Questions Let’s Create Launch, 12th August at Shotton Community Centre
1. Who owns the intellectual property in commissioned projects?
East Durham Creates will not seek any ownership of intellectual property as a condition of
commissioning a project. IP will remain with the artists involved, unless applicants make other
arrangements. However, should a commissioned art work be sold or exploited commercially, it will
be a condition of our support that EDC's investment in the artwork be recouped from the profits so
that it can be redistributed to support more projects. We also expect East Durham Creates to be
acknowledged as the original commissioner of the work at all times.
2. Are the rumours true that you won’t fund mining projects?
East Durham Creates appreciates that in order to get previously disengaged people engaged in the
arts, familiar subjects, stories and locations can provide useful points of entry. However, the
programme is focused on the arts rather than heritage and we are as keen to look towards the
present and the future for inspiration as much as to the past. Projects that use mining heritage as a
starting point or subject are eligible provided that they engage new audiences for the arts.
3. Can you include: Room hire? Volunteer expenses? Artist Fees? Etc
Anything you feel necessary for the project to happen should be included and we encourage you to
ensure that artists are paid appropriate rates, volunteers are not out of pocket and community
venues are properly compensated for their use.
Other aspects to consider
‘Moments’ not ‘monuments’
Although we recognise there is lots of potential in the area to create new pieces of public art, this
scheme is fundamentally about creating opportunities for people to participate in creative activity.
It’s essential our contribution relates to people getting involved in doing, making, seeing and taking
part.
Earned income
As Let’s Create is aimed at supporting participation in the arts and creative activity for the longterm, we do advise that applicants consider ways to test putting a value on their activities. This could
be a minimal subs contribution, setting affordable ticket prices or asking people to give their time in
exchange for their experience. We appreciate this is dependable on the groups you are working with
and will consider all applications fairly in relation to this, if you don’t think it’s appropriate to set a
charge for your participants – that’s fine – we do understand the challenges our communities face.
Championing quality
We expect all applications to demonstrate how they will provide a quality experience through the
support from Let’s Create. This relates to thinking about:
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The people you will be working with and how you will ensure the conditions for attending
your activities are tailored to their needs – making it as accessible as possible
The artists you involve have a track record in working with your target groups and
understand their needs
It is a beneficial experience for everyone
‘Great’ art rather than ‘high’ art
We are very aware there may be a certain stigma attached to art – ‘it’s not for me’, ‘too expensive’,
‘I don’t understand it’ – however our programme aims to find out what great art means in East
Durham therefore we are open to your interpretation of what art and creativity activity is relevant
for our communities. We purposefully haven’t listed the things we consider ‘art’ or ‘creative’ to
encourage broad ideas.