Be as clear and precise as possible when discussing WHAT you want to do. Identify a specific development opportunity you want to undertake during the funding period, and explain WHY this will benefit your creative practice. Describe HOW you will work, and WHEN your activity will take place (we will talk a bit more about this below!).

What do you want to achieve? It is important to set a feasible goal and clearly identify this goal in your application. While it is good to be ambitious (your activity can last up to one year), you also should be realistic and think about what can be achieved within the timeframe you give yourself and the budget you have available. 

Project planning is a vital step, and you must demonstrate that you have thought about the key stages of your activity. You should set several milestones within the funding period and list activities, achievements and outcomes for each stage. For example, if your project can be divided into three phases and stretches over six months in total, you could identify these phases in your timeline and describe actions and results for each of them. 

Talk about yourself, your art, and what makes you special! Don’t be shy – you have a lot to contribute to your community locally, nationally and internationally. Although a DYCP grant doesn’t require immediate engagement with the wider public, you should consider how your project will benefit the public later. Will your development period let you create future work which will engage communities? Or will you explore new techniques and practices that benefit the industry or help make arts more accessible? Tell us about your vision for the future and how your work contributes to the bigger picture! 

It is important to support your statements with evidence. You have already contacted ‘several regional venues interested in the work you’re doing? Great – name them! You will collaborate with some ‘high-calibre artists’ and have arranged a mentorship? We want names! Avoid saying things like, ‘I will find a venue that provides space for a few days of R&D and will work with an established partner’ – ideally, you want to have started conversations with your partners already so that you can name the venue/partner who you will work with, and the dates for this commitment. You can also include review quotes or testimonials from industry professionals that tell more about your previous work. 

We said it before and will say it again: be clear and precise when discussing your ideas. Focus on providing the facts and avoid ‘rambling on’. Each question has a strict character count, and you need to be brief in your answers. Using bullet points rather than full sentences will help you to get to the point (excuse the pun), and to get the information across within the space you have available. 

Don’t be afraid to show your excitement, passion and enthusiasm. It may not seem like it while completing a standardised form on Grantium, but a human will assess your application. Imagine spending 3 minutes in an elevator with the person who will read your application. What would you want them to know about your ideas?

You will need to provide a balanced budget for your activity. It is important to research any expenditure item accurately and to be realistic. The budget should show that you will have sufficient funds to support your proposed activity. You need to ensure that it covers everything you have mentioned in your application, including fees for yourself and others involved. If you expect to generate any income with your activity or receive support-in-kind (this can be, for example, free use of rehearsal/development space), you should enter these sums in the income table. But don’t worry, your application will be eligible without any additional income – the DYCP grant can make up to 100% of your income. 

Use Equity and ITC guidelines when researching quotes for artists involved in your project – including yourself! Arts Council England wants to support artists, and your budget should clearly break down how artists are being paid for their time in line with industry guidelines.