Tina Smith

Arts and cultural funding bids can be highly complex and time consuming. I have extensive experience of assessing and developing cultural & creative projects and organisations; and writing competitive arts & cultural sector bids. I have been an independent consultant for over 12 years. I offer a host of client services to both organisations and creative individuals.

If you prefer to write your application yourself, I offer a "critical friend" reading service where I will look over your application and discuss with you ways you can strengthen and improve it.

Whilst working for Arts Council England I amassed over 15 years' experience of working with the country's top arts venues, facilitating and soliciting strategic programmes and assessing projects. I am a well-respected creative and cultural advocate, delivering strategic arts projects and utilising extensive regional, national and international contacts and networks. I have recently secured Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) funding equating to £3million, including supporting Bamboozle Theatre to get a 50% uplift. I have also secured significant funding through Reaching Communities, Projects Grants and a range of Trust and Foundations like Garfield Weston and Esmee Fairbairn.

What I can do for you

I offer a host of client services to both organisations and creative individuals. I offer expertise and can support/mentor you in these areas.

• Provide access support to submit Arts Council Project / Developing Your Creative Practice grants
  

  I am an Arts Council Access Support worker. I trained in counselling some time ago now, but the desire to listen and support has always been strong. I recently worked on a research project and paper 'Meet Me Where I Am' that documented three neuro-different and dyslexic dancers' journeys to try and navigate the arts funding system.

  Arts Council England will consider paying for an access support worker to support anyone who feels that they need it. It could be because you identify as neuro-different, dyslexic, have anxieties about form filling, are struggling with the process and the effect it is having on your mental health. There is a very simple form to fill in and the Arts Council usually process your request within 5 working days. If you think you need and might qualify for Access Support click here for the form and examples of what you will need to provide.

• Report writing - Fundraising Strategies, Forward Planning, Cultural Tourism

  I have independently and with partners worked on providing expertise in Cultural Quarter development, Arts & Cultural Fundraising Strategies, Business Planning for creative and cultural organisations and how to work with artists to increase Cultural & Wildlife Tourism.

• Delivering training and workshops

  I regularly deliver lectures for the Royal College of Art and have delivered a series of workshops for Real Creative Futures covering topics such as "Are you funding ready?" and "Demystifying Arts Council funding". I can put together a day or half day that includes a presentation and mini surgeries to support a number of creatives who may want to start with some basic information to ascertain if they are funding ready.

• Apply for a wide range of funding

  Examples of successful bids include:

  • Arts Council England
    • Supporting successful NPO applications for Bamboozle Theatre, Aakash Odedra Dance Company, Wild Rumpus, UK Young Artists and NN Contemporary Art.
    • Numerous Project Grants and Developing Your Creative Practice Grants
    • Cultural Recovery Grants
    • Arts Council Touring
    • Arts Council National Significant Projects
  • Awards for All
  • Reaching Communities (£0.5 million successful bid for an Arts organisation)
  • The British Council (including securing significant funding for trips to China, South Korea and Digital Exchange projects)
  • Heritage Lottery Funding
  • Garfield Weston
  • Henry Smith Charitable Trust
  • The Bagri Foundation
  • Esmee Fairbairn Foundation
  • The Foyle Foundation
  • The D'Oyly Carte Charitable Trust
  • Children in Need
  • Sport England - Active Together
  • National Forest Community Grants
  • Local Authority Funding:
    • Shire's Community Grants
    • Nottinghamshire County Council Grants

Clients

I have a proven track record in working with high quality creative projects. I know how to present you, your organisation and projects to significantly strengthen the likelihood of success.

• Royal College of Art
• Radnorshire Wildlife Trust
• New Art Exchange / Real Creative Futures
• De Montfort University

• 

• Future Makers
• Aakash Odedra Dance Company
• Design Nation
• Mercury Creatives
• London Turkish Speaking Theatre Festival
• The Auxiliary
• No Jobs in the Arts
• Middlesbrough Art Weekender

• 

• The Carousel
• Furthest From the Sea
• Matt McGuinness & the MLC
• Michael Forbes - Individual Artist
• UK New Artists
• Market Harborough District Council
• Leicestershire Promotions

• 

• Cotesbach Educational Trust
• Arts For Rutland
• Oakham Town Council
• Arts Fresco
• Creative Leicestershire
• Northamptonshire County Council and Renaissance East Midlands
• Persona Arts