Core Funding Guidelines
Please click here to download the Core Funding guidelines, 100 KB pdf
Aims & Objectives
The Agency’s priority is to promote a vibrant and dynamic film culture, through increasing access to and broadening the range of films available to all audiences across Wales.
The agency offers:
- Support for the core activity of Specialist Film Exhibitors in Wales who are committed to presenting films of a specialist, cultural or non-mainstream nature1
- Support for film festivals in Wales of local and national significance. (Please see separate guidelines)
Where appropriate the Agency wishes to encourage greater collaboration between exhibitors and festivals across Wales and beyond and will be particularly responsive to proposals that develop this aspect.
Please see the Agency’s Exhibition and Film Festival Strategies for further information on funding priorities.
Eligibility
Core Funding
Funding provided under this scheme will contribute to the operating overheads of each specialist exhibitor, including those specialist exhibitors where film societies are utilising their venues that are specifically related to the provision and presentation of their specialist film programme.
Two tiers of funding are available for exhibitors across Wales, based on their level of specialist film activity, other than Chapter Arts Centre in Cardiff who will receive a set core funding grant from the Film Agency.
Tier 1core funding is for exhibitors with a highly developed specialist film programme, who exceed all three of the following threshold annual activity.
- Number of specialist film titles presented = 40
- Number of specialist film screenings presented = 40
- Admissions for specialist film = 4000
Tier 2 core funding is for exhibitors who have developed a specialist film programme and exceed all three of the following threshold annual activity.
- Number of specialist film titles presented = 20
- Number of specialist film screenings presented = 20
- Admissions for specialist film = 1500
Core funding for Tier 1 and Tier 2 is awarded based on accurate data collection by venues, reflecting performance against the number of specialist titles shown, numbers of screenings and attendances, with allowance made for the size of each venue’s catchment area.
The Film Agency has also implemented an incubation fund for those venues that require further support to develop their audiences for specialist film.
Venues within this fund will be awarded a flat core funding grant for 2 years, subject to annual review, and will also receive assistance from the Wales Specialist Film Exhibitors Network to develop their specialist film programme and audiences.
Film Festival Funding
Please refer to the Agency’s separate Film Festival strategy and application guidelines.
Application Procedure
The application process for core funding is now closed.
Selection Criteria
Exhibitors participating in the core funding scheme are asked to meet the following criteria:
- Accurate quantitative (and where available, qualitative) data reflecting the current commitment to year-long specialist film exhibition activity;
- A clear commitment to continue and where possible enhance the range and/or number of specialist films available to audiences in Wales as evidenced in the exhibitor’s three-year business plan and any supporting material provided:
- Clear initiatives and/or marketing aimed at enhancing audience access to specialist, cultural and non-mainstream films;
Awards and Conditions
Funding for Tier 1 venues totals £43,000 and will be allocated per venue according to the Welsh Specialist Cinema Exhibition Group formula (referred to in their paper: “The Future for Specialist Film Exhibition in Wales 2006”)
Funding for Tier 2 venues totals £16,000 and will be allocated per venue according to the Welsh Specialist Cinema Exhibition Group formula (referred to in their paper: “The Future for Specialist Film Exhibition in Wales 2006”). Funding for Tier 2 Exhibitors will be capped at £4,000 per venue.
Funding for Incubation venues totals £8,000 and will be allocated equally across all 3 venues, to increase the potential impact of those venues specialist film programme given the Agency’s increased focus on areas and communities that are currently underserved; Additionally £2000 will be allocated to the Wales Specialist Exhibition Group to provide programming advice, resources and general support to the incubation venues, utilising an increased emphasis on a network approach.
The Agency is keen to work closely with Project co-ordinators and will take a hands-on approach by tailoring each agreement to the specific project.
The Agency will need to approve all funding arrangements and significant changes to the project. It may withdraw or reduce funding in the light of such changes.
Funding will take the form of a non—repayable grant and will be subject to a separate funding agreement.
