ArtVenture - Improving Lives through Arts Philanthropy










ArtVenture Pattern














Creative Philanthropy


Contents





Introduction
1
The Power of Art to Transform our World
2
Performance Philanthropy
3
Our World, One Family
4
Health
5
   >> Child-Centered Approaches to HIV Prevention in Malawi
6
Education
7
   >> Artwork for Child Rights
8
Social Harmony
9
   >> Frames of Reality
10
Urban Regeneration
11
   >> The Hanoi Ceramic Mosaic Mural Project
12
Freedom to Create
13
   >> The Key
14
Designs for Life
15
   >> Las Guayabas Portable Light Flex Kit Project
16
17
General Guidelines
18
Application Process
19
FAQs
20
Newsroom
21
ArtVenture Freedom To Create Prize
22
Contact Details
23
Disclaimer
24
Privacy Policy
25
© Copyright 2007 ArtVenture  


Introduction

ArtVenture is a philanthropic organisation which seeks to harness art and culture to improve lives in meaningful ways.

ArtVenture identifies those projects and organisations where the incremental dollar will make the greatest difference in terms of meaningful life improvement. Return on investment is measured according to a project's ability to both alleviate suffering and create solutions that address the root causes of poverty, illness and conflict. We endeavour to bring a positive message of hope and joy to places of turmoil and despair.

All too often when the arts are involved, dispassionate judgement is suspended. The consequences are that capital is not allocated to the most effective projects which support the greatest needs; rather, well-intentioned giving results in dependency and entitlement. Our goal is to foster self-reliance. Philanthropy is most effective when it provides individuals with the resources to become productive members of society. We seek to help people help themselves. We focus our grant-making in six key sectors:

Health Education Social Harmony

Urban Regeneration Freedom to Create Designs for Life

© (Photograph) Copyright The Global Dialogue Trust, Sesame Workshop, Art in All of Us, Barefoot Artists Inc., El Colegio del Cuerpo, MATx

 
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The Power of Art to Transform our World

Art and culture, creativity and innovation are at the epicentre of our history and development as a civilisation. Art is an enabler, a universal language that cuts through and across national and cultural boundaries. It empowers the expression of ideas, hopes, dreams, aspirations - in short, it helps to create our future.

The living arts play a vital role in crafting individual spirits and perceptions and harnessing the creativity needed for human development. The living arts comprise: Painting and Sculpture; Music; Dance; Architecture and Design; Multimedia, Photography and Film; Writing; and Drama. Some of the ways in which these disciplines can be a positive catalyst for change are:

Art as Creator

© (Photograph) Copyright Bali Artisans, FotoKids, Al Kasaba, Save the Children

 
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Performance Philanthropy

ArtVenture believes that philanthropy should be guided by the same principles as investments in the financial world. We have developed professional research, project development, evaluation and monitoring services to ensure that our grant-making decisions drive cost efficient, high impact outcomes.

© (Photograph) Copyright The Global Dialogue Trust, Kala Raksha Vidhyalaya

 
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Our World, One Family

We are all members of the global family. Today the world has significant resources which, used wisely, can alleviate suffering and create sustainable development in the world's hardest places. We know that by working together, we can build a peaceful and prosperous world.

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Health

Culture is a foundation of mental well being and fosters balanced and productive lives and communities.

After food, water and shelter the basic need is  for medicine. After medicine comes morale. Connections have been made between the arts and preventive medicine. Creativity is linked to longevity. And when people are ill, the arts can lift their spirits.

ArtVenture identifies organisations working through the arts in hospitals, hospices, children's and old people's homes and addiction clinics. Most institutional settings are intolerably gloomy or depressing. Having things to look at and listen to allow the imagination to escape the confines of a damaged and institutionalised body and mind.

Visitors who know how to entertain are even more welcome than those who demonstrate concern. People need something other than illness or confinement to talk about. Recorded music, films and books can also ease discomfort or feelings of hopelessness.

Hundreds of thousands of children are institutionalised and millions more have been orphaned, especially in Africa, as a consequence of HIV/AIDS. The arts can provide a conduit of hope and happiness for these children. ArtVenture also seeks creative approaches to HIV/AIDS prevention such as participatory learning programmes in Zimbabwe which work with dance, drama and music to address, empower and educate on HIV/AIDS.

There are fruitful grant-making opportunities in therapeutic fields such as grief counseling. For people who find it difficult to express their feelings through words, the language of art provides a non-verbal means of communication. An example is a programme in Mindanao, the Phillippines, where through drawing and painting, children affected by conflict can express themselves.

© (Photograph) Copyright The Global Dialogue Trust

 
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Child-Centered Approaches to HIV Prevention in Malawi

Sector Health Child-Centered Approaches to HIV Prevention in Malawi
Art Form Theatre
Location Malawi
Project Duration 12 months
 

 
The Need
At present, Malawi is ranked 166 out of 177 on the UNDP Index. It is also infamous for having the lowest ratio of doctors to patients in the world - 102 doctors for over 12 million people. HIV prevalence rates currently stand at 14.3%. In addition, a worrying trend has emerged: up to 40% of teachers in some areas have died of AIDS-related illnesses. An estimated 940,000 people in Malawi are currently living with HIV and AIDS. The problems of poverty, food insecurity and AIDS exacerbate each other, and when this is combined with limited medical facilities, the future living-standards for Malawians are bleak.
 
The Project
During this four-year project, pre-service teachers will be trained how to use interactive theatre methods to deliver effective HIV education to their students in the nation's nine Teacher Training Colleges. This innovative format has already proven to be an astounding success in Ghana where 6,000 students per month receive life-saving messages. The first year of the Malawian project will see the trained facilitators train a core group of 7,200 pre-service teachers in how to use this methodology. The nine best trainee-teachers will be offered posts to remain at their respective colleges in order to build in-house capacity and sustain the programme for incoming trainee teachers. It is anticipated these nine teachers will train up to 200 of their peers per year per college. For the remaining three years, teachers graduated from the colleges will be monitored and evaluated in their capacity to deliver the HIV-prevention education to their students. It is expected that the teachers will reach 72,000 students.

© (Photograph) Copyright Theatre For A Change
 

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Education

Art and education play a vital role in sustainable solutions to poverty.

Today's knowledge-based economy is founded upon skills combining with creativity to provide products and services to society. Art develops imagination which is the foundation of creativity. ArtVenture is passionate about education through the arts, with special reference to illiteracy, as well as education in the arts. As the Greek philosopher Aristotle noted, "All who have meditated on the art of governing mankind have been convinced that the fate of empires depends upon the education of youth".

We believe in the Renaissance doctrine of instructing through delight. Artists in schools make education fun. They help children develop their imagination and think outside the box. Music and dance are known to advance general intelligence and mental co-ordination. Stories and poems aid memory and empathy. Drawing, painting and modeling build confidence and awareness. Drama and film, like most music, are collective art forms which help individuals externalise their feelings and also learn to work together. An instinct for design is innate in children. It can be developed to good effect and last a lifetime.

ArtVenture does not believe in a dichotomy between art and science or between art and the need to develop technical skills. Science, like art, requires imaginative empathy and observation. All art forms have their special practice and technique. Teaching people about the arts and teaching people through the arts is integral to teaching in general, science included.

© (Photograph) Copyright Sesame Workshop

 
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Artwork for Child Rights

Sector Education Artwork for Child Rights
Art Form Arts & Craft
Location India
Project Duration 12 months
 

 
The Need
Madurai is the second largest city in the State of Tamilnadu. According to the Indian census, Madurai has a population of 922,913, 10% of which is under the age of six years. Despite an average literacy rate of 79%, progression is in doubt due to the under-industrialisation of the city and the large number of young people moving to more developed cities. Cheap imports and international competition are further eroding the vitality of the state's agriculture and textile sectors. An India-wide study found that the percentage of Indian children who asserted their rights was negligible while the majority were not even aware of their rights due to a lack of education. Amongst adults, 10% were aware of the rights of the child while 15% gave this subject "a thought". Only 7% were engaged in facilitating these rights. As the state struggles to develop its economy, advocates are fearful that the rights of the child will be overlooked.
 
The Project
A total of 5,000 children (aged between seven and 17) will be selected from 50 schools to participate in this educational project which uses the arts to deliver complex human rights information. Priority will be given to children from low socio-economic status families, dalit communities and children whose parents work in unorganized sectors such as agriculture. The children will first attend 30 hours of workshops to learn about the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. They will then attend after-school art programmes after school and on weekends during which their pieces will reflect child rights issues. The artworks will be displayed at exhibitions and any proceeds raised from the sale of the pieces will go toward educational sponsorships for needy children. VCDs and DVDs on various topics related to child rights and the arts will also be produced and sold to schools, NGOs, college libraries and visitors to the art exhibitions. These materials will allow the message about child rights to continue being disseminated after the project is completed.

© (Photograph) Copyright Goodwill Social Work Centre
 

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Social Harmony

The arts celebrate difference, not conformity. The living arts promote tolerance and empathy.

The arts have a role to play in conflict resolution, not least through their ability to demonstrate that even when territory and resources are involved most conflict is cultural. We face vistas of ethnic and religious conflict today, and not only in the underdeveloped world.

The West-Eastern Divan Orchestra formed by the pianist and conductor Daniel Barenboim with the political philosopher, the late Edward Said, is made up of young Israeli and Palestinian musicians. The orchestra will not put an end to conflict in the Middle East, but it does provide a metaphor for conflict resolution. As Barenboim has pointed out, music is full of conflict and full also of resolutions.

The Ancient Greeks believed that art begins with mimesis - imitation. Imitation requires looking and listening, which in turn promotes awareness and alerts people to the plight of others.

A theatre project throughout prisons in Rwanda addresses issues arising from the genocide and teaches reconciliation - a crucial message for when these inmates are released. Whilst a project in Vanuatu uses cultural methods (games, cooking, festivals, storytelling) to promote cross-cultural sharing between tribal groups to address local conflict.

"Social Harmony" is about promoting a spirit of community and neighbourliness, providing resolution and reconciliation in areas of conflict, and rehabilitating those individuals and societies that are too often abandoned or neglected. ArtVenture seeks to re-establish the potential of life, the joy of creativity and the spirit that the untried may be worth trying.

© (Photograph) Copyright Art in All of Us

 
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Frames of Reality

Sector Social Harmony Frames of Reality
Art Form Photography
Location Israel and the Occupied Territories
Project Duration 10 months
 

 
The Need
Due to worldwide interest in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the influence of outside parties, many participants view the media coverage as no less important than the conflict itself. As stated by Efraim Inbar, director of the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies: “Wars are won, not only in the battlefield, but also with words.” Palestinian politician, Hanan Ashrawi said: “The media are... crucial. It presents a version of reality. It creates awareness of what’s happening, and the perceptions that are presented affect public opinion.” Israel and the territories have one of the highest concentrations of journalists in the world. Jerusalem alone hosts 350 permanent foreign news bureaus, employing some 800 reporters, cameramen and technicians - as many as New York, London, or Moscow. And the volume of reportage on Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank is 75 times greater than on any other area of comparable population. Such obsessive attention distorts, by casting the Arab-Israeli-Palestinian war in a theatrical, world-historical light.
 
The Project
“F.O.R. Peace – Frames of Reality”, will bring together up to 24 Palestinian and Israeli photojournalists from top news organisations, such as Reuters, to participate in a unique educational endeavour and exchange that will change mindsets. Participants will be selected after undergoing an interview and selection process. Over the year, these photojournalists will participate in ten work sessions, out of which they will create a joint catalogue (up to 80 pages long) aimed at breaking down stereotypes. The workshops are designed to produce “group bonding” activities with the bid to lay the foundation for creative and professional relationships. They will hear from world experts in matters such as “Cultural Stereotypes and Visual Representations”. At the end of the sessions, a parallel exhibition will be held both in Israel and the Palestinian Authority. In addition, the exhibition will be prominently displayed at the 10th Anniversary Celebration of The Peres Center for Peace on October 26-28.

© (Photograph) Copyright The Peres Center for Peace
 

10  


Urban Regeneration

Art and culture make civilisation.

The word connects with the civitas, the city. At the start of the new millennium mankind has become, quantitatively, an urban rather than an agrarian creature. Our time has seen a significant uprooting and movement of peoples. There are acute problems concerning migration, homelessness and refugee communities as more people cluster in or around the cities.

ArtVenture is concerned with the regenerative social and economic effects of art, artwork, artists, art institutions and activities in the life of cities. We are especially interested in opportunities for investment in the slum cultures of Africa, India, Latin America and South East Asia. These will include bringing music, theatre and dance to the slums and favelas.

The traffic will in no sense be one way. Congregations of people, even in poor conditions, spawn lively art forms and cultural innovations. Jazz, the 20th Century's songs, needing little outlay in terms of instruments, conquered the airwaves of the world when they mutated into rock'n'roll.

ArtVenture exists to enable. Examples of the living arts making a real difference are as diverse as a project in northern Brazil in which children from favellas attend ballet classes after school instead of being drawn into gang life; the artistic refurbishment of a school for the children of migrant workers in Beijing; and the establishment of an artistic childrens club to reintegrate Phnom Penh's street children into the community.

© (Photograph) Copyright Barefoot Artists, Inc.

 
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The Hanoi Ceramic Mosaic Mural Project

Sector Urban Regeneration The Hanoi Ceramic Mosaic Mural Project
Art Form Mural
Location Vietnam
Project Duration 36 months
 

 
The Need
There are estimates that over one million rural migrants have flooded into Hanoi. The rapid speed of urbanization has further attracted these migrants, and their children, with the lure of employment. This has contributed to the over-crowded, cramped and unstructured living areas and the formation of new slums in the city. There are around 180,000 new migrant people living along the Red River dike in Hanoi. Many of these people work in low-income jobs such as vendors, porters, cyclo and motor drivers, and household maids. They live in shanty houses or shacks with poor hygiene conditions and suffer from yearly floods.
 
The Project
The project will transform 6 kilometers of the grey concrete Red River dike structure into a ceramic mosaic mural. This mural will be made into four parts which respectively show the motifs and images of the Vietnamese traditional culture, the Vietnamese contemporary arts, artworks of international artists, and Vietnamese children’s paintings. The project will encourage the involvement of local communities, providing them with artistic skills and the inspiration to beautify their living areas. The project ultimately aims to encourage and enhance the responsibilities of local residents to improve their own living environment, raise their voice and become actively involved in the urban planning process.

© (Photograph) Copyright New Hanoi Arts Group
 

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Freedom to Create

As a principled investment advocate, ArtVenture is concerned with helping societies and artists who struggle against repression and injustice.

We recognise that many countries where needs are greatest are run by autocratic and often repressive regimes.

Democratic societies which are guided by the impartial application of just laws provide an environment which liberates human potential and where resources can flow to those who merit them untouched by corruption, nepotism and privilege. However, not all governments provide citizens with the "Freedom to Create" which is necessary to foster innovation, commerce and prosperity. Some governments harass and impoverish their citizens, steal resources, stifle entrepreneurship and undermine human ingenuity and hope.

In these societies, art can play an important role in giving a voice to those who are denied opportunity and resources. Literature and drama can be head on, confrontational art forms. They are often most effective when they proceed obliquely, through satire or allegory for instance. Examples are supporting a production in which youths in a West Bank refugee camp can depict their daily life to an international audience; and the establishment of a childrens theatre network in Bangladesh which will allow disenfranchised youths to vocalise their dreams for their future.

© (Photograph) Copyright El Colegio del Cuerpo

 
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The Key

Sector Freedom to Create The Key
Art Form Dance
Location West Bank
Project Duration 12 months
 

 
The Need
Dheisheh Refugee Camp was supposed to be a temporary solution for the thousands displaced from the creation of Israel. But where once canvass tents lined unplanned streets, shoddily constructed buildings now house over 12,000 people in an area less than 500 square meters. The UN Relief and Works Agency found out of the total population, there are 301 families which are suffering from ‘special hardship’ and 1,375 families which receive emergency food rations. The World Food Programme has also stressed the “marked decline" in living standards. It also highlighted the “economic suffocation” caused by Israeli security restrictions. These restrictions, coupled with frequent outbreaks of violence between warring clans and skirmishes between soldiers and settlers, provide a bleak backdrop for the children who make up half of the camp’s population.
 
The Project
ArtVenture will support a new production, The Key, which will incorporate theatre, traditional dance and music, painting and set design. Through theatre and dance, the children will tell the story of Palestinian refugees and depict their daily life. The Key refers to the tradition of Palestinian families handing down the keys for the homes they were forced to abandon after Israel’s creation. Specially composed music will accompany the production. All elements of the show will be designed and produced by the children. The Key will also be translated into different languages to make it accessible to various audiences, while the design of the show will elevate “refugee art” to a professional level. As it stands, Palestinian youth have no chance to express themselves creatively due to the restrictions placed on the camp and the below-standard living conditions. The Key will give the children a ‘voice’ in their own community and the international arena.
 

14  


Designs for Life

Architecture and design are practical as well as creative fields of endeavour. Yet 90% of the people engaged in design work on the problems of the world's richest 5%.

There is a huge need to provide design solutions for the poorest 4 billion people in the global village.

ArtVenture promotes viable design in regions of the world threatened by famine, poverty or natural disasters. One example is supporting a project to develop rainwater harvesting to provide clean water and sanitation in Mali and The Gambia.

"Designs for Life" is one of the sectors where ArtVenture may be able to foster the development of commercial opportunities for people with creative ideas, energy and discipline. We are interested in assisting developing economies to bring their products to the notice of advanced ones. Many native designs do not progress beyond supplying souvenirs for tourists. By providing microfinance grants to indigenous craftsman with entrepreneurial aspirations, ArtVenture can encourage products with higher added value potential. We aim to foster trust by being concerned at all times with ethical investment and the avoidance of exploitation.

ArtVenture aims to empower human creativity to the service of mankind. At the beginning of the new century, head and heart are needed to ease dangerous differences in the human condition between the developed and underdeveloped worlds. As environmental limitations on traditional attempts to deal with poverty through growth are revealed, nourishing and disseminating the creative industries has become a practical and ethical imperative.

© (Photograph) Copyright Kala Raksha Vidhyalaya

 
15  

Las Guayabas Portable Light Flex Kit Project

Sector Designs for Life Las Guayabas Portable Light Flex Kit Project
Art Form Applied Art
Location Mexico
Project Duration 12 months
 

 
The Need
There are about two billion people worldwide who live in remote rural areas that do not have access to electric power or light. Basic human needs for literacy, education, community based health practices and increased household economic autonomy are particularly acute in these remote rural areas where indigenous people typically live and practice traditional culture, often in extreme poverty. Centralised electrical distribution in these areas is extremely costly to implement and maintain and causes irreparable cultural and social damage. Importing conventional glass based solar power installations have also presented implementation problems due to customs, air freight costs, the large size and weight of the panels and their fragility. Maintenance of the large solar arrays is also more difficult. In this particular project site, the Huichol are semi-nomadic, living in an extremely mountainous territory. As such, the community lives in extreme poverty with a lack of opportunities for household economic development.
 
The Project
Portable Light integrates lightweight, flexible solar panels and energy efficient solid state lighting in a simple, textile form that can be adapted to local cultures and traditional weaving and sewing technologies. This two-year programme will enable 100 female weavers in the Huichol community of Las Guayabas to integrate renewable solar technology and solid state lighting into a traditional textile form, adapting it to their culture and daily lives. By giving these households access to the light technology, they will be able to generate an income from working out of their home and also enable their children to participate in their educational development. This project will also be closely monitored to see if it is the right model to export of Portable Light Flex Kit to other cultures and countries. The key to these expansion plans is the project's directive to allow users to integrate modern technology in accordance with their own customs and traditions. Rather than forcing a fixed form of contemporary technology onto an indigenous population, Portable Light engages with the Huichol's Meso-American artistic traditions in a process of co-creation to help bridge the gap between the industrialised and developing worlds.

© (Photograph) Copyright MATx
 

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General Guidelines

Important information for organisations seeking grants from ArtVenture



What organisations we fund

ArtVenture only funds organisations which are registered charities. We do not award grants to individuals or for-profit organisations. ArtVenture awards grants under the following six sectors:
Health
Education
Social Harmony
Designs for Life
Urban Regeneration
Freedom to Create

What art forms we fund

ArtVenture only provides grants for projects that use art to improve people’s lives in a positive way. The following are examples of art forms we have funded:

  • Arts & Craft
  • Design
  • Art Therapy
  • Creative Writing
  • Dance
  • Embroidery
  • Film (including documentaries)
  • Graffiti
  • Illustration
  • Mural
  • Music
  • Opera
  • Painting
  • Performance Arts
  • Photography
  • Poetry
  • Pottery
  • Puppetry
  • Radio Drama
  • Sculpture
  • Social Circus
  • Story Telling
  • Theatre
  • Traditional Art

    What we do not fund

    ArtVenture will not support organisations that discriminate on the basis of race, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability or sexual orientation in policy or in practice.

    In addition, we will not fund programmes that promote furtherance of sectarian religious activities or impermissible lobbying.

    Individual artists will not receive funding.

    Programmes which contravene the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

    Where we work

    ArtVenture works across all countries in the developing world.

    ArtVenture does not award grants to projects located in the developed world, such as Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, France and the United States. However, please note that organisations based in these countries are welcomed to apply for funding if programmes are located in the developing world.

    © (Photograph) Copyright Sponsored Art For Education (S.A.F.E.)

     
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    Application Process

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    FAQs



    • How do I apply for an ArtVenture grant?

      • Please see How to Apply.

    • Why does ArtVenture only fund art-related projects?

      • ArtVenture occupies a unique space in the grant-making world. We understand that although organisations across the world use art and culture to help improve people’s lives, there are few avenues to obtain funding for these specific projects. At present, there are a multitude of organisations which provide funds for needs such as medicine, housing and education scholarships. As such, we have dedicated our efforts to supporting those measures which use the arts and culture as we believe they provide an essential, but under-supported role in the development process.

    • Why don’t you fund individuals?

      • ArtVenture was not established to be a patron of the arts. We were founded along the principles of Performance Philanthropy and as such, ArtVenture strives to make sure our dollar makes the greatest impact possible.

      We see the arts as a valuable tool to create solutions which will address the root causes of poverty, illness and conflict in developing countries. Projects based around the work of one individual rarely serve the needs of a group at the scale or depth which we find acceptable.

    • What type of art does ArtVenture accept?

      • Art is a form of human expression. As such, ArtVenture recognises that across the globe there are many different forms of art.

      Art is also the manifestation of culture and as such, we welcome all traditional art forms.

      • Arts & Craft
      • Art Therapy
      • Creative Writing
      • Dance
      • Design
      • Embroidery
      • Felting
      • Film (including documentaries)
      • Folk Dancing
      • Graffiti
      • Illustration
      • Mural
      • Music
      • Opera
      • Painting
      • Performance Arts
      • Photography
      • Poetry
      • Pottery
      • Puppetry
      • Radio Drama
      • Singing
      • Sculpture
      • Social Circus
      • Story Telling
      • Theatre
      • Traditional Art
      • Visual Arts

    • Which geographic areas does ArtVenture prioritise?

      • ArtVenture only funds those projects which are located in the developing world. We will not fund projects located in countries such as the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, France or Germany. For more details, please see our Grant Guidelines. To further assess whether your country will be eligible for funding, please see the list of Emerging and Developing Countries in the International Monetary Fund’s World Economic Outlook Report.

    • Do you have geographic restrictions?

      • As long as the project is located in the developing world, ArtVenture will consider the grant application. We do not shy away from those areas which are located in the “hardest places” such as Iraq, Haiti or Central African Republic.

    • Do you fund projects from organisations not based in the developing world?

      • Yes. Your organisation may be based anywhere in the world but the project has to be located in one or more of our priority regions (Please see our Grant Guidelines for more details).

    • What is the average (maximum/minimum) grant amount that ArtVenture funds?

      • ArtVenture assesses each application on a case by case basis. However, our average grant size is about US$ 30,000. Only in exceptional circumstances will we fund grants in excess of US$ 100,000. We have also in many circumstances co-funded projects with other donors when the project costs were significantly above our typical grant amount.

    • What legal status must my organisation have to be eligible for a grant?

      • Your organisation must be a registered charity. If you do require a business licence to operate (for instance, as is required in China), then please inquire with a ArtVenture Researcher before continuing with the application process.

    • What are your deadlines for request submission?

      • ArtVenture does not have specific deadlines for proposals. Researchers review applications on an ongoing basis. However, we advise you submit your proposal at least 14 weeks before the start of the project.

    • What project activities will ArtVenture not fund?

      • ArtVenture does not fund budget items that are not directly associated with the project’s implementation. While we appreciate organisational overheads are necessary for coordination, these will not be considered. For instance, we will not provide funds for fund-raising or organisational marketing campaigns.
      ArtVenture will also not fund infrastructure costs such as land acquisition and construction of premises.
      In addition, the ArtVenture Board will not fund educational scholarships.

    • How often does the Board meet?

      • The ArtVenture Board strives to meet each month.

    • How can organisations check on the status of their application?

      • Please contact an ArtVenture Researcher who will update you on the status of your application.

    • May I submit attachments with my request?

      • We do accept attachments to each application but please only submit attachments which are relevant and necessary for ArtVenture to evaluate your proposal.

    • Does ArtVenture provide funding for projects which have already started?

      • It is our funding policy to provide no retroactive grants. However, if the project is a multi-year project which has already begun, we will consider applications for funding the new year of the project.

    • How long does it take to review a proposal?

      • It generally takes us between 4-12 weeks to evaluate a project and we advise you to submit your application at least 14 weeks before the start of your project.

    • Is it possible to set up an appointment to discuss project ideas or check if my project falls under ArtVenture’s scope?

      • We encourage you to read through our website which details our guidelines. You should also complete our self-assessment quiz as this will help you determine if your organisation is eligible for funding. If you are still unsure, please email info@artventure.com for additional advice.

    • If I submit my request to you on the Internet, will it be reviewed quicker than if I send it through the mail?

      • No priority is given to requests submitted electronically.

    • Is there a specific format to use for hard copy request submissions?

      • For hard copy submission, please use the form provided to you by the ArtVenture Researcher.

    • Does ArtVenture accept multiple grant applications from a single organisation?

      • Yes. However, please ensure that each application complies with our Grant Guidelines.

    • Is it possible that my organisation may be awarded less money than we applied for?

      • Yes. The ArtVenture Board does have a practice of only partially funding projects. This is usually in circumstances where the Board believes the project can be completed on a smaller budget or that the items being sought were not related to the project.
      If you are unable to complete the project on the grant amount given, we encourage you to notify the ArtVenture Researcher and seek further funding from other grant-making bodies.
      The ArtVenture Board will not consider appeals for more funds.

    • Can an organisation apply for a multiple-year grant?

      • ArtVenture does consider projects which run for multiple years. However, please note the ArtVenture Board will only commit to the first year of funding. Subsequent funding will depend on the organisation’s performance, reporting procedures and use of the grant as well as the overall success of the project.
      If ArtVenture considers your organisation for re-funding, we will invite you to submit an application. However, please note that this is not a guarantee that the application will be successful. We strongly urge organisations to apply for subsequent refunding from other sources.

    • If my request is declined, will you provide feedback?

      • We will provide general feedback as to why the ArtVenture Board rejected the application.

    • If I have submitted a request which has been declined, can I resubmit?

      • ArtVenture does not consider the resubmission of a rejected proposal until at least 12 months have lapsed.

    • Is there an appeal process in the event the application is rejected?

      • No. The ArtVenture Board decision is final.

    © (Photograph) Copyright Michael Perini

     
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    Newsroom



    28/11/2008 New York Times - Juan Marsé, Cont Mhlanga, Cliff Richard

    27/11/2008 The Guardian - Mhlanga and Zarganar win arts awards for human rights

    27/11/2008 The Guardian - People

    26/11/2008 New York Times - Critic of Mugabe Wins Art Prize

    26/11/2008 BBC - Zimbabwe writer Mhlanga honoured

    26/11/2008 BBC - Taking on Mugabe

    26/11/2008 ArtVenture Freedom to Create Prize Winners Release

    20/11/2008 ArtVenture Freedom to Create Prize Nominations Release

    03/07/2008 The Guardian - Arts in Zimbabwe: a movement fighting oppression

    02/07/2008 Los Angeles Times - ArtVenture funds prizes

    01/07/2008 New York Times - New Awards for Artists

    01/07/2008 Launch of Prize for Artists Championing Creative Freedom
     
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    ArtVenture Freedom To Create Prize

    Finding light in darkness and courage in truth


    ArtVenture is proud to launch the inaugural ArtVenture Freedom to Create Prize. This international prize will recognise artists who use their talents in promoting empathy and understanding and confronting discrimination and oppression.

    In all societies, the development of the arts has been a sign of culture and light. Yet not all governments provide citizens with the ‘freedom to create’ needed to foster innovation, commerce and prosperity. Some governments harass and impoverish their citizens, steal resources, stifle entrepreneurship and undermine human ingenuity and hope. In these societies, art can play an important role in giving a voice to those who are denied opportunity and resources.

    The ArtVenture Freedom to Create Prize consists of three categories. The main prize is open to individuals or artistic groups in all creative fields including the visual and performance arts, music, crafts, design and literature. The winner of this award will receive US$ 50,000.

    The ArtVenture Freedom to Create Youth Prize is open to artists who are under the age of 18 with the winner receiving US$ 25,000 scholarship and advocacy prize. The final category, the ArtVenture Freedom to Create Imprisoned Artist Prize, focuses on artists who are currently imprisoned for their artwork. The winner will receive US$ 25,000 towards supporting their family, paying legal costs and supporting advocacy efforts.

    This is not a typical art prize. It does not simply judge the skill of the artist but rather recognises how the artist has used their work to promote awareness and alert people to the plight of others. The inaugural prize will be a unique and significant award and will be judged by a panel of eminent artists, commentators and human rights experts.


    For more information, please visit ArtVenture Freedom To Create Prize website © (Photograph) Copyright Mauricio Morieno/El Colegio del Cuerpo

     
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