National portfolio funding programme: Assessment summary report

Resonance fm
This report sets out a summary of our assessment of your application. Our assessment was split into two distinct stages. The first stage was an assessment of the application itself, looking at your organisation and the kind of contribution it would make to our goals and priorities. It looked at the governance, leadership and management of your organisation. It also looked at its financial sustainability and included an overview of the funding situation. As a result of this, your application was awarded either a strong, good or weak rating against three criteria: contribution to our goals and priorities; governance, leadership and management; and financial sustainability. A recommendation was then made of either met stage one criteria or did not meet stage one criteria. The second stage of assessment involved a judgment about how well your organisation would fit into a balanced portfolio of funded organisations. This stage looks at a range of areas where we need to find a balance across our investment in the arts. These include artform, size and type of organisation, geographical spread, contribution to our goals and priorities, and diversity. There is no mechanistic formula for balancing the portfolio. This is a framework against which we made an informed judgment about how each organisation might contribute to the overall mix. There are applications that were strong in the first stage assessment but were not funded because in the second stage they did not fit into this overall picture of a balanced national portfolio. Once these two stages of assessment had taken place, funding recommendations were then discussed and agreed by the appropriate Arts Council regional council, and then finally by the Arts Councils National Council. As set out in the email accompanying this report, we can discuss this assessment further during a phone call with you.

Applicant: Arts Council region: Artform:

Resonance fm London Visual arts

Regular funding grant in 2010/11 92,942

Applied for amounts: 2012/13 160,000 2013/14 165,925 2014/15 172,065

Funding comment Resonances 2011/12 grant is 85,629. Resonance requests 160,000 in 2012/13 (85% uplift), rising by 4% (ie approximate inflation) thereafter. Resonance has presented a compelling case for receiving this uplift and the scope of Resonances offer current is very strong. An uplift would enable Resonance to stabilise its business model and operations as part of developing an outstanding offer which has potential to provide increased benefits for the wider visual arts sector. Recommend full amount requested with conditions attached.

Summary of stage one: assessment Resonance fm is the UKs only arts-based radio station, with a 24/7 schedule including new music, sound art, programmes about the arts and that are in themselves art. Resonance scored Strong or Outstanding for artistic quality in the last four Annual Assessment and has won extensive critical acclaim in the press, art world, music and radio sector. Resonance meets all 5 goals strongly. Resonance is a unique distribution platform for excellent art and is pioneering approaches to digital distribution. Resonance had 1,620,000 individual online listeners in 2009/10, making Arts Council subsidy per head 0.06p. Central London reach estimated by Ofcom is 300,000. Resonance collaborates with leading and grassroots galleries; cultural organisations and foundations; music venues; national and niche festivals; cutting edge cultural magazines; schools; HEIs; community organisations; and broadcasts in 30 languages. The development of framework for it's collaborations and partnerships in 2011-15 is a priority which can be strategic for the sector. Resonance also wants to play a national role in the development and implementation of cutting edge technology used for art production and distribution. The business model enables equitable routes into the arts workforce and its extensive pool of contributors share knowledge and expertise with listeners whilst gaining artistic, editorial, technical and social skills. Resonance is committed to empowering young people through radio training and skills sharing. Resonance encourages young people to create their own programmes, both one-offs and series. There is now a strong Board in place and Ed Baxter is a committed leader but there is a need for organisational development and their request for an uplift reflects this. The portion of Arts Council subsidy will remain at approx 50% (13% within in-kind support). Resonance has set achievable targets for diversifying income streams. This application is highly recommended with suitable monitoring and support for organisational development.

Stage one ratings Meeting our goals and priorities Governance, leadership and management Financial sustainability

Met stage one criteria Strong Good Good

Summary of stage two: balancing the portfolio Resonance FM's application was assessed as contributing strongly to Goals one and two with strong alignment to all priorities. Resonance FM achieved a score of Good against governance and management and financial sustainability. We have decided to recommend funding because in our judgment, the application meets our criteria. Resonance FM is a specialist arts national / international digital radio station, presenting cross artform work, supporting sound art and experimental music and there is little provision for this type of specialist support across London area. The grant will enable Resonance to grow their business and provide a wider engagement and participation programme.

Decision Council agreed that this application had the potential to make a contribution to the goals set out in Achieving great art for everyone, and noted that it scored well in the first stage of assessment. Council also agreed that the organisation would contribute well to a national picture of funded organisations which is balanced across size, type, artform, geographical spread, diversity and contribution to our goals.

Funding 2012-2013 160,000 2013-2014 163,680 2014-2015 167,936