When you are writing the proposal everything starts with a problem.

Thus, I would recommend you start writing the proposal with the problem analysis.

The problem analysis has a direct impact on project planning, as it strongly influences the design of all possible interventions.

To make a long story short, our project should be the answer & the solution to an existing problem, for instance:

• Lack of attractive artistic offers for the audience

• Weak educational opportunities for cultural managers

So, let’s try to sketch a few steps on how to proceed:

1. Identify key problems existing in the particular situation

2. Try to establish a hierarchy:

• What is causing the key problem?

• What are the effects/consequences of the key problem?

The problem analysis will then help us to define the project goal, general objectives & results.

What do we have to do?

• Convert the negative situations of the problem analysis into solutions, expressed as “positive achievements”.

What do we have to remember in terms of defining the crucial elements of our application form?

The project goal gives a specific solution to an identified problem.

It should be formulated as a change of an existing situation: what are we striving to achieve?

• To improve the artistic offer for the audience

• To develop a new, comprehensive educational programme for cultural managers

Usually a change is achieved through a process and to describe it we use a specific type of verbs, e.g. improve, strengthen, empower, enrich, develop, diminish, minimize or maximize, etc.

The general objectives will not be achieved exclusively through our project.

It is a broader impact that our project will contribute to, but will not be able to reach it fully.

So, the general objectives description should present a desirable situation that our project is helping to achieve.

• Significant presence and active involvement of the audience in artistic activities

• Good quality management in artistic institutions/organizations

Results are specific outputs contributing to the realisation of the project goal, showing:

What should we do/should be done to achieve the purpose?

• A richer offer for the audience that would meet their expectations

• New training opportunities for cultural managers

A huge part of your application form will focus on the detailed description of activities, which have to be drafted according to the logic:

Activities – results – project goal – general objectives

Activities are planned concrete tasks to be carried out during the project:

• Conducting a survey to find out audience needs and tastes

• Elaborating a pilot training for cultural managers