Arts council domestic travel grant fund extended to £100,000

£33,483.29 has been awarded to date

The Isle of Man Arts Council have announced further funding for their domestic travel grant fund.

It brings the total amount available to £100,000 for the current financial year.

The fund is available for Manx resident performers and artists to apply for support towards the costs of travel and accommodation in the UK and Ireland if they are participating in off-island events such as gigs, festivals and exhibitions.

The money can cover a standard boat or plane fare, onward travel to the final destination within the UK or Ireland and standard overnight accommodation.

Applications for this support can be submitted on a rolling basis at any time during the financial year.

Travel may be booked before an application is made - but the supported travel should not have taken place.

Individuals can apply for up to £350 within any one application whilst groups and organisations are eligible for support up to £5,000 within one financial year (using the same £350 limit per individual).

Two applications are permitted within any one financial year per applicant.

To date, £33,483.29 has been awarded to the Manx creative community from an initial fund of £50,000.

Support has been offered to individuals and groups in all art forms, from dancers to rock bands to drama groups, whilst also enabling visiting artists and creatives to perform and offer workshops on Island in long established festivals such as Yn Chruinnaght and Manx Litfest.

Lisa Smith from the Service Players, who recently travelled to the National Drama Festival for One Act Plays said: "Performing our play in Coventry was an amazing experience, which would have been extremely difficult without the Isle of Man Arts Council funding."

Danielle Watterson, whose daughter Fianna received support to dance at the All England Open Championships at the famous Blackpool Tower Ballroom added: "The Arts Council has been instrumental in giving Fianna the opportunity to bring back two British Championship wins to the Isle of Man, and we can’t thank the Council enough."

The Isle of Man Arts Council says it will continue to accept applications for international travel funding via a standard grant application to the four general funding rounds, which are open throughout the year.

Non-resident applicants can also apply for the same domestic travel assistance to perform or exhibit in the Isle of Man.

For further information, please contact Zoe Shuttleworth, Arts Administrator via email: Zoe.Shuttleworth@gov.im or by phone: 01624 694596.