Initial Questions answered by Sershan Naidoo of the NLDTF
(Initially sent as an email to interested parties)
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Dear PANSA Members, and members of the Creative Industries As many of you know, applications for NLDTF Funding for Arts, Culture and National Heritage are open. The deadline is 31 January 2009. Some of our members expressed concerns around applications being open, since the impression the industry has is that there is still a back log still being processed by the NLDTF - we approached Sershan Naidoo, Manager of Beneficiary and Player Liaisons with this and other queries, we share his answers with you below. As a further support to you: from 10 - 25 January 2009 we will run a question and answer facility through our website for any organisations who are planning to submit an application. Comments can be submitted to us via the website too, so please feel free to share your NLDTF experiences with PANSA. Visit: www.pansa.org.za/nldtf Should you wish to apply to the NLDTF for funding, application forms are available at: http://www.nlb.org.za/Application.asp We do advise you read the criteria carefully, to avoid unnecessary disappointment. The application forms themselves, are quite straightforward. |
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| Question and Answer with Sershan
Naidoo (As these queries happened over a series of emails, they have been reworded slightly to make sense in this context) |
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| When will all the applications from the previous call in 2007 be processed? | |
| Applications from the last call are being
finalized. After decisions are taken, internal processes follow before
applicants are informed of decisions. Applicants are notified in writing. |
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| If someone has an application in the
previous call can they submit an application for the new call? If so
can they submit for the same project, or should it be
different? |
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| We cannot tell applicants what to apply for.
However, if the project is over, they shouldn’t apply for it
retrospectively. It depends on when in the year the project begins and also when the application is adjudicated. Ideally, applications in 2009 should be for projects in 2010. |
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| What is the
timeline on an application? |
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| Applications received by 31 Jan will be
processed chronologically. The turnaround time is usually between 2-12
months. Depending on when the application is received, applicants
should be hearing from about April onwards. It also depends on what
applicants previously applied for. We have no set timelines. The objective is to adjudicate all applications received and to ensure that every applicant is given equal access to funding. Some of the applications received are very long and for huge amounts. These take longer to go through. The NLDTF cannot be seen or expected to fund all an applicants projects. |
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| From those
granted funding in 2005, are there still many projects which are in
still process from this time? |
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| As far as I know all applications in the 2005
have been adjudicated. If anyone has not received a response, they
should contact the arts sector of the Central Applications Office on
012 432 1300 or 08600 65383. |
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| If a company
is up to date on reporting but still receiving grant money, for example
have reported correctly on the first tranche and are in process of
spending the second tranche, can they put in a new application for an
new (separate) project. |
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| It depends on when the current project will
end. Applicants should apply, within reason, for their projects and the
Agency will make the final decision. |
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| Are all decisions made by the NLDTF and the
Distributions board communicated to grantees/ grant applicants in
writing? If a decision is communicated by telephone is it logged
anywhere in order for it to be possible to get it in writing? |
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| Every applicant is advised of the decisions in
writing. Decision should not be relayed in any other way. Because of
pressure and insistence from applicants, decisions are sometimes
relayed verbally. The NLB discourages such activities and staff have
been warned not to do so. |
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| If companies do for any reason have concerns
about a particular application what is the best way for them to address
them? |
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| They should contact the arts sector of the Central Applications Office on 012 432 1300 or 08600 65383. | |
"We wish all arts organisations well in their endeavours." Sershan Naidoo Manager: Beneficiary & Player Relations, & Media Liaison National Lotteries Board |