the funding agreement. An advisory group should also include individuals who are able to support the executive team, acting as a sounding board and giving advice when needed.

You will be able to discuss whether an existing group will be able to deliver this role in your Introductory Conversation and/or your funding negotiations if offered funding.

For more information, you should read relevant publications  on our website including the role of boards and Governance: Working with the Investment Principles (PDF, 335.59 KB). The Charity Governance Code may also be helpful, even if you are not a charity. 

Does an organisation need a Board or governance structure set up in time for making an application?
No – not at the point of making an application, but if you cannot demonstrate that you will have appropriate structures in place by 1 April 2023, we would not confirm an offer of funding. Any new structure must be in place by 1 April 2023.

If we are planning on setting up a Board of Trustees/Advisory Group, but won’t have it in place by the time we submit our application should our current governance document be attached to our profile, or should we update it to the document we will have in place from 1 April 2023? 
The governance document attached to your profile will need to reflect the governance structure that you have in place at the point of application. You can tell us about any planned changes or developments to your governance structure in the governance and management section of the application form, as well as in relation to the Investment Principles where relevant. Question added 22 March 2022

Where the monitoring information section of the application form asks about the breakdown of our senior management and board, should we respond with the current information or indicate who we plan to have in place by 1 April 2023?
The breakdown you provide in your application form should be an accurate representation of your senior management and board at the point of application. You can tell us about any planned developments in relation to your governance and senior management in the governance and management section of the application form, as well as in relation to the Investment Principles where relevant Question added 22 March 2022

Does the Arts Council have any resources or support to help with developing a Board or governance structure?
We have materials on our website in our Investment Principles Resource Hub that will help, and (if you are not currently a National Portfolio Organisation) you may wish to consider submitting an application to National Lottery Project Grants for support. However, you would need to carefully review the applicant guidance to ensure that your project would be eligible, and you should be aware that competition for funds is high.

You should also review our document on the role of boards, and the Charity Governance Code which is very helpful, even if you are not a charity. 

What is an executive officer? 
By ‘executive officer’ we mean those people within your organisation that are paid regularly (usually in the form of a salary) and are key decision makers. Executive officers include roles like a Chief Executive, Executive Director or Artistic Director. They are normally directly accountable to the board.

Our Chief Executive is on our board – do they have to resign?
We do not consider it to be best practice to have executive officers as voting members of boards. However, we recognise that this can sometimes be required and is permissible in law. We would expect there to be a clear Conflict of Interests policy in place (so that, for example, an executive officer could not be involved in decisions about their rate of pay) and terms of reference that set out the role of the board and the role of the executive team. We would also require that independent members of the board would be in the majority. An independent member would not receive regular payment and would not be related to the executive officer/s in any way. 

I’m a freelancer and a board member of an organisation that I sometimes work for – do I have to stand down?
We recognise that it is good practice to have creative practitioners and freelancers represented on boards, and also sometimes that these workers would be paid to work for the organisation, for example on a production or outreach programme, or to produce artwork. We would expect there to be a clear Conflict of Interests policy in place (so that, for example, a freelancer could not be involved in decisions about their own rate of pay). In some circumstances, the creative practitioner and/or the Chair may feel that it would be in both their own and the organisation’s interests to stand down for a defined period of time, for example if a freelance engagement was for a long period, say several months. 

If your organisation is a charity, as well as reading general information provided on our website you should ensure that any payment made to trustees is compliant with the Charity Commission’s rules. Generally, charities can’t pay their trustees for simply being a trustee. Some charities do pay their trustees – they can only do so because it’s allowed by their governing document, by the Charity Commission or by the courts. Further information can be found on the Charity Commission’s website.

Can we pay the people who sit on our board or oversight group or include expenses and access costs in our budgets for board members?
We encourage boards to be diverse and inclusive and recognise that this may mean having a budget for expenses and/or access costs.

If your organisation is a charity, you should ensure that any payment made to trustees is compliant with the Charity Commission’s rules.  Further information can be found on the Charity Commission’s website.

Are organisations with advisory boards eligible to apply? For example Local Authority-run museums?
Some organisations, for example local authority or university-run services such as museums or arts centres, and organisations set up as limited companies with a sole founder-director, will not have a board.

Our funding agreement would be with the legal entity, for example the local authority, but we would expect an advisory or oversight group to be established to fulfil monitoring, scrutiny and challenge roles. The majority of the group should consist of independent members i.e. members that don’t receive regular payments for their role on the group or are related to the executive officers in any way.

We are a Local Authority Museum and would typically have our plans and policies signed off at Local Authority Cabinet level, would that satisfy the requirement for an oversight group?

Local Authority Cabinet level would be too far removed to meet the requirements for an oversight group. The ongoing monitoring of development requires a dedicated group that meets regularly and has  a clear view of targets and progression.

This oversight group might already exist (for example, a local authority scrutiny committee) or be established specially for the purpose. We do not stipulate who needs to be on that group, and it can be comprised of staff from elsewhere in the Local Authority or University, providing they are not directly delivering the funding agreement. 

The advisory group should also include individuals who are able to support the executive team, acting as a sounding board and giving advice when needed.Question added February 2022

How can we show that our board or advisory group has responsibility for monitoring and providing ‘scrutiny and challenge’?
We would advise that you develop and implement Terms of Reference that make it clear that the board or advisory group has the power to provide effective scrutiny and challenge of the executive officers. The Charity Governance Code is very helpful here, even if you are not a charity. Terms of reference would set out the roles of the board or advisory group, and how it connects with the executive team.

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The application form and templates

Application form

What will the application form look like and where is it hosted?
Your application will be submitted on our online portal, Grantium. Whilst a number of questions will be asked of you on that platform, some crucial parts of your application will be completed using Excel templates offline, which you’ll then upload to Grantium. There is more information about the application form and templates on our website.  Questions from the application form can be found in the applicant guidance. We have also put together a Word version of the application forms for NPOs and IPSOs.

If we enter an amount that we plan to request in the Eligibility Questionnaire on Grantium, are we able to change that figure later?
Yes, you will be able to amend the amount of funding requested in the application form. Question added 22 March 2022

Do organisations need to submit business plans as part of their application?
No, organisations don’t have to submit a business plan as part of their application.

We do expect well run organisations to have their own business plans in some form and that these will be referenced in board paper submissions. However, the basis of our funding agreement and monitoring over the investment period will be your Activity Plans.

Good business plans should encompass organisational planning as a whole. The Activity Plan should form a part of your overall business plan and focus on how you will contribute to our Outcomes/IPs.Answer updated 28 February 2022

What templates will applicants have to use?
Applicants will have to upload the following templates with their application:

  • Financial template
  • Activity plan (Outcomes or Investment Principles support)
  • Investment Principles plan

There is more information about the application templates on our website here and we have published the financial template here.

Please note that we would recommend that, if your application is successful, you use the templates as a basis for reporting to your board or oversight group.

Do you expect Investment Principles Support Organisations to support organisations to embed one Investment Principle, or to support across all four?
Within the application, IPSOs may apply to deliver support to organisations in embedding up to four Investment Principles. However, supporting across all of these would be quite a broad remit for an organisation, and you may find you can make a more meaningful and higher quality contribution by specialising Question added February 2022

If you are applying against an Investment Principle, is the expectation that all three core features should be covered?
The features are there to help you shape your thinking around the Investment Principles. Over the three-year funding period we would expect to see some work across all three features, but you don’t have to commit to addressing everything at once.Question added 22 March 2022

If we are applying as an IPSO, do we need to address the Outcomes and Elements from Let’s Create?
No, but we do need IPSOs to embed the Investment Principles in their own organisation as well as to help other cultural organisations and/or individuals embed one or more of the Investment Principles.Question added 22 March 2022

Do you expect National Portfolio Organisations to deliver against all three Outcomes or just focus on one?
If your organisation is applying for up to £1million per year in NPO funding, you can apply to deliver against up to three Outcomes but may focus on just one or two. 

You should consider that the depth and quality of the contribution to one Outcome is more important than trying to achieve a limited contribution to each.

We will assess your contribution to each Outcome that you apply against. If you want to propose an activity plan that delivers strongly against all three Outcomes, then you can.

We have also explained in the guidance for applicants that organisation applying for £1 million per year or more are unlikely to be successful unless they show how they will support all three of our Outcomes.Question added February 2022

Should we go into specific detail of our planned activities with names of artists, partners etc in the application form?
If you have this information, you can tell us about it in the Activity Plan template or in the narrative sections of your application, or you can describe how you will select partners and creative practitioners where appropriate.  However, we are not expecting to see too many details, so focus on collaborations that are significant in relation to the Outcomes and Elements you are applying against. You can also tell us about how you go about selecting partners and creative practitioners, where you don’t yet know who you will be working with.  Question added 22 March 2022

If we don’t provide exact details on the names of artists and partners, we plan to work with then how will the Arts Council assess artistic quality?
In the assessment of your application, as well as the Activity Plan template, we will look at the narrative sections of the application form, assessing how you talk about your track record of work and your approach to selecting partners and artists. Question added 22 March 2022

How do we work out the percentage contribution to an Outcome in the application form?
This is the proportion of activity that contributes to each Outcome you are applying against.

If you are only applying against one Outcome, the percentage would therefore be 100% but, if applying against two Outcomes for example, you should judge whether the split is 50/50 or more weighted towards one than the other. 
We understand this weighting might not be exact, but it will help us to understand the scale of contribution to our Outcomes. Question added February 2022

How should organisations that are part of a Local Authority or University answer the question on our current reserves target?
While we have asked for your current reserves target in the application form, we understand that this may not be applicable to all organisations.
You can use the narrative sections of the application form to note if the service or organisation you are applying on behalf of does not establish its own reserves but draws on those of the wider organisation where necessary and appropriate. Question added 22 March 2022

What do you mean by supporting ‘core business’?
NPOs and IPSOs will be funded to deliver a programme of activity over the full investment period. In order to deliver that activity, you will probably need to employ others that are not directly engaged in it (for example, people working on finance or marketing), and you will have other costs such as rent or utilities. Your core business costs include all those elements of your business that you need to pay for as well as the activity you deliver to your users, visitors, or audiences. Our funding supports all these costs; hence we support your core business through this investment programme, not just the creative and cultural activity you deliver. Question added 22 March 2022

We are aware that the Arts Council has recently published a report that specifically refers to activity in organisations like ours. How do we acknowledge other Arts Council reports or calls to action in the application form?
In the assessment of your application, as well as the Activity Plan template, we will look at the narrative sections of the application form, including the outline of your plans for the three year funding period where you set out an overview of your organisation’s proposed contribution to the relevant Outcomes, or supporting the sector in embedding the Investment Principles, in Let’s Create. Each of these sections provides opportunities for you to refer to issues that have been identified by the Arts Council in its response to recent reports that it has commissioned particularly South Asian Dance & Music or Fair & Inclusive Classical Music (PDF, 111.51 KB).

If your work is relevant to these reports, we would encourage you to make reference to how you will address the issues raised in these reports as you talk about your planned work in addressing our Outcomes and Elements and/or Investment Principles.Question added 5 April 2022

Diverse led organisations

What is your definition of a diverse led organisation?
We report on diverse led organisations across five categories. By ‘diverse led’ we mean organisations where 51% or more of the board and senior management team identify as 

  • Black, Asian or Ethnically diverse
  • Disabled
  • Female
  • LGBT+
  • From a lower socio-economic background

We will also look at how representative of contemporary England the individuals that lead the organisation (the Chief Executive, Artistic Director, Executive Director, Chairperson, or equivalent positions) are in relation to disability, race, sex, sexual orientation as well as socio-economic background.Question added February 2022

Would my organisation be defined as diverse led if the board and senior leadership represent a combination of these characteristics or does this definition mean 51% should represent a single protected characteristic?
We define a ‘diverse-led’ organisation as one where 51% of the board and senior leadership team represent a single protected characteristic (or are from a lower socio-economic background). When we consider diversity through our balancing process, we will look at whether an organisation is ‘diverse-led’, as well as: 

  • how representative of contemporary England the individuals that lead your organisation are 
  • whether your board and senior management team has a mix of people with different protected characteristics (and socio economic background). 

Question added 22 March 2022

What is your definition of lower socio-economic background?
To determine socio-economic background, we ask you to select the occupation of the highest income earner in the household of each of your board members and senior management when they were aged 14.
When answering the question on socio economic background the following occupation responses will be classified as lower socio-economic background:

  • Semi Routine Manual and Service Occupations 
    (e.g., postal worker, machine operative, security guard, caretaker, farm worker, catering assistant, receptionist, sales assistant)
  • Routine Manual and Service Occupations 
    (e.g., HGV driver, van driver, cleaner, porter, packer, sewing machinist, messenger, labourer, waiter/waitress, bar staff)
  • Short Term Unemployed 
    (Claimed Jobseeker’s Allowance or earlier unemployment benefit for a year or less)
  • Long Term Unemployed 
    (Claimed Jobseeker’s Allowance or earlier unemployment benefit for more than a year)

Answer Updated 22 March 2022

Why is sexual identity not referred to in relation to your diversity balancing criterion? 
The data that we have on the National Portfolio does not evidence underrepresentation of LGBT+ led organisations. So, whilst we will still analyse applications in this regard, and report on the percentages of LGBT+ led organisations in the portfolio, we do not have the evidence of under-representation to enable us to prioritise these applications in balancing in relation to diversity. Question added February 2022

If my organisation’s core participants are representative of a protected characteristic but our board and senior leadership are not yet fully representative, will this still be considered when balancing?
In balancing we take into account the organisation’s leadership. However, we will consider what you tell us about your participants and/or audiences when assessing your application against the Outcomes and Investment Principles. Question added 22 March 2022

Activity Plan Templates

I have been having trouble using the templates on my computer, is there a version for people using a Mac or who don’t have access to Excel?
We published updated versions of the templates to address the levelling up for culture places outlined in the addendum to the guidance, on Wednesday 23 February 2022. The updated versions have a reduced file size, and this may resolve the issues that you are having. You can download the templates from our website, here.
If you are still experiencing issues when using the new version of the templates, please get in touch with our customer services team at enquiries@artscouncil.org.uk who will look into it for you.Question added 22 March 2022

I was working on the first version of the activity template; do I need to submit these new versions with my application? What has changed?
The activity templates for NPOs and IPSOs published with the guidance for applicants included location forms showing Arts Council Priority Places in bold. When we published the addendum to the guidance, we also issued updated versions that include the longer list of Levelling Up for Culture Places, also in bold. The updated templates also have a reduced file size, which should improve usability. We would encourage applicants to use these updated versions. 

For those applicants who have started completing their template and don’t want to change to the updated version, we will be happy to accept submissions using previous versions of the templates. 

If you do submit activity information on the original version of the templates, please be reassured that any activity entered against one or more of the Levelling Up for Culture Places will still be identified by us and considered and assessed as part of our balancing and decision-making processes.Question added 28 February 2022

Why can we only include a maximum of ten activities on the Activity Plan Template? 
The requested activity plan is focused only on the first year of activity (2023-24). We think this should provide us with a good amount of information to understand what your organisation intends to achieve, without requesting detailed planning across the whole period, especially given the uncertain climate as a result of the pandemic. 
One ‘activity’ on the template may combine a number of different elements of activity, for example one activity on the template could include performances, workshops and digital distribution relating to the Outcome that you have selected for that activity.Question added 14 February 2022

Should the cost of activities listed on the Activity Plan template add up to the amount of funding requested in our application?
Whilst the Activity Plan should be focussed on activities that will contribute to the Outcomes and Elements (or Investment Principles if you’re applying as an IPSO), we don’t expect these to be limited to the activity funded by your NPO or IPSO agreement. You should include activities paid for from your wider organisational budget so that your plan represents a full picture of what you will deliver in 2023/24. Your total budget will also include overheads and other running costs such as marketing or fundraising. Your funding request to us may be for the total cost of your organisation’s operation (all activities, plus overheads and other costs) less anticipated income. This may be more than the cost of the activity you attribute to the Outcomes and Elements.

You may, however, be applying for a specific strand of your work, for example a commercial theatre applying for education and outreach activity. In this case, your request may add up to less than the total cost of activity listed in your Activity Plan Template. Question added 22 March 2022

There is a character limit of 250 for Activity but no character limit for Outputs and Proposed Targets and Success Measures. How much are we supposed to write in these sections?
For the Outputs and Proposed Targets & Success Measures sections of the template we haven’t imposed a character limit, but we do advise that applicants don’t exceed 600 characters so that we can best assess clear and concise applications.   
Question added 22 March 2022

How should we complete the Activity Plan template when many of our activities deliver against two or more Outcomes?
We recognise that some of your activity may respond to more than one Outcome, so we have asked you to list them under a Primary Outcome that best fits that activity. You can also refer to other Outcomes of that activity in the narrative answers in your application form if relevant or consider splitting the activity into more than one activity so that you can more directly respond to different Outcomes. Question added 22 March 2022

If we are applying against an Outcome, do we need to address all its elements?
We recognise that there are ways to contribute to our Outcomes that go beyond the Elements we have identified. However, in this investment round, we are particularly keen to invest in activity that deliver against these Elements. You do not need to attempt to address all the Elements in your planned activity.
Question added 22 March 2022

If we are planning activity that doesn’t fall in the first year of the funding period, do we exclude this contribution to the Outcomes and Elements this from the Activity Plan template ?
That’s right – the Activity Plan is just for activities that will take place in the first funding year (2023/24), but you can tell us about your longer term plans in the narrative question in the application form, including anything relevant in relation to the Elements.Question added 22 March 2022

When we are listing days of ‘public-facing’ work in the Location form, does this mean the activity is open to anyone or would this include activity that involves a group, such as a workshop with participants from a particular demographic? 
The Location form is designed to capture the location of the public offer of your activity. When listing public facing days of activity, you should only capture days where there is public involvement in an activity. If, for example, you are planning a community theatre production, you would include any open workshops as public-facing. Development or rehearsal could also be listed as public facing if it involves members of the public. The resulting performance or exhibition would, again, be classed as public facing, even if your rehearsal period was private. Question added 22 March 2022

If your activity is delivered in a particular location but is open to anyone, not only local participants, is its reach National?
No, if an activity is taking place in a certain location, then that is the location which should be captured on the template, regardless of where the participants or audiences are coming from.  If you think it’s important that we know where the participants are coming from, you can tell us in the Activity box or your narrative.Question added 22 March 2022

If you are producing a physical product (for example a book) which will be available for national audience but has a launch in one physical location. Would you list that as a national activity and add the local authority where the launch takes place on the Activity Plan template?
Yes, that launch event would be open to the public so the location should be captured on the template along with selecting National reach for the product itself.Question added 22 March 2022

How should we represent digital work on the Location form?
There is a section on the location form to note that activity is digital and list the kind of activity (broadcast (radio & tv), online, immersive / interactive or other). If, as well as being digital your work has a location specific element – for instance site specific immersive experiences and exhibitions, digital tours and online participatory work with specific communities you should also identify this location on the form and provide the number of performance days in each location. Question added 22 March 2022

Can actions that we have included in our activity plan also be mirrored as an ambition in the Investment Principles plan?
There may be some overlap and activity can be referenced on both templates if relevant, but the Activity Plan template primarily relates to the activity that you are applying against, whereas the Investment Principles plan relates to development work within your own organisation.

If you are applying as an NPO the activity plan is focused on the Outcomes, there may be some overlap with the Investment Principles, but you should consider what the Outcomes are about and what the Investment Principles mean and what sits where. 

If you are applying as an IPSO both the Activity Plan and Investment Principles plan will relate to the IPs, in which case you should consider which of your actions are internally focused and which are about supporting others in the sector. Question added 22 March 2022

Investment Principles Plan Template

Are all Investment Principles actions expected to be related to our organisation (governance, structure, staff training, etc) rather than what we deliver to the public, or can some of our public activities also be cited as embedding the Investment Principles?
What we are looking for in the Investment Principles Plan from both NPO and IPSO applicants is how your organisation plans to embed our four Investment Principles in your own organisation and what actions you will take to achieve this. It is possible, however, that public facing activity might support or underpin this internal development work. Question added 22 March 2022

The guidance for applicants suggests I will be asked to indicate the stage each of our actions is at and the stage we expect it to be at following the first year of delivery, but I don’t have the option to include this on the Investment Principles Plan template
Applicants are only required to provide the current stage of their actions when completing this template as part of their application – the year-end stage is a hidden column in the template, and organisations who receive a conditional offer of funding will be asked to complete this section of the template post-application. Question added February 2022

How ambitious do you expect our three year ambitions to be? I feel my organisation could be very ambitious in our response to the Investment Principles but don’t want to risk it if this isn’t what the Arts Council thinks is manageable.
The investment process is designed for a range of organisations of varying sizes so there are no expectations set for the levels of ambition in applications. You should use the Investment Principles plan template to outline what you think your organisation will be able to achieve, using your understanding of your current position and the level of work you would be able to achieve across the three year funding period. Question added 22 March 2022

Does the ‘next 12 months’ for the Investment Principles Plan refer to the 12 months from the submission deadline or the first year of the funding?
Your Investment Principles plan should outline what you will prioritise over the first 12 months of the investment period (1 April 2023 – 31 March 2024) to ensure you are progressing towards your three year objectives to embed them within your organisation. Question added 22 March 2022

I thought the Investment Principles were broken down into Pillars but can’t see any reference to this in the Guidance, have these been replaced by the Core Features?
We changed the wording from ‘Pillars’ to ‘Core Features’ during the development process in 2021. More information on the Core Features can be found here.

These features are intended to help break down the Investment Principles into manageable chunks and to help explain them. Question added 22 March 2022

If actions that we plan to do are relevant to multiple Investment Principles, should we list them multiple times on the template? 
Yes, if an action is relevant to more than one Investment Principle you can make reference to it in each appropriate section of the template.  Question added 22 March 2022

Is there an opportunity to provide more information about our three year ambitions for the investment principles in the application form, in the same way as there is for the Outcomes?
There is no specific narrative question on how you intend to embed the Investment Principles in your own organisation in the application form. Your Investment Principles plan template should clearly describe how you will progress towards embedding the Investment Principles over the first 12 months of the funding period. 
We will also consider how well you have explained how you may need to adapt and change your governance, oversight, and management systems to embed the Investment Principles in your operation when looking at your description of your Governance arrangements and plans.Question added 22 March 2022

If we are applying as a consortium, how detailed do you expect us to be around individual areas of action across the organisations?
The Investment Principles plan should be completed across the activity of the consortium as a whole and we are particularly interested to in activity that is undertaken jointly – so how the consortium is embedding and progressing against the Investment Principles. However, you should also consider that the lead organisation would be accountable for the funding agreement, so accountability for embedding the Investment Principles would sit with that organisation’s board. If there is a separate advisory or oversight group for the consortium, then it would also be relevant to consider the role they would play. Question added 22 March 2022

Financial Template and Statements

My organisation is part of a Local Authority or University, how should I complete the Financial Template?
For local authorities and universities we’d generally expect the balance sheet to be completed for the local authority or university as a whole, with the budget and cash flow forecast being completed for the department or organisation applying for funding.   Question added 22 March 2022

My organisation is part of a Local Authority or University, what part of the organisation should the financial statements we provide represent?
Your financial statements should be for the organisation as a whole. If you are successful in your application, we would expect to see our grant accounted for separately within financial statements, and to receive management accounts for the service we are funding.Question added 22 March 2022

What is the definition of direct activity income?
Direct activity income is income derived from the organisation’s main activity, such as income from ticket sales in the case of a theatre or book sales for a publishing organisation.Question added 28 February 2022

What is the definition of earned income (generated income)?
Earned income is income from secondary revenue streams, for example income from catering, programme sales and shops.Question added 28 February 2022

The Guidance for Applicants suggests that you would normally expect a small surplus on budget over the three years, but we plan to invest in designated reserves during this period. Will this be acceptable and how should we explain this?
This expenditure would be a decision for your board or oversight group to make, but it would be acceptable to use any surplus, provided that it does not destabilise your organisation’s overall financial position. You can explain this in the narrative section of your application or in the notes on the Financial Information template.Question added 22 March 2022

Would we be able to submit our most recent accounts if they haven’t yet been published or audited?
No – you should submit your most recent set of (published) financial statements. You can use the narrative section to tell us about any significant change in your operation, for example if income has increased substantially since the accounts were published. If your organisation has not been established long enough to have a set of financial statements, you should upload an explanatory statement.Question added 22 March 2022

Why is the balance sheet requested on 31 December 2021 and not for the full financial year?
A balance sheet shows the financial position at a given point in time. We are asking for the position on 31 December 2021 as a point in time before the application window that will be the same for all applicants. The balance sheet does not have to have been prepared by an independent accountant.Question added 22 March 2022

I am applying from a local authority, and it is not feasible to run a balance sheet for the local authority outside of our standard processes – can we omit the balance sheet from the financial template?
Yes - local authority applicants can submit the financial template without the balance sheet, if not feasible to produce. Where this is the case, you should include a general statement about the overall financial health of the local authority with you answer to the narrative finance question in the application form. Question added 5 May 2022

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Reporting and monitoring

What monitoring will be required from organisations? 
We will expect boards or oversight groups to monitor delivery against the funding agreement – including the targets and success measures that we will negotiate with you based on your application. We will expect board papers to be submitted on a regular (quarterly) basis and that information on progress against the funding agreement will be included within the papers. We will set out our expectations for board papers in the Relationship Framework, which we will publish in February. We will also require an updated Activity plan, Investment Principles plan and financial template to be submitted on an annual basis. 

What reporting will be required from organisations?
Organisations will need, as a minimum, to submit an annual data survey on activity, audiences, workforces and governance, and finances.

Do I need to use the Impact and Insight Toolkit or Julie’s Bicycle Creative Green Tools? 
We expect organisations to use data and evidence to set meaningful targets and measure your progress around the Investment Principles. We are not being prescriptive about what toolkits or systems you use to capture, analyse, or review this data but we will continue to provide free-to-access toolkits and services and would encourage you to use these, or alternatives you feel are most appropriate to your organisation, to support and demonstrate progress.
Question added 5 April 2022

Do I need to use Audience Finder?
We will require you to collect and submit audience data using a platform specified by us. Further information on what the platform will be, along with the information required, will be made available before the start of the funding period. 
Question added 5 April 2022

Will NPOs and IPSOs be required to deliver Arts Award and Artsmark?
There are no specific requirements around Arts Award and Artsmark, but where work for, by and with children and young people is part of your organisation’s proposed activity, we expect you to reflect the Investment Principles and Outcomes in Let’s Create, including consideration of how accreditation may be used.
Question added 5 April 2022

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National Lottery Project Grants

What’s the difference between the 2023-26 Investment Programme and National Lottery Project Grants? 
The way we manage funding agreements, monitoring and reporting is very different. We expect far more from National Portfolio Organisations (NPOs) and Investment Principles Support Organisations (IPSOs) than Project Grant recipients as they will play a greater role in helping us achieve our strategy Let’s Create.

The funding agreement – and its negotiation with us – plays a vital part in how the Arts Council and NPOs and IPSOs work together. 

The role of boards is greater for NPOs and IPSOs in terms of reporting.

We ask for more workforce and audience data from National Portfolio Organisations and Investment Principles Support Organisations.Question updated February 2022

Can organisations in the new investment programme apply for National Lottery Project Grants too?
National Portfolio Organisations and Investment Principles Support Organisations can only apply for specific strands of National Lottery Projects Grants. These activities cannot be part of their funding agreement They currently are:

  • Nationally Significant projects that are over £100,000
  • Place Partnerships that are over £100,000
  • Touring projects that are over £30,000
  • Subject Specialist Network activity that supports Accredited museums

Can organisations apply to be a National Portfolio Organisation or Investment Principles Support Organisations if they have a Project Grant application in for a decision at the moment, or if they are currently in receipt of funding from a Project Grant?
Yes. Applications can be made to both funding programmes at the same time. Being part of a live, or soon to be live project, funded through any strand of National Lottery Project Grants does not bar you from applying to be an NPO or IPSO, even if that project runs beyond 1 April 2023.

Where there is any overlap between successful awards, we would review your offer for any duplication. 

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Introductory conversations and planning figures

What is an Introductory conversation?
These conversations are an opportunity for new applicants to speak to someone who can provide you with some in-depth support before deciding to make an application or not. They are mandatory for all new applicants. 

What topics will it cover?
These conversations will cover the following ground with organisations:

  • Ask about your organisation and the work you do
  • Provide guidance on the level of funding that would be appropriate to apply for
  • Discuss your Governance arrangements 
  • Talk about the work you’ll do with funding to help us realise our Outcomes and embed our Investment Principles 

How do you book an Introductory conversation? 
Organisations not currently an NPO are able to book an Introductory conversation by calling our Customer Services team on 0161 934 4317

Current National Portfolio Organisations are not required to have an Introductory conversation but if they would like one, they can request this directly with their Relationship Manager.

When will Introductory conversations take place?
These will take place from the week of 31 January 2022, across February and into April. The deadline for booking an introductory conversation will be 4pm on Friday 8 April 2022.Question updated February 2022

If I have already had my introductory conversation, do I need another one to discuss the additional guidance?
No, but it is recommended that you read all of the information we have published and attend one of the digital briefings that we have scheduled in March 2022.

If you have any further questions you can contact our customer services team at enquiries@artscouncil.org.uk, call us on 0161 934 4317 or use the live chat button on our website. Contact Customer Services >Question added 28 February 2022

What should we do ahead of an Introductory conversation?The Preparing for your Introductory Conversation document lays out what you should think about ahead of the conversation. You should also make sure you have read our Delivery Plan and our Strategy for 2020-2030, Let’s Create and the Guidance for Applicants and looked at the Templates you will need to attach to your application.Question added February 2022

Planning figures for current National Portfolio Organisations and levels of funding for new applicants

What is a planning figure? 
The planning figure is the maximum amount of funding per year that current National Portfolio Organisations must base their main application and budget on. 

The figure is based on current funding levels, apart from in exceptional circumstances such as mergers, and it has been provided to all current National Portfolio Organisations in the week of 21 February 2022.Question updated 28 February 2022

Will current National Portfolio Organisations be expected to deliver the same amount of work they do at the moment, if their planning figure is the same as their current investment?
Not necessarily, organisations need to consider the contribution they can make to Let’s Create, and propose a plan which they think is sustainable and deliverable on their planning figure level of funding. This could look quite different to the activity they are currently delivering. We would rather most organisations made a strong contribution to one or two of the Outcomes and some of the associated elements, rather than spread themselves too thinly. There may be some organisations, including those seeking over £1 million of investment per annum, who are well-placed to deliver against all three Outcomes.

Can we take inflation into account when requesting investment across the three year funding period?
If you are a current NPO who plans to add year on year inflation to your main investment request it has to be within the planning figure which is the maximum that you can apply for each year.
If you are adding inflation to the additional investment request this should only be to cover inflation for costs relating to additional investment activity, not for inflation relating to the main investment request. Question added 5 April 2022

Will organisations that aren’t current National Portfolio Organisations receive a planning figure?
No, but we will provide you with advice in the Introductory conversation on an appropriate level to apply for. 

There is no set formula for the amount an organisation should apply for and your application should tell us how much the activity you want to deliver is going to cost and how much money you intend to request from the Arts Council to deliver it.

Before you have your introductory conversation, you should think through the amount of funding you will need each year to deliver the activity in your application. The Arts Council relationship manager you speak to can then use data on the current portfolio to discuss funding currently given to organisations in a similar position.
We will ask you in your introductory conversation for information about your annual turnover, not to work out a percentage to apply for, but to look at how your proposed level of funding compares to organisations of a similar size and in a similar area in the current portfolio. As well as organisational size and geographic location, the discussion in your introductory conversation will focus on how much your proposed activity aligns with the strategic aims of our strategy, Let’s Create.
Please do note that in our decision process the Arts Council can offer reduced amounts of funding, but we are not able to offer a higher grant than requested.Answer updated 28 February 2022

We have heard conflicting information about the percentage of our organisational turnover that we should request in our NPO or IPSO application, please could you clarify how we work this out?
In your Introductory Conversation, the Relationship Manager will provide you with information about the funding organisations similar to yours receive in your Area. This is for information only and you must base your request on the amount you feel your organisation needs to deliver the planned programme of activity set out in your application. There is no formula for the amount organisations should request and we are not advising new applicants on the amount they should apply for.Question added 22 March 2022

Did existing NPOs in London get reduced planning figures for this investment process? If so, by how much?  
As with all current NPOs, London-based NPOs will be given a planning figure reflecting their current grant. 

We believe that this is the fairest approach to planning figures and allows organisations to make the case for funding in their applications. We will then on a case by case basis, taking into account the applications we have received, consider whether to make a funding offer and if so, at what level.  If that offer is less than the planning figure, we will use the funding negotiation period to agree a revised Activity Plan.Question added 28 February 2022

If you are giving current NPOs planning figures of standstill budget, how are you going to make reductions in the London portfolio?  
We will treat London based applicants on a case by case basis. Taking into account all the applications we have received in London; we will consider whether to make a funding offer and at what level.  If that offer is less than the planning figure, we will use the funding negotiation period to agree a revised Activity Plan.Question updated 28 February 2022

Can a current National Portfolio Organisation apply for a different amount than their planning figure?
Organisations in the current portfolio should use the planning figure as the maximum amount for their main application and budget; they can decide to apply for less than the planning figure. There is also a separate section within the application form to request additional funding. 

Can a current National Portfolio Organisation speak to the Arts Council about its planning figure?
Current National Portfolio Organisations can book an Introductory conversation and discuss the planning figure, however the planning figure will not be altered. 

Current National Portfolio Organisations applying for additional investment 

What is an additional investment request?
Additional investment requests can be made in the application form. This is where National Portfolio Organisations can tell us about why what they want to deliver will require more than their planning figure. This request for additional investment does not have to be structured as a ‘one off’ project (although it could be), it can also be used to build the core business.

I want to request additional investment; do I include the activity that this investment would cover in my Activity Plan template?
No, you should only capture activity in your Activity Plan template which can be delivered within your planning figure budget. If you are proposing to deliver additional activity in return for additional investment, please set that out in the additional investment box.Question added 22 March 2022

If I want to request additional investment; do I assume I will receive it and include the full amount requested in my Financial Information template? 
No, the financial information in your application needs to be based on your planning figure. If you are proposing to deliver additional activity in return for additional investment, please set that out in the additional investment box.Question added 22 March 2022

When should an organisation apply for an additional investment request? 
We are unlikely to agree many requests for additional investment, but where we do, we are likely to use them to support our ambitions to make the new portfolio more representative of the country – in terms of geography and the diversity of the leadership of National Portfolio Organisations. By diversity we mean both protected characteristics and socio-economic background.

Current National Portfolio Organisations should use the planning figure to shape the core programme of work they want to deliver. However, if there is an opportunity to deliver additional activity or build the core business in a way that clearly makes a strong contribution to Let’s Create then the additional investment request can be used.  Answer updated 22 March 2022

When should an organisation apply for an additional request? 
Current National Portfolio Organisations should use the planning figure to shape the core programme of work they want to deliver. However, if there is an opportunity to deliver additional activity that can clearly make a strong contribution to Let’s Create then the additional investment request can be used. 

If an organisation’s planning figure doesn’t include an uplift, can they still apply for additional investment?
Yes, any organisation may apply for additional investment. We will prioritise making additional awards to organisations that help us achieve our ambition of investing in organisations that are more representative of this country.Question updated 28 February 2022

If we make a request for additional investment, can the Arts Council provide additional investment at a lower figure than our request or is it a yes or no question?
Yes, we can offer less than you have applied for in your additional investment request. In the narrative section we ask you to provide a ‘costed breakdown’ - this will help us to form a judgement on the appropriate level of funding should we wish to support your request.Question added 22 March 2022

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Geography

Applicant location 

If an organisation works nationally only, what location should it use for its application?
Organisations should apply from their main business address - this may be your registered address or the address you use for correspondence etc. This could be an office or the building in which you deliver your main activity.Answer updated 22 March 2022

Will the work an organisation does in different areas to the one it’s based in be considered when applying? How will this happen?
Yes, we will consider your activity wherever it is taking place, regardless of where you are making an application from. We will assemble and can take into account delivery outside of your home area. The application form asks you to provide location details of where your activity will take place in 2023/24.

Where we aim to invest 

What are Priority Places, and what do they mean for this investment process?
In our Delivery Plan 2021-24, we’ve named 54 places across England in which our investment and engagement is currently too low, and where opportunity for us to effectively increase investment and engagement is high. We’re prioritising working with these Priority Places.

For the 2023-26 Investment Programme, we will look for opportunities to increase investment in organisations based in, looking at moving to or doing work in our Priority Places. 

What are Levelling Up for Culture Places, and what do they mean for this investment process?
In its Levelling Up White Paper, the government commits to “Identifying over 100 levelling up priority places outside of London that will be the focus for additional Arts Council England engagement and investment.” 

To deliver this commitment, we have worked with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to identify 109 local authority areas, all outside of Greater London, we are calling these Levelling Up for Culture Places.  

As set out by the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport, all of the £43.5 million of additional investment we’ll receive from the Government for the period 2022-25 will benefit creativity and culture outside of London, and where possible in a way that benefits the 109 Levelling Up for Culture Places. The 109 Levelling Up for Culture Places include all the Arts Council’s Priority Places that are outside of Greater London. Question added 28 February 2022 

Will the Arts Council invest in organisations in places that aren’t Priority Places? 
Yes, we aim to build an investment which provides benefit for the whole country.

What address do you use to determine where our organisation is based?
We will use the address from your Grantium profile to determine where an applicant is based for decision-making and budgeting purposes. We would expect this address to be your main location and/or main business address.
If your organisation does not have a physical presence in any one location, it would be the main business address, e.g., where important documents would be sent, or the address registered with the organisation’s bank. This main address on your Grantium profile does not need to be your registered address and we understand that there may be instances where an applicant’s registered address is not the same as their main location, for example where they are using an accountant or solicitor’s address.Question added 5 April 2022

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Addendum to the guidance for applicants

How does the Government’s Levelling Up White Paper affect the Investment Programme? 
On Wednesday 23 February we published an Addendum to the Guidance for Applicants to the 2023-26 Investment Programme. The Addendum sets out how we intend to distribute some of our budget as part of this Investment Programme, as instructed by DCMS. All applicants should read this additional information ahead of making an application. 
 
The information in the Addendum does not affect the eligibility criteria for organisations considering applying to become an NPO or IPSO. The Addendum is written in a way that makes clear to applicants how they can respond to these changes, should they wish to, when making an application. Question added 28 February 2022

What does this mean for the 2023-26 investment programme budget? 
The Government has announced that over £75 million will be invested outside of London over the next three years. The Arts Council has received an uplift of £43.5 million over the period 2022-25 from the Spending Review and this uplift will be invested to benefit creativity and culture outside of London.
 
We are also required by 1 April 2025 to reallocate at least £24 million of investment per year from London to areas outside of the capital. Where possible, this should particularly benefit the 109 Levelling Up for Culture Places. 

We will do this in two stages:  

  • a minimum of £16 million per year from 1 April 2023  
  • a further £8 million by 31 March 2025  

This means that by 2025/26, £24 million per year will have been reallocated from London.  

All NPOs and IPSOs that receive £2 million or more per year, wherever they are based, will also need to increase their collective activity in Levelling Up for Culture Places by 15% by 31 March 2026.Question added 28 February 2022

How does this instruction align with the Arts Council being an independent body and the arm’s length principle?
The Arts Council will continue to be responsible for making decisions on which individual organisations we invest in, and at what level. These decisions will be based on our assessment of applications and the best use of investment to achieve our strategy, Let’s Create.Question added 28 February 2022

The 2023-36 Funding Programme is paid for by a combination of Grant-in-Aid and Lottery funds. Is the use of lottery funds subject to these same government-led directions about distribution of funds?
For the 2023-26 Funding Programme, some organisations will receive their investment from National Lottery funds and some from Grant in Aid. All National Portfolio and Investment Principles Support Organisations are treated in the same way, and funding requirements set out in the applicant guidance and the addendum will apply to all.Question added 28 February 2022

If the focus is on Levelling Up and Priority Places, how can organisations in other areas have confidence that their applications will be assessed fairly?
Our process for assessing applicants to the 2023-2026 Investment Programme involves us assessing all applications against our published criteria as set out in the guidance.  Once we have assessed whether an application is fundable against those criteria, we will then apply our balancing criteria to consider which applications we will actually support. Our balancing criteria are set out in the published guidance and include consideration of geography, including our Levelling up for Culture and Priority Places. Using our Levelling Up for Culture and Priority Places in our balancing process will help us to increase our funding for areas where cultural investment and engagement has historically been below average. 

Improving access to creativity and culture in these areas is a key aim of our 10-year strategy, Let’s Create, but it is not the only focus.  We are committed to spreading our investment across the country, to ensure that people in every village, town and city can enjoy the benefits of an inclusive cultural sector that produces the highest quality work in a way that is accessible to everyone.  

While we may invest via the National Portfolio to support these places, we expect the new Portfolio to include organisations from many other places throughout England. Likewise, some National Portfolio Organisations based in other parts of the country will help to support Levelling Up for Culture Places Priority Places by delivering work in these areas.  Question added 28 February 2022

What is the difference between Levelling Up for Culture Places and Arts Council priority places? 
Levelling Up for Culture places have been identified with a set of criteria including, for example, historic levels of Arts Council funding, indices of multiple deprivation and levels of cultural engagement, to ensure they are based on need.

The 109 Levelling Up for Culture Places include:  

  • The existing 49 Arts Council England priority places that are outside of London (identified using criteria based on need and opportunity)  
  • A further 56 places outside of London that have the highest need.  

(Please note: Tees Valley Combined Authority is counted as one Priority place but for the five local authorities that make up the Combined Authority are counted separately as Levelling Up for Culture places)Question added 28 February 2022

How many organisations are you aware of who want to relocate out of London?  
We haven’t had conversations about relocation with any organisations ahead of this Investment Programme to determine a figure. Organisations who are willing to consider relocation will be asked to confirm this in their application to us.Question added 28 February 2022

If I respond Yes to the question ‘Are you willing to move to an out of London location by 31 March 2025?’, am I committed to moving?No, if you answer ‘yes’ to this question your application will be assessed in the same way as all other applications. 

We will provide more information on the new parallel programme in the summer, including further clarity on what would be considered a ‘move’, and will give organisations time to consider their options. At that stage you can decide not to progress with the programme, and your application will still be considered for the 2023-26 Investment Programme.Question added 28 February 2022

If my organisation is based in London and I respond No to the question ‘Are you willing to move to an out of London location by 31 March 2025?’, will my application be affected?
Applications to the programme will all be assessed in the same way and there will be no negative effect if you are unwilling or unable to relocate.

London is a global cultural centre and has the biggest population of any UK city, as such it will continue to receive substantial investment (over £400m in the next three years). You should note however that this investment process is likely to be especially competitive for London based applicants.Question added 28 February 2022

If my organisation is based in London and applying to be an IPSO, do I also have to decide about relocating?
Yes, the questions around relocation apply to both NPOs and IPSOs and are related to the government’s Levelling Up priorities. Question added 28 February 2022

If we are considering moving to an out of London location, does it have to be a Levelling up for Culture place or Priority Place or can we move anywhere outside of London?
Relocation does not have to be to a Levelling up for Culture place or one of our Priority Places and can be to any location in England outside of London.Question added 22 March 2022

If my organisation is based in London, can I still apply for an uplift to my planning figure?
Yes, any organisation can apply for additional investment, and we are keen to receive ambitious applications from London based NPOs and IPSOs that will help us achieve our ambition of investing in organisations that are more representative of this country.

We will assess each application on its merits, including those who apply for uplifts for specific work and projects. Our decision will be based on how well applications demonstrate ability to meet the objectives and outcomes of Let’s Create and how they can deliver on the Outcomes. Question added 28 February 2022

If my organisation is based in London but works in a Levelling Up for Culture place, can I apply for an uplift to my planning figure?
Yes, any organisation can apply for additional investment, including for work in Levelling Up for Culture Places - however, the uplift will come from the London budget, and not the additional funds that have been made available for us to support work in the Levelling Up for Culture Places. 

We know that competition for funding in London will be very high and so any request for an uplift, whether it is working in a Levelling Up for Culture Place or not, would need to make a compelling case as to how it would help us to deliver against Let’s Create. Question added 28 February 2022

If my organisation is currently based in London, and I think moving would be a possibility for me, what support or guidance can the Arts Council offer?
We are developing a process to support relocations now, but initially, all London based applicants will need to do is to answer Yes or No as to whether they are willing to relocate outside of London by 31 March 2025. 

There is some more information on this in the addendum, and we will provide more information this summer and ask at that point whether applicants want to pursue relocation.  

The Arts Council won’t have the resources to broker relationships in new locations for organisations from London or to support them financially in relocation. Organisations may be able to apply for limited feasibility funds. No capital funding will be available but relocating organisations will be able to take time during the first two years of the funding period to make and enact those plans.Question added 28 February 2022

If my organisation enters into an agreement to relocate but then our plans don’t work out, will I have the opportunity to become an NPO in London after the 2 year period?
We are still in the process of designing the new programme so cannot yet give a definitive answer, but it is unlikely that organisations that join the parallel programme and do not relocate will be able to join the portfolio in London in April 2025. They will need to wait and make an application to join the portfolio from 1 April 2026 onwards.Question added 28 February 2022

If my organisation is already based in one of the Levelling Up for Culture areas, will an application from an organisation who wants to move here from London be considered more favourably than mine?
Applications to the programme will all be assessed in the same way and there will be no preferential treatment for organisations willing to move out of London.Question added 28 February 2022

Five of the Arts Council’s Priority places were in London; will you still be investing additional funds in those areas?
We remain committed to increasing staff time and investment in our Priority Places within London. 

All the £43.5 million of additional investment we’ll receive from the Government must be invested in order to benefit creativity and culture outside of London, and where possible in a way that benefits the 109 Levelling Up for Culture Places. 

We will still consider whether the organisation or activity is based in one or more of the five London Priority Places in our decision making. Question added 28 February 2022

There are areas of poverty and deprivation in London, why are these areas not being considered for Levelling Up?   
London is home to a hugely diverse population, and the Arts Council is committed to supporting everyone through all our investment programmes, not just through our National Portfolio and Investment Principles Support Organisations. 

Levelling Up is a government policy that we are committed to supporting through our investment. At the same time, we will continue to progress the work that we have started with our 54 priority places across the country, including those in London. These places are an essential part of our work over the next three years, and we are committed to working with them all as they develop exciting cultural offers that are informed by their local communities, for their local communities.Question added 28 February 2022

London is England’s most diverse city, won’t opportunities to engage people across all backgrounds be lost through funding cuts?  
We will continue to strive to improve access and opportunities for people across the country through NPO and IPSOs, including in London.   

We continue to expect to bring in new entrants and offer some uplifts to NPOs in London where that best serves the vision of Let’s Create.   
Improving geographic distribution and making the portfolio more representative of all of this country’s communities remains our aim, including in London. Question added 28 February 2022

Do you expect to spend all the additional £43.5 million investment on this Investment Programme?
How much we will spend will depend on the number, range and quality of applications we receive.Question added 28 February 2022

Will other funds such as National Lottery Project Grants be affected by the Levelling Up priorities in the same way?
The instructions we have received from the Government currently only apply to our 2023-26 Investment Programmes for NPOs and IPSOs.Question added 28 February 2022

My organisation does work outside of the area we’re based in. Will this be considered when we apply? How will this happen? 
Yes, we will consider all your activity wherever it is taking place, regardless of where you are making an application from. 

The application form asks you to provide information on where your planned activity will take place in 2023/24 and we will take delivery outside of your home area into account.Question added 28 February 2022

If my organisation was interested in setting up a regional office, would we answer Yes to the question ‘Are you willing to move to an out of London location by 31 March 2025?
You should only say Yes to this question if you are interested in the possibility of moving your main office (and registered office) out of London. 

Increased activity outside of London, such as setting up a regional office, can be outline in the narrative section of your application and your Activity Plan template.Question added 28 February 2022

Does an organisation planning to work in one of the 109 Levelling Up for Culture Places need to have formal partnership arrangements in place in advance? If so, does a partnership need to be legally binding or project by project?
We wouldn’t expect to see legally binding partnerships established. We would, however, expect to see an indication of partners within the application and evidence of partnerships being in place if an offer of funding was confirmed.Question added 28 February 2022

We are a touring organisation, but our registered address is in London, what does this mean for us?
Your application will be assessed in the same way as all applicants to the NPO and IPSO Investment Programmes. 

Your application will include details of where all your planned activity for 2023/24 takes place and we will take this into account in our balancing process.

Non building based organisations who operate across the country may wish to consider relocation outside of London, but we also understand that this may not be feasible for everyone. We cannot advise organisations on whether relocation is the right choice for them, and this decision is down to the organisation themselves.Question added 28 February 2022

Will there be a separate portfolio for national (non-region specific) organisations so that they are not disadvantaged by the reduction in budget of the London portfolio?
No. In order to deliver the instruction from DCMS we will analyse our investment by location of applicant. There will be separate budgets for NPOs and IPSOs.Question added 28 February 2022

If I am requesting funding of £2 million or more a year but am not able to move activity out of London, does this make us ineligible for the NPO or IPSO programmes? 
We require all organisations that are awarded on average £2 million or over per year, wherever they are located, to increase their collective activity in Levelling Up for Culture places by 15% by 31 March 2026. The nature and scale of the delivery will be reviewed during funding agreement negotiations.Question added 28 February 2022

If my planning figure is below £2 million per year but my requested uplift takes me over that threshold does this requirement apply to me? 
Yes, we are required to ensure that all NPOs and IPSOs that receive £2 million or more per year will increase their collective activity in Levelling Up for Culture Places by 15% by 31 March 2026.Question added 28 February 2022

If my organisation shifts our existing spend on outreach to refocus on Levelling Up for Culture Places does that count as increased activity in Levelling Up for Culture Places or do we need to do more overall?
We are encouraging all applicants to consider the contribution they can make to Levelling Up for Culture Places and to our wider ambitions as set out in Let’s Create. Directing resource to Levelling Up for Culture Places can be instead of or as well as delivery elsewhere. 

Organisations receiving over £2 million per annum will have to make a specific commitment to increasing their collective activity in Levelling Up for Culture places, and we will agree the nature of that contribution when we enter into funding negotiations with them.Question added 28 February 2022

What is this programme and how will it work?
As set out in the 2023-26 Investment Programme – Addendum to the Guidance for Applicants, the Arts Council is required to achieve an £8 million per year reduction in our London portfolio budget by 1 April 2025. This forms part of the wider policy direction that the Arts Council reduce its overall current investment in the National Portfolio in London by £24 million per year by the end of the 2024-25 Financial Year. A new parallel programme has been designed to help achieve that aim, by supporting organisations who would be willing to consider relocating to an out of London area by 31 March 2025. 
The new programme will operate in parallel to the NPO and IPSO programmes, enabling organisations to run their organisation and deliver activity, but for two years rather than three, with the funding period running 01 April 2023 – 31 March 2025. Organisations on the programme will use time in the funded period to consider their options and implement their relocation plans.  
We aim to provide further information about the new programme in the summer. Organisations that expressed an interest in relocating in their 2023-26 Investment Programme application will use this additional information to consider their options, before deciding whether they wish to ‘opt in’.. Organisations cannot be considered for both programmes. Question added 6 May 2022
 

If I am successful in gaining funding from the new programme, will I have the opportunity to apply for NPO/IPSO funding for 2025/26? 
We intend to put in place a simplified application process to enable successful  organisations to apply to become an NPO or IPSO for the third year 1 April 2025 – 31 March 2026, providing they have relocated to an Arts Council area in England (outside of London). We are still working through the detail of this and aim to provide high level information and a timeline to organisations in the summer. Question added 6 May 2022

If I decide to proceed with this parallel programme, will you still consider my uplift request?
Yes, all current NPOs can apply for an uplift, and this will be taken into consideration when making decisions on the parallel programme. Question added 6 May 2022

What does a “move” look like?
By ‘move’ we mean establishing a main office (and your registered office) outside London, as well as demonstrating a tangible commitment to adding value to the local cultural sector and the communities the organisation serves.

We will provide full definitions of these requirements when we publish further information about the new programme in the summer. Question added 6 May 2022

Will you consider partial relocations? 
We cannot consider partial relocations as part of this programme.

Any proposed relocation must meet the required criteria of establishing a main office (and registered office) outside of London and demonstrating a tangible commitment to adding value to the local cultural sector and the communities the organisation serves.Question added 6 May 2022

What happens if you do not achieve the required £8 million reduction through this new programme?
In the event that we do not achieve the £8 million reduction through the parallel programme, we will need to achieve more than £16 million in budget reductions in London through organisations leaving the portfolio and/or through reduced offers.Question added 6 May 2022

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Museum Accreditation and eligibility for museums activity

Museums who are not currently Working Towards Accreditation but potentially interested in applying as a National Portfolio Organisation or Investment Principles Support Organisation

Our organisation is not yet Accredited or formally Working Towards Accreditation. How do we find out whether Accreditation is right for us?
Eligibility has remained open in England for museums, galleries and heritage organisations considering new applications to the scheme.
Eligibility questionnaires can still be submitted and assessed during this period.
Please refer to the published Accreditation guidance. The Accreditation Standard and guidance are available to download on the Arts Council England website. We provide detailed guidance on governance and eligibility for Accreditation, available to download below. The ‘Quick Reference Guide to Museum Constitutional Requirements 2018’ is a handy summary if you’re unsure about whether you’re eligible for Accreditation.

For non-Accredited museums or heritage organisations looking to find out more about the scheme, your relevant regional Museum Development team will be able to offer help and support. They will be able to advise you on what the scheme is, why it’s important, what the benefits are, what’s involved in applying for and maintaining Accreditation, why not all museums are suitable and where to find out more. Museum development provides Accreditation advice on behalf of Arts Council England.
Do talk to your regional Museum Development team for initial eligibility advice and to see if it is the right fit and timing for your organisation.

What’s the eligibility criteria for joining Accreditation?
Accreditation is awarded to individual museum venues (a physical site/space/building) rather than to collections or services. Your organisation’s governing body is not itself Accredited, the award is held by the relevant venue or site.
To apply for the Scheme for the first time or reapply after a period of non-participation, organisations must:

  • Be based in the UK, Isle of Man or Channel Islands
  • Meet the Museums Association’s 1998 definition of a museum: “Museums enable people to explore collections for inspiration, learning and enjoyment. They are institutions that collect, safeguard and make accessible artefacts and specimens, which they hold in trust for society”
  • Be a physical site/space/building which is open to the public regularly
  • Enable the public to see and engage with your museum’s collections
  • Have an appropriate constitution which supports the long-term purpose of a public museum
  • Be committed to making a full application for Accreditation within three years*

*A 12-month extension period applies for museums confirmed as Working Towards Accreditation between 2018 and 2021. This equates to 4 years from the date of the original eligibility confirmation. This was introduced as part of the Arts Council’s Covid-19 response and will revert to 3 years from 1 January 2022 onwards.How do we apply for eligibility to the Accreditation Scheme?
In England you’ll need to complete the eligibility questionnaire, attach any supporting documents, and send to accreditation@artscouncil.org.uk.
Eligibility for Accreditation is an offline process, not via Grantium, our online application portal.
The questionnaire asks for a target completion date for an application on the questionnaire and should be signed by a member of your governing body or by an individual authorised to sign on behalf of your governing body.

How long does it take to check eligibility?
The Arts Council has a six-week turnaround for an Accreditation eligibility decision from date of receipt of your eligibility questionnaire. The central Accreditation team at ACE liaises with the regional museum development team to support a review and draft recommendation.
Arts Council England makes final decisions on eligibility, working closely with the relevant Museum Development team.
You’ll hear from the central Accreditation team within six weeks by email with confirmation of whether your organisation is eligible or not to apply for Accreditation.

When would we need to have eligibility for Accreditation confirmed by?
Please note there’s a 6-week turnaround for eligibility requests so you are advised to complete an eligibility questionnaire asap.
Museums who are intending to apply as an National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) or Investment Principles Support Organisation (IPSO) for museum activity and are not already Accredited or formally Working Towards Accreditation will need to complete and return an eligibility questionnaire by week commencing 28 February 2022 at the latest when the application portal will be open.
This cut off is to ensure Accreditation eligibility is confirmed before you apply as an NPO or IPSO for museums activity. You will also need your three digit ‘T’ number to enter on the form. This is a temporary number assigned to museums formally registered as Working Towards Accreditation.

When would we need to make a full application for Accreditation by?
A museum must have achieved Accredited status to become an NPO or IPSO for museums activity.
Organisations wishing to make an NPO or IPSO application for museums activity, who do not currently hold the Accreditation award and are confirmed as eligible (formally Working Towards Accreditation), will need to meet a deadline of 1 August 2022 to submit an Accreditation application.
This means an Accreditation award decision can be made within the usual 6- month turnaround, so by end January 2023 at the latest.
The longer Working Towards Accreditation period (see published list for deadlines list to check) still applies for organisations who do not wish to apply as an NPO or IPSO for museums activity.

Museums who are formally Working Towards Accreditation and potentially interested in applying as an NPO or IPSO

Where can we check if our museum/gallery is formally Working Towards Accreditation?
You can use this list to check which sites are Accredited and what your Working Towards Accreditation numbers are (usually a three digit number, your ‘T’ number xxx).

What does Working Towards Accreditation mean?
Museums who are formally confirmed as Working Towards Accreditation (i.e. on the published list) have completed the formal eligibility process for the Accreditation Scheme.
Working Towards Accreditation is not a separate award status. It confirms eligibility to apply for Accreditation only.

When do Working Towards Accreditation museums need to make a full Accreditation application?
A museum must have achieved Accredited status to become an NPO or IPSO for museums activity.
Organisations wishing to make an NPO or IPSO application for museums activity, who are already confirmed as eligible (formally Working Towards Accreditation), will need to meet a deadline of 1 August 2022 to submit an Accreditation application.
This means an Accreditation award decision can be made within the usual 6-month turnaround, so by end January 2023 at the latest.
The longer Working Towards Accreditation period (see published list for deadlines) still applies for organisations who do not wish to apply as an NPO or IPSO for museums activity.

Our organisation has already applied, and is under assessment and awaiting a decision on our Accreditation application. What next?
There is a standard 6-month turnaround for an award decision.
Where this timescale has been disrupted by Covid-19 and the temporary pause to the Scheme individual organisations have already been contacted and Accreditation assessments are underway again. Your applications are a priority for us so we can progress with the aim of scheduling to an awards Panel and confirming an Accreditation award decision asap.

Museums who are Accredited

Where can we check if our museum/gallery is Accredited?
You can check which sites are Accredited and what their Accreditation numbers are (usually a three or four digit number ANxxxx)

Can we apply as a NPO or IPSO for museums activity if our museum/gallery holds a Provisional Accreditation award?
Yes, whether the site holds a full or provisional award it is still Accredited.

What’s the current position with awards?
For all Accredited museums in the UK, the current Accreditation award status is being further extended for an additional 12 months to 1 April 2022. That applies whether an organisation is expecting to be invited to make a return or has already submitted a return and are awaiting assessment and an award decision.
There’s no risk of a cut off in April 2022. An award of full Accreditation is valid for approximately five years, at which point the museum will be invited to provide a return to demonstrate continuing compliance with the Accreditation Standard. Organisations already holding the full award can expect this to roll over automatically until their next return and confirmation of an award decision at panel. Even if your last return was over five years ago, this will roll over automatically and you don’t need to send us anything until we give you a new invitation date and deadline for your next return.
If your museum holds the provisional award, you’ll have already been contacted and advised that your provisional review is due by 31 March 2022. That means any outstanding required actions must be reported on by that deadline at the latest.

What if the pandemic has meant an Accredited museum will close permanently?
We recognise that sadly some museums may close permanently due to the impact of COVID-19, and if this happens, they cannot maintain their Accreditation status.
If an Accredited museum has closed to the public indefinitely and does not have a plan for reopening, it cannot meet the eligibility criteria for the Scheme or Section 3 User and Experiences of the Standard (museums, galleries and historic sites must be a physical site/space/building, which is open regularly with access to the collection for a minimum of least 20 days per year).
Museums experiencing difficulties should already be talking to their regional museum development team and their Relationship Manager.
If the organisation does close permanently, please let the central Accreditation team know and we will arrange removal from the scheme. 
Contact accreditation@artscouncil.org.uk

Can organisations that consist of or hold the function of a non-Accredited museum apply to deliver non-museums activity?
Cultural organisations consisting of or holding the function of a non-Accredited museum can apply to deliver cultural activity, but the application will need to make clear that you are not requesting investment to support museums activity.

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