Join your peers in supporting Australian arts

The Australia Council for the Arts is looking for arts peers to assess funding applications, particularly from remote and regional communities across Australia.
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Peer Assessors play an important role in determining the merit of artistic proposals from organisations and individuals who apply for Australia Council grants. Along with other assessors from the arts industry, they review and rank applications in each grant category.

If you would like to play a critical role in arm’s length arts funding next year, you can apply to become a peer assessor. To be suitable, you need not only a strong background in your art form but also an ability to deliberate the merits of funding applications.

‘A peer assessor is someone who is working currently in the sector, either as an artist, arts manager, or advising the arts sector. They need to have a really good understanding of their art form and a willingness to engage, learn and connect with other peers as well,’ said Pip Wittenoom, Director of Peer Services at the Australia Council.

Does this sound like you? Register here.

A peer needs to have experience in the arts sector to make an informed assessment of applications for funding.

As Wittenoom said, it really comes down to the view that people working in the arts sector are the best placed to have a conversation about artistic merit.

‘Peers sit around a table and collectively agree where the best work is coming from and which applications should be supported,’ said Wittenoom.

‘This is not only important for the sector, but also for applicants.

‘It is important for people whose applications are being reviewed to know that it is their peers and people who understand the work who are assessing. They are so mindful that their applications have been considered by other people like them,’ said Wittenoom.

Dance Massive Project Coordinator Susannah Day is an Australia Council peer assessor. She was drawn to the role because it gave her an opportunity to use her understanding of the WA performing arts sector.

‘I have been fortunate to hold advocacy and support roles in the service of independent performing artists. When a colleague of mine forwarded the peer callout, I felt given my breadth of understanding of the WA performing arts sector, I could accurately advocate for them in a panel context. I’d also sat for a term on the DCA panel so knew the experience would be rewarding,’ said Day.

Peer Assessors receive remuneration for their time. Travel and accommodation expenses are also covered for those who need to travel to Sydney in order to attend the assessment panel.

But there are also other clear benefits to participating as a peer assessor, said Wittenoom.

‘Peers often tell us the assessment experience opens up their understanding of a huge range of practice across Australia and internationally. In terms of their own development they are increasing their understanding of the arts sector,’ said Wittenoom.

‘They are also increasing their understanding of what makes a competitive funding application – they often go away and apply that learning in their own grant writing for themselves or their organisation.’

Peer assessors talk about their recent experience from Australia Council for the Arts on Vimeo.

Calling all states and territories

Wittenoom encourages people across Australia to nominate, particularly peers from Northern Territory, Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland, as well as First Nations people. In order for the process to be balanced and representative of the varied experience in the Australian arts sector, there needs to be a diverse representation of artistic practice, cultural diversity, and geographical regions.

‘We encourage applications from all parts of the sector, but we are particularly keen to see some more coming in from those areas, and certainly First Nations peers as well. We want our panels to be representative of the Australian population. One of the messages we hear from applicants and peers is that by having people from different areas involved in the decision making helps to bring that perspective,’ said Wittenoom.

Nominations to become a peer are currently open and will close on 3 November 2016.

To find out more information and to register, please visit: http://www.australiacouncil.gov.au/funding/peer-assessors/

Brooke Boland
About the Author
Brooke Boland is a freelance writer based on the South Coast of NSW. She has a PhD in literature from the University of NSW. You can find her on Instagram @southcoastwriter.