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Overview | General Grants | International Development Grants | Research & Development Grant | Convene-In-Singapore Scheme | Short Term Training Grants | Scholarships & Bursaries | Special Schemes | Important Information | Grants Application Procedures | Scholarships & Bursaries Application Procedures | FAQs
1 As outlined in the Renaissance City Report (RCP) 2000, a key strategy for developing a strong arts and cultural base is research and documentation. Funds have thus been allocated to the National Arts Council (NAC) to fund arts and research projects through the Arts Research & Development (R&D) Funding Scheme.
2 The objectives of the Arts R&D Funding Scheme are as follows:
a) To support well-defined research projects on Singapore's arts and artists which are critical to Singapore's cultural development, that will lead to significant advances in creativity, insights, knowledge and understanding and are of interest and value both to the research community and to the wider public in Singapore.
b) To improve the breadth and depth of our knowledge of the arts in Singapore.
c) To disseminate the research outcomes both to the arts and research community and to as broad a public as possible.
3 Research topics with significant impact on the arts in Singapore can also be considered for commissioning under this fund.
4 Research topics can be proposed by NAC on the basis that it is relevant to Singapore’s arts development and will further the stated objectives of the grant.
5 NAC’s definition of research is primarily concerned with research processes, rather than outcomes. This definition is built around three key features, which the applicant must fully address in order to be considered eligible for support. The proposal must :
(i) Define a series of research questions to be addressed or the problems that will be explored in the course of the research. It must also define its objectives in terms of answering those questions, or reporting on the results of the investigation.
(ii) Specify a research context for the questions to be addressed or problems to be explored. The applicant must specify why it is important that these particular questions should be answered or problems explored; what other research is being or has been conducted in this area; and what particular contribution this particular project will make to the advancement of creativity, insights, knowledge and understanding in this area.
(iii) Specify the research methods for addressing and answering the research questions. The applicant must state how, in the course of the research project, he is going to set about answering the questions that have been set, or exploring the matters to be explored. An explanation of the rationale for the chosen research methods is required and to give reasons why it is the most appropriate means by which to answer the research questions.
6 This definition of research provides a distinction between research and practice. Creative output can be produced, or practice undertaken, as an integral part of a research process as defined above; but equally, creativity or practice may involve no such process at all, in which case they would be ineligible for funding from NAC.
7 The applicant should conduct some background research on the proposed research idea in preparation of a concise proposal for submission to NAC.
8 Research outcomes should be recorded in a form that is intelligible and accessible to as wide a public as possible.
9 The Arts R&D Funding Scheme is open to those whose projects fulfil the scheme's objectives.
10 The applicant should be an individual or group who has demonstrable ability to carry out or direct research, through to its completion.
11 NAC supports three broad categories of research. These are:
a) Academic-oriented research, including documentation.
b) Market-oriented research, including audience surveys.
c) Practice-oriented research.
12 Arts R&D Funding Scheme will not support projects which:
a) Erode the core moral values of society, including but not limited to the promotion of permissive lifestyles and depictions of obscenity or graphic sexual conduct
b) Denigrate or debase a person, group or class of individuals on the basis of race or religion, or serve to create conflict or misunderstanding in Singapore’s multi-cultural and multi-religious society
c) Disparage or demean government bodies, public institutions or national leaders, and/or subvert the nation’s security or stability.
13 The following will not qualify for funding:
a) Research projects primarily aimed at promoting religious or social causes other than the arts.
b) Research projects that run contrary to the laws of Singapore and national interest.
c) Research projects that have already commenced or had completed.
d) Research projects or theses undertaken as part of undergraduate or postgraduate studies or doctoral studies and school related projects.
e) Research projects without a clearly-defined arts component.
f) Research projects already receiving funding from other NAC schemes or programmes will not be funded.
g) Research projects in which its principal research efforts are undertaken outside Singapore.
14 The Arts R&D Funding Scheme supports a project up to a sum of $50,000.
15 The applicant will have to provide information about any other funding received for the same work, or related work or other funding schemes applied for. The applicant is required to keep NAC informed of the progress with any such applications.
16 The maximum length of award is three years.
17 NAC will consider partial or total funding of admissible costs.
Qualifying costs:
Only costs required specifically for the project can be included
a) Material costs
- Costs of data gathering / questionnaires, surveys
- Cost of stationery, postage, photocopying
- Page charges, publication costs, submission fees, typing fees
- recording media and storage media
- Where possible, reference materials should be borrowed rather than
purchased
b) Manpower costs
- Honorariums for principal researchers
- Research assistants
- Part-time workers
(Note: Living expenses of principal researchers are not admissible)
c) Miscellaneous costs e.g. local travel, overseas travel, conference fees.
(Note: Overseas travel will be considered on a case-by-case basis, only where strongly justified. Travel budget should only cover economy class airfare.)
d) Equipment and hardware purchases are not admissible; however projects which require the purchase of hardware which is deemed essential for the execution of the specific research project will be considered on a case by case basis.
e) Applicants are advised to budget for future cost increases over the entire lifespan of the research project.
18 Applications should be submitted online through here.
19 For applications by post, the applicant must send the original signed copy of his application form to NAC together with a soft copy of all documents submitted.
20 All applications will be assessed by NAC. Relevant Arts Advisors and/or Resource Panellists will also be consulted. Successful applicants will be notified in writing.
21 Interviews may be scheduled with shortlisted applicants.
22 In assessing all applications, some factors which will be considered are:
a) Research priorities of the Singapore art scene.
b) Impact and contribution of research findings to the Singapore art scene.
c) Demonstration of good planning, sound budgeting and effective use of resources.
23 The successful applicant will receive a Letter of Offer stating that he has been awarded funds from the Arts R&D Funding Scheme. He will also be informed of the overall cash limit for the duration of the award.
24 The Letter of Offer must then be signed by the applicant and submit through to NAC within 14 days of the date of the Letter of Offer to signify the acceptance of the terms and conditions stated in the Letter of Offer and Annexes.
25 Unsuccessful applicants will be notified in writing. NAC reserves the right not to disclose reasons for approving or rejecting an application.
26 Once the acceptance letter has been returned and the award formally accepted, NAC will disburse the funds to the successful applicant electronically.
27 Approved research project must start within 30 days of the date of the Letter of Offer, otherwise the grant may lapse.
28 The funding will be disbursed as follows:
a) 50% upon receipt of acceptance form by NAC.
b) 30% at midpoint of the project at key milestone to be agreed upon at the commencement of the project and on condition that there has been satisfactory progress in the project.
c) Final disbursement of the balance 20% will be disbursed upon receipt of a final report and that all projects requirements and objectives had been met.
29 The successful applicant is required to submit to NAC a progress report on the status of the research project together with a full statement of accounts every six months or at appropriate stages of the research as stipulated by NAC. A final research report must be submitted to NAC within 2 months from the completion of the research project.
30 The final report should contain a detailed description of the project and should address the research background, research objectives achieved, scope, method, research findings, impact and implications, etc. The final report must be in a form suitable for public display and dissemination.
31 The applicant is required to prepare a full statement of accounts along with other deliverables specified in the original proposal for submission together with the final report.
32 The applicant is expected to deliver the research outcomes as outlined in his proposal. Should there be any changes in the scope, duration or any other aspect of the research project, NAC should be informed in writing at the earliest possible time.
33 The applicant is required to seek written approval from NAC for any changes in project scope.
34 If there are exceptional reasons which prevent the final report being submitted on time, a written request for late submission must be extended to NAC at least three months before the deadline.
35 The applicant or his researcher may be called upon to present his findings at NAC organised seminars.
36 In the case where there is a publication resulting from the research project, applicants are required to submit a draft of the intended publication for review by the arts research and development funding scheme’s panel members before publication.
37 Applicants are required to furnish NAC with copies of any resulting publication arising from the research project for the purpose of disseminating to relevant parties which NAC deems fit.
38 For grant amounts of $30,000 and above, the applicant must submit an audited statement of accounts at the end of the project. The applicant should budget for auditor fees in their budget proposal when submitting the application if the total grant amount requested is of a sum $30,000 and above.
39 The grant should be expended in accordance with the approved budget. Variations of the budget without an increase in total project value have to be approved by NAC even when funds are available. No expenditure is permitted for unbudgeted items until formal approval has been given.
40 The applicant must agree to the terms and conditions governing Intellectual Property Rights set out by NAC.
41 NAC reserves the right to review, withdraw or suspend funds in full or in part, if any of the instructions are not complied with, or if it identifies serious shortcomings in the project's progress or management.
42 If a project has lapsed or has been abandoned, NAC reserves the right to recover the funds and will require a submission of a letter of explanation from the applicant.
43 In the event of under utilisation of funds, NAC reserves the right to arrange for re-call of the unused portion. NAC reserves the right to review, withdraw or suspend funds in full or in part for any of the following:
a) Breach of grant conditions
b) Serious shortcomings in the project’s progress or management
c) Discovery of deliberate misleading during the course of the application and / or grant disbursement process
d) Misconduct (criminal or otherwise) by the applicant, his researchers or other persons associated with the project.
44 The applicant must declare other sources of funding for the project and related work that have been received or have been applied for. NAC must be notified on the process of other applications. Projects already receiving funding from other NAC schemes will not be funded.
Enquiries on the scheme should be addressed to:
Ms Ang Thing Sing
National Arts Council
Planning Division
140 Hill Street
#03-01 MICA Building
Singapore 179369
Tel : 68379742
E-mail: ANG_Thing_Sing@nac.gov.sg
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