FAQs for Jonathan Harvey Tenant Award, 2024.

If you can’t find something, or have further queries please email: communications@acme.org.uk.

1) How do I work out 30 years of artistic practice? Can I include the years I spent in art education?

The time period of 30 years or longer should be indicated by the start and end dates of your CV (We anticipate gaps in the CV please see below for more details.) You can include any time spent in further education in art or otherwise.

2) I took time out for childcare/caring responsibilities so there is a bit of a gap in my CV. Can I include these years in my 30 year calculation?

Yes, we anticipate that many artists have to juggle caring commitments with making work. A CV should indicate this. Likewise any significant periods of time when an artist has not been able to practice because of other work commitments or health issues etc. should be indicated on a CV.

3) I’ve made lots of different types of work during the years of my practice. Will this be an issue when considering an application?

No, a consistent type of work isn’t required to meet the criteria. We anticipate that an artist’s practice will have developed or changed over time. The award could also offer support to an artist wanting to revisit or continue a particular type of work or could propose a new approach.

4) I have a joint practice/am part of a group. Do we all need to be Acme artists? Do we each need to have a 30+ year practice?

• Project proposals that involve more than one artist will be considered.
• At least one of the artists must be a current Acme tenant. Please indicate the number of current Acme tenants in your application. They will be the 'lead' applicant.
• If the artists have worked together previously, please reflect this on your CV.
• Only one proposal should be submitted per group.

5) I share a studio. Can I still make an application?

Yes, we are happy to consider applications from artists who currently share Acme studios. Please ensure that your proposal (for example making a new type of work) won’t impact negatively on a sharing neighbour and that your current studio will be suitable to accommodate your proposal.

6) I have only been in an Acme studio for a few months or for just some of the years of my practice. Will this be an issue in the consideration of my proposal?

Applicants must be a current Acme studio tenant, sub-letter or sharer as of 1 June 2023 to apply. There is no minimum or maximum amount of time you need to be in occupation.

7) I only have a sub-let agreed on my studio for the next six months- can I apply?

• Yes all Acme artists can apply for the award if they are a tenant, sub-letter or share a studio as of 1 June 2023.
• Artists who only have a guaranteed number of months in a studio will need to indicate how their proposal could be achieved potentially without a working studio. (Acme tries to offer alternative space to artists when sub-lets end but this is dependent on availability and so not guaranteed).

8) I have other employment alongside my practice. Is this an issue when making a proposal?

No, we anticipate that many artists will be doing additional work to support a practice which may continue during the year of the award. Some artists may choose to propose using part of the award’s funds to reduce their additional working hours in order to maximise the time they have to give to the project.

9) My income varies from year to year. Why do you need to know about my income and how will this affect the selection of a proposal?

• We recognise that an artist’s income can vary greatly from year to year and would ask for an indicator of an average year if this is the case. We don’t need to see tax returns or any other documentation etc. to evidence this.
• Acme exists to support artists in necessitous circumstances. This award supports artists for a specific project which might not be achievable within their usual income or available opportunities.

10) I’d love to have an exhibition of my work but I don’t have a gallery in mind. Is this something Acme could help with?

• This award values the production and development of work. We can offer advice and support, from the Residencies & Awards team and Acme networks but we cannot guarantee exhibition opportunities.
• We recommend artists include plans for exhibiting within proposals if this is the focus.

11) I have planned/am planning a residency in/outside of the UK later this year. Is this something that the award could support?

• Yes. A residency which offers developmental growth and unlocks other possibilities either in the UK or abroad can be considered.

12) I would like to do a course starting in September. I haven’t applied yet because I don’t have the funding. How would this be considered in an award application?

This award is not intended to support full-time students or extended educational studies. However, a convincing case can be made for the developmental impact of acquiring a new skill or attending a particular symposium or short course and this will be considered.

13) I’ve been offered an exhibition in 18 month’s time. This award would really support the development of work for this. Can a proposal that will cover longer than 12 month’s duration of the award be considered?

• Yes, this award can have outcomes beyond the duration of the award and the development of a new body of work over the year would fit this. The focus of Acme in the following year (2025) will be with that year’s recipient so practical support beyond the 12 month period would be limited.
• However artists can have up to 18 months to complete their projects.

14) What kind of support would Acme be offering during the 12 months of an award?

• We will work with the awardee to help facilitate the delivery of the project and promotion of its outcomes.
• The Residencies & Awards team will arrange an in-depth meeting at the start of the project period followed by quarterly studio visits to discuss the progress of the project and to help troubleshoot any obstacles to its completion.

15) What assessment will be made to evaluate a project or proposal after the 12 months of the award?

A schedule with predicted outcomes will be agreed with the artist at the start of the project. There will be a post-award evaluation process after the 12 month period which the artist is expected to participate in. This is likely to include written documentation and/or interview.

16) Is there just one award to be given on this occasion? If I’m not successful this time will there be an opportunity to apply again in the future?

• The Jonathan Harvey Award will be given annually to one artist or group of artists from 2024.
• You can apply in the future with a version of your previous application or a completely new application.

17) What are the key criteria that will be used to allocate the award ?

• We need the project to be impactful but achievable within an 18 month timeframe from 1 January 2024
• Proposals must demonstrate the impact it will have on the artists practice and/or career development.
• A demonstrable artistic practice of 30 years or longer.
• This award is intended for artists in necessitous circumstances.
• The award must facilitate a project that could not otherwise be realised or form a key component in increasing the impact of the planned project.
• An Acme tenant, sub-letter or sharer as of 1 June 2023.

18) How do I work out a budget for my proposal? Do you need to see a breakdown of costs? Can I include my current studio rent as part of my budget?

A general breakdown of costs is required, and this can include current studio rent. Reasonable estimates are acceptable.

Please use this budget document as a guide

19)What is the difference between the £7000 project support offered and the £5,000 bursary. How would I show this in a budget?

The bursary is shown in the budget as a one off artist fee. The project support is the area of expenditure that needs to be broken down.

20) Why are there separate income line items for the Jonathan Harvey Award Artist Fee and Project Support?

We believe that artists should be paid fairly and expect that at least £5,000 of this award is spent on artists fees or payment. We hope to make this clear by separating out this amount from the project fees.

21) Can the £5000 bursary form part of my proposed project costs?

(For example the bronze casting course I want to do will cost £8,000, more than the project funds offered as part of the award.)

If you would like to include it you can, but please remember to value your own time as part of the bursary.

22) Can I use the award if offered to support an application for further grant funding?

YES

23) Can some of the project’s costs be used to fund an assistant?

YES

24) Can some of the award’s funds be used to help with childcare costs (or reduce my paid working hours)?

YES

25) Can my artist fee be more than £5,000?

Yes. We recommend that you calculate your artist fee according to the amount of time you would be dedicating to this project over a 12-month period, according to current pay scales.

A-N 2018 guidance for artist day rates recommendation is between £255-312 per day for artists with 10 years + experience. Hence a £5000 fee would equate to 16 - 19.5 days work total. Please keep this in mind when outlining the scale and scope of your project.

We will not fund a project with any artist fees calculated at less than London living wage (£11.95 per hour). This would mean that an artist fee of £5000 for this project should equate to no more than 64 days work total. If you are employing other artists to assist you (eg. working on average no more than 1.3 days work per week or 5.3 days per month over a period of 12 months).

26) I applied last year but was not selected. Can I reapply with the same proposal?

YES