funding fun
By Sean Michael Wilson
Sean Michael Wilson is the writer and publisher of the graphic novel Angel of the Woods. This article was written at Gary's request following a short exchange of correspondence with Sean during October 2002.I was recently lucky enough to get a large grant from the arts council England to publish my first graphic novel 'Angel of the woods'. Are you amazed? - Because I was. However, I am also a filmmaker, and all together I have managed to get funding/ finances 7 times in the last 3 years for film or comic books. I thought I would share my thoughts with others in order to help get money for you too. But as this is my reflection on the process for independent films too it will look at more than just the arts council process.
Firstly the arts council England (and presumably Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland versions) offer what are called 'Grants for the Arts' , which come under two categories: 'grants for individuals' and 'grants for organisations'. You need to decide which is the appropriate one for you. You can download the form from the arts council website, or get it by post if you prefer. Make sure, though, that you keep a copy of the application you send to them. If you do receive funding you will need to write an 'Activity Report Form' when you have published your comic or whatever it is, and it will be necessary to look back at your original application in order to do this. Just so you don't write the wrong stuff in the report. Keep records of what you spend it on and evidence of any activity associated with your project (flyers, adverts, reviews etc). Many funding bodies ask for very detailed evidence of what you have spent it on. But with the arts council 'Grants for All' it seems they are less strict if you get less than £5000 from them as a grant.
On this application are various elements that you need to pay close attention to. As forms go it is only moderately difficult, I have filled out far worse ones for film funding. Important is a realistic consideration of what you will have to pay for the production. Printing, advertising, creative costs (I mean writing, design, artwork etc) can sometimes be allowable. It is good to research specific places to gets quotes for costs, so what you put into the expenditure section will be real and not some figure you have just made up half pissed on Guinness. The people who read these forms often know the real cost of some particular expenditure and they will think you are just playing around if you figure is wildly above ( or below) the market rate. They are impressed by a well researched application. There is also a guidance notes pack that you can download from the arts council and they encourage speaking to them before sending in the final application, in order to get their advice on various aspects.
They are also impressed if you have done everything they have asked of you. A recent EU film funding thing I applied for told me that 80% of the applications they get are not fully filed out. So make sure you have answered EVERY single bit of information that is relevant to you or necessary for the application. Re read your application before sending it in! Before that though it vital to read through their guidance notes. This will tell you what you need to know. If there is some bit you don't understand then contact them - politely but coherently - to ask for the issue to be cleared up before you put in your application. Don't be shy to ask them, normally they are ok to help out a little. If you speak to them over the phone, then firstly write down the questions that you need answered and even practice saying them before you call.
It may sound strange but I'm not sure that, for the arts council at least, that the quality of the work is the main thing. They have a reason for existing and if you can help them fulfil their aims then they are more likely to fund you. On their guidance notes it indicates what those aims are. Basically they are there to promote art that is of some value to the public or increases participation, and to increase cultural diversity. These are rather vague and open to interpretation of course. Which makes it harder to 'pitch' your idea in a way that will make it seem suitable to them. But the key thing is to put it over in a way that meets their eligibility criteria. I would say that this, rather than the actually quality of the creative work itself, is the most important thing for the arts council or most funding bodies. Normally there will be a list of what these eligibility criteria are. These often include who will benefit? and how many? does it include ethnic minority or disabled people as participants or have these people benefited from I somehow? A section in the guidance notes called 'How we assess your application' mentions the various criteria.
Make sure you meet all the relevant ones - or make it sound as if you do! And I have to say that pure good luck and the mood of the person who decides the funding seem to play a part. But there is not much you can do about that.
With my arts council grant I have now completed Angel of the woods, had money to pay a designer to help me get it together ready for printing by professional printers in Canada. It looks great at 84 pages, colour card cover, perfect bound, and I have been able to charge a reasonable price of only £5.99. And its been accepted by diamond distributors for comic shop distribution in the UK/North America. So please buy it!
If I can do it, so can you - good luck!
-- Sean Michael Wilson
sean@boychildproductions.co.uk
This article © 2003 Sean Michael Wilson. All rights reserved.