Rural Engagement Arts Programme – United Kingdom

Deadline: 3-Jul-23

Arts Council of Northern Ireland has launched the Rural Engagement Arts Programme (REAP) to provide an integrated, cohesive approach to the needs of local rural communities while recognising some specific issues they face.

The primary theme of REAP is combatting isolation and loneliness and promoting social inclusion. The recent pandemic adversely affected many lives as families and friends were separated for sustained periods of time, resulting in a negative impact on mental health and well-being. This was felt deeply in rural communities, characterised by smaller and more dispersed populations, where isolation can be more acute than in towns and urban areas.

There are a number of ways to differentiate between loneliness and social isolation:

• Loneliness can affect any age group; it is the subjective, unpleasant and distressing phenomenon stemming from a difference between an individual’s desired and achieved level of social relationships.
• Social isolation is a forced isolation from normal social networks caused by loss of mobility or deteriorating health.

Strategic Themes of the Programme

• Projects should demonstrate how they would target participants from rural areas and must meet one or more of the following strategic themes:
  • Isolation and Loneliness
    • Providing opportunities for social interaction through the arts.
    • Working with communities to combat feelings of isolation and loneliness.
  • Social Inclusion  
    • Combating social exclusion through the arts by promoting inclusion and sharing.
    • Working to create a more peaceful, fair and inclusive community that does not discriminate against anyone.
    • Provide opportunities to participate in activities which may help improve physical, mental and social wellbeing.
    • Working to promote positive mental health.
    • Working to promote wellbeing.

Funding Information

• You can apply for an award between £500 and £10,000 for a project

Eligibility Criteria

• They welcome applications from the widest possible range of organisations. You will be required to provide proof that you have a legal constitution.
• Registered charities and other organisations which cannot distribute profits.
• Groups of organisations working together to deliver specific projects.
• Formally constituted parent-teacher associations.
• Local Authorities.
• Arts Organisations.
• Organisations based in Republic of Ireland or based outside the UK and Northern Ireland, may be eligible to apply however, any proposed project must benefit people living in rural communities within Northern Ireland.
• Organisations currently in receipt of Arts Council grant funding (Annual Funding or National Lottery Project Funding) can apply providing they demonstrate that project costs are additional to any programme and administrative costs already funded under other grants.
• In exceptional circumstances, organisations based in Belfast who are partnering with other organisations to deliver REAP projects in rural areas may be eligible to apply.
• Applications from single organisations are permissible but should demonstrate partnership working. Consortium applications demonstrating partnership working will be prioritised. Partnerships might include sector providers such as rural development organisations, older people’s providers and agencies, arts organisations or Local Authorities.
• For partnership/consortium applications, a single organisation must be the lead applicant, that is, the group in whose name the application is submitted, to whom the grant will be awarded and who will be accountable for delivering the project and reporting on it to ACNI. You must clearly identify in the application form the organisation(s) you are partnering with.

Ineligibility Criteria

• Individuals or Sole traders.
• Commercial trading companies.
• Companies that exist to distribute a profit.
• Statutory authorities or organisations governed by statutory authorities, for example NI Education Authority schools – other than Local Authorities.
• Groups who are partnership organisations in another REAP application. That is, if your organization is a named partner in a consortium application to the programme, you cannot submit a second application in your own name.
• Organisations who are in breach of any previously issued ACNI award grant conditions.

For more information, visit Arts Council of Northern Ireland.