given the circumstances of the bushfires and Learnings and the immense need for support, although implications understandable, given the speed with which the crisis response was designed and implemented. Appropriateness of the Initiatives This evaluation has shown that the overall Where the Project Officer worked, there was response from Arts Victoria and Regional Arts additional value extracted through her role Victoria in offering the Fund was highly and personal effectiveness. We believe it appropriate to the needs of bushfire-affected would have been appropriate to place greater communities across Victoria. emphasis on the Project Officer position. The combination of the grants and the work of More on-the-ground support was necessary at the Project Officer was a successful model. key stages of the project, including in the The combination of these two components planning stage, and also during the project, as contributed to the success of the projects of a show of support, interest and most of the artists, and provided opportunities encouragement. for their projects to continue or grow. The application process was perceived by The modest funding of $2,500 or less per some as inappropriate and inconsistent with project was appropriate, particularly since the the nature of the grants. The process was not money was offered very quickly. The size of well tailored to individuals who had not applied the grant was a manageable amount for most for funding before or for who were still artists, particularly those who had not dealing with personal trauma. The acquittal previously managed budgets or received process was appropriate, particularly given the funding. support, encouragement and flexibility offered Distributing a number of small grants was to artists by Regional Arts Victoria in also appropriate in engaging greater numbers submitting them. of artists to participate, rather than larger sums Given the long-term nature of community being allocated to fewer people. rebuilding following a disaster, the inability to However, the overall budget for the program reapply for funding was inappropriate, as underestimated the of need and interest in artists with longer term ambitions for their the program and the benefits it brokered. projects felt abandoned and misunderstood. There were considerably more prospective Successful funding models designed for grant recipients than grants available, disaster recovery work best when they have illustrating the interest and need in the an inbuilt flexibility to be scaled up or down in community for arts- funded projects to help response to the recipients’ changing needs, with disaster recovery efforts. As a result, the particularly when there are long term recovery application process became fiercely objectives. competitive, which is arguably inappropriate
Learnings and implications Appropriateness of the Initiatives This evaluation has shown that the overall response from Arts Victoria and Regional Arts Victoria in offering the Fund was highly appropriate to the needs of bushfire-affected communities across Victoria. The combination of the grants and the work of the Project Officer was a successful model. The combination of these two components contributed to the success of the projects of most of the artists, and provided opportunities for their projects to continue or grow. The modest funding of $2,500 or less per project was appropriate, particularly since the money was offered very quickly. The size of the grant was a manageable amount for most artists, particularly those who had not previously managed budgets or received funding. Distributing a number of small grants was also appropriate in engaging greater numbers of artists to participate, rather than larger sums being allocated to fewer people. However, the overall budget for the program underestimated the of need and interest in the program and the benefits it brokered. There were considerably more prospective grant recipients than grants available, illustrating the interest and need in the community for arts- funded projects to help with disaster recovery efforts. As a result, the application process became fiercely competitive, which is arguably inappropriate given the circumstances of the bushfires and the immense need for support, although understandable, given the speed with which the crisis response was designed and implemented. Where the Project Officer worked, there was additional value extracted through her role and personal effectiveness. We believe it would have been appropriate to place greater emphasis on the Project Officer position. More on-the-ground support was necessary at key stages of the project, including in the planning stage, and also during the project, as a show of support, interest and encouragement. The application process was perceived by some as inappropriate and inconsistent with the nature of the grants. The process was not well tailored to individuals who had not applied for funding before or for who were still dealing with personal trauma. The acquittal process was appropriate, particularly given the support, encouragement and flexibility offered to artists by Regional Arts Victoria in submitting them. Given the long-term nature of community rebuilding following a disaster, the inability to reapply for funding was inappropriate, as artists with longer term ambitions for their projects felt abandoned and misunderstood. Successful funding models designed for disaster recovery work best when they have an inbuilt flexibility to be scaled up or down in response to the recipients’ changing needs, particularly when there are long term recovery objectives.
The_role_of_arts_in_rebuilding_community_-_Final_Report.docx