University Support for Pursuit of Arts, Culture & Sports (U-SPARKS)

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Purpose of U-SPARKS

The U-SPARKS funding grant aims to a promote sporting lifestyle, arts appreciation and cultural understanding among the NUS community and external communities. The grant hopes to:

To build a culture of active participation in sports, arts and cultural activities
To aid students in initiating and organising sports, arts and cultural activities that promotes active participation from the community
To support students who wish to test new ideas or develop new initiatives that will add vibrancy and benefit the campus community and beyond

Funding Details & Consideration

Applicants must:

Meet the applicant eligibility
Meet the evaluation criteria of projects
Set measurable target project output and outcomes
Articulate the measurement methods used to achieve the project output and outcomes
Provide evidence to show the achievement of project output and outcomes, upon project completion

U-SPARKS provides funding as follows:

100% of funding requested, capped at $5,000 or whichever is lower, will be awarded if application meets all the requirements above.
50% of funding amount requested, capped at $2,500 or whichever is lower, will be awarded if upon project completion, the application does not meet and provide evidence to show the achievement of output and outcomes

If project output and outcomes are not satisfactorily met, applicant to:

Provide justification for the actual output and outcomes achieved
Demonstrate alternative means were taken to achieve the intended output and outcomes

Funding is on a reimbursement basis, students will have to incur and bear all expenses upfront. Students can claim for completed projects as long as it is within the financial year of approval.

A. Applicant Eligibility

NUS Students or Student Groups applying for the U-SPARKS should:

Be full-time NUS undergraduate students
Submit applications with required supporting documents to OSA at least eight weeks before commencement of projects
Undertake projects that: - contribute to the creative development/ appreciation of culture, sports, performing, visual and literary arts (may include practice and curating) on campus and beyond; - enhance understanding among NUS students and the larger community; - promote active participation from the community
Showcase past experience/achievements, leadership and organisational skills
Be approved and mentored by a NUS staff from faculty, department or hall etc.
Projects must showcase the ability to apply existing skills/knowledge of organising committee, and the chance to learn new skills/knowledge from executing the project

B. Evaluation Criteria

Sports	Arts & Culture
Participation in Competitions/Events (highlighting NUS internationally or nationally)	Participation in Competitions/Events (highlighting NUS internationally or nationally
Participation in competitive activities/events Involvement in expeditions, both inSingapore and/or Overseas	Participation in recreational and/or competitive activities/ events/ performances Involvement in arts festivals, both in Singapore and/or Overseas
Recreational Activities	Recreational Activities
Recreational sporting activities/ events that encourage active involvement and participation from the community Sporting activities/ events with meaningful causes that promote sporting inspiration to the community	Recreational arts activities/events that encourage active involvement and Participation from the community (e.g. large-scale theatrical productions) Learn-to-play programmes (e.g, Acapella workshops) that promote the arts to the community
Educational and Developmental Programmes	Educational and Developmental Programmes
Sporting programme (e.g. sports clinic to increase self-awareness for children)	Arts Programme relating to market and audience development (e.g. technical course, market development workshops

C. Expenditures not supported

The following expenditures will not be supported, even if the project as a whole is approved:

	General operating expenses of start-up costs of student clubs, societies, and interest groups
	Cash prizes or outright donations to beneficiaries/participant
	Audit, legal, utilities, fines and penalty fees
	Purchase and maintenance of fixed asset
	Tobacco and alcohol product
	Any private and personal consumption item
	Items, goods or services where approved team members have a direct stake or interest in (This is to avoid conflict of interest)
	Items that are not directly relevant to the proposed project or for which alternatives or substitutes are available within the University

Application Process

Applicants are to submit their project applications at least 8 weeks before the project implementation.

[For Sports Projects]
Please contact and submit your application to the Sports grant administrator (s) in-charge

[For Arts & Culture Projects]
Please contact and submit your application to the Arts & Culture grant administrator in-charge.

Projects that submit their claims in February/March may obtain reimbursement only in May due to the closing of financial year.

Contact Information

For Sports Projects:
For enquiries and consultation, contact grant administrator Caroline Ang at carolineang@nus.edu.sg.

Submit Your Application

For Arts & Culture Projects:
For enquiries, email cfaprogrammes@nus.edu.sg.