Hong Kong: Arts Capacity Development Funding Scheme (ACDFS)

Deadline: 17-Feb-21

The Home Affairs Bureau is seeking applications for its Arts Capacity Development Funding Scheme (ACDFS), which is designed and implemented by the Advisory Committee on Arts Development for the purpose of strengthening the cultural software and building the capacity of the arts sector of Hong Kong.

The ACDFS provides funding support for large-scale and cross-year arts and cultural initiatives and activities, covering various art forms and practices such as performing arts, visual/media arts, multi-disciplinary arts, community arts, arts education/appreciation, arts administration and arts technology.

The scheme also seeks to cultivate a supportive culture for the arts in the community and to foster a tripartite partnership involving the Government, arts groups and the private sector to promote arts and cultural development in Hong Kong.

Objectives

capacity development of arts practitioners, arts groups, art forms and/or the arts sector;
programme/content development;
audience building; and
arts education.

Funding Categories

Springboard Grants: Springboard Grants are intended to support non-profit Proposals, i.e. proposals which are not implemented primarily to make a profit and are designed to elevate Applicants to a higher level of professional performance with enhanced deliverables capable of contributing to the four objectives of the ACDFS (viz. capacity development, programme/content development, audience building and arts education).
- The Applicant must demonstrate that it has secured or will secure a cash income of not less than $1 million Hong Kong Dollars of which not less than $250,000 Hong Kong Dollars is non-government sponsorships and/or donations for its Proposal.
Project Grants: Project Grants are intended to support non-profit Proposals of high artistic/professional merit that fulfil one or more of the objectives of capacity development, programme/content development, audience building and arts education. Project Grants seek to fund large-scale, impactful arts projects which contribute to local arts development by allowing a longer duration for project implementation.
- Applications involving Proposals with an overall projected expenditure at or above $800,000 Hong Kong Dollars can be made for Project Grants.

Eligibility Criteria

The subject matter of the Proposal must relate to arts and culture.
The Proposal must be non-profit and the Applicant must demonstrate to ACAD’s satisfaction such nature of the Proposal.
A Proposal which is seeking/receiving non-cash support from other public funding sources is eligible to apply for the ACDFS.
No more than one Application is to be submitted by each Applicant in respect of this funding exercise.
The Government shall not in any circumstances be liable for any costs and expenses incurred by an Applicant in relation to its Application or otherwise.
Eligible Applicants:
- Individual arts practitioners, specially formed ensembles of arts practitioners, entities (including commercial entities) incorporated in Hong Kong and arts groups not receiving recurrent subvention from the Government are eligible to apply for Project Grants for implementing non-profit Proposals.
- Successful Applicants for Springboard Grants must be companies incorporated under the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622) or the old Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32) as limited by guarantee whose objects and powers do not include the distribution of profits to members or charitable institutions or trusts of a public character which are exempt from tax under section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance (Cap. 112).
- Successful Applicants for Project Grants must be companies incorporated under the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622) or the old Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32) or charitable institutions or trusts of a public character which are exempt from tax under section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance (Cap. 112).
- A Successful Applicant must maintain the non-profit nature of the Proposal by returning residual funds or operating surplus to the Government upon completion of the Proposal unless under special circumstances, the Government has approved the use of such funds.
- The Applicant must not be receiving recurrent funding of any form from the Government (such as subvention provided by the HAB and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department to the nine major performing arts groups and the Hong Kong Arts Festival Society respectively) during the Funding Period.
- The Applicant must be the organiser of the Proposal, unless specifically mentioned in the Proposal, or under special circumstances and approval has been obtained from the Government in advance.
- Joint applications (e.g. applications made by two or more groups) are allowed.