Details of the major annual schemes provided by organisations in Scotland, the UK and internationally are noted below. Please contact the relevant awarding agency for full terms and conditions of each award.
Please note that Craft Scotland are not a funding body. We invest in Scottish craft makers by providing opportunities such as exhibitions, events, networking and our conference, by posting news and opportunities on our website, and by providing free profile pages for eligible Scottish Craft makers. We post all our opportunities on the Community opportunities page.
Scottish Funding 2011/12
Creative Scotland Investment Funds
Creative Scotland run a number of investment funds for both individuals and organisations. A summary of this information can be found on our Creative Scotland Investment Funds page.
Working Up-5: Craft Maker Awards - Shetland
The purpose of Working Up-5 is to enhance the creative and professional practice of full-time and part-time Shetland craft makers, through awarding small grants to part-fund individuals’ own development projects. The scheme is part of the Arts Development process and was designed by Shetland Arts for the development of contemporary craftmaking in a rural community.
Working Up-5 is joint funded in a partnership between Shetland Arts, Creative Scotland and Shetland Islands Council. Applicants can be assisted in developing their projects through pre-application meetings.The deadline for application is 20 April 2012 at 5pm and 29 June 2012 at 5pm. Find out more and download application forms on the Shetland Arts Website.
Craft Makers Awards: Comhairle nan Eilean Siar in partnership with Creative Scotland
This funding scheme to assist individuals to develop and extend their own professional craft practice is now open for applications. The application process is straightforward, and grants of between, £500 - £1500 are available. A range of activities are eligible for funding, including, for example: research and development costs for a new project; travel and subsistence costs to experience new influences out-with the Outer Hebrides, such as a major conference or exhibition, advancing skills by attending a master-class; the purchase of materials/ equipment to develop new work for market or exhibition.
For further information on the scheme, and to request application forms, please contact: Joe Mahony, Education and Outreach Manager, 01851 708 493, joe@lanntair.com. The deadline for applications is 5pm, Monday 26th March 2012
HI-Arts Craft Maker’s Awards Scheme
HI~Arts are pleased to announce three new rounds of Awards for visual artists and makers based in the Highlands and Islands. The deadlines for these awards were December 2nd 2011, January 20th 2012, March 2nd 2012.
For these rounds, the previously separate schemes for Visual Artists, and for Makers, have been amalgamated into one joint scheme. All decisions will be made by an Assessment Panel with a membership drawn from the panels for the two previous schemes. The minimum award will be for £500, and the maximum for £1500, but our expectation is that most awards will be in the region of £1,000. HI~Arts will be looking for evidence that the proposal will make a significant and lasting difference to the creative and professional development of the applicant. For example, it’s extremely unlikely that an award would be made just to meet framing costs for an exhibition. The applicant’s work should also be of a very high standard.
Applications should be submitted electronically to laura@hi-arts.co.uk by 17.00 on each deadline date. Applicants will be informed of the decisions of the Awards Panel no later than three weeks after each deadline. Full guidelines and application forms can be downloaded from: http://hi-arts.co.uk/services/creative-development/award-schemes/
Craft Makers Award: Dundee
Dundee City Council has established the Craft Makers Award: Dundee, to support Dundee-based craft makers. The scheme is open to craft makers who live and work within the Dundee City Council boundary. Proposals are invited which will enhance the creative skills or professional and business practice of the applicant. Awards will be made up to a maximum of £1,000. For more information, contact Keri McGowan on 01382 307 216 or keri.mcgowan@dundeecity.gov.uk.
Visual & Craft Artist Awards: Fife
Grants of between £300 and £1500 are available (most are between £300 and £600) for visual and craft artists living or based in Fife to help them develop their creative practice. They are funded by Fife Council in partnership with Creative Scotland, and administered by Fife Contemporary Art & Craft and Arts and Theatres Trust Fife. The 2012 funding deadline was Friday 10 February 2012. For guidelines and application forms, please go to FCA&C’s website www.fcac.co.uk/artist_resource/grants_and_funding or telephone FCA&C on 01334 474610.
Craft Maker Awards: Edinburgh
In order to advance the City of Edinburgh Council Cultural Policy, Creative Scotland (formerly the Scottish Arts Council) and the City of Edinburgh Culture and Sport Division established a scheme of funding that addresses current gaps in resources available to individual makers.
Formerly known as the Edinburgh Visual Arts and Crafts Award Scheme (EVAAC), the Craft Maker Awards: Edinburgh (CMA) scheme offers awards to individual makers living and/or working in Edinburgh towards costs in developing new work. Awards up to a maximum value of £1,000 are available (minimum award £100).
The next deadline for applications was Thursday 26th January 2012. For more information or to request an application package, please contact Tracy Scodellaro, Arts Officer at the Culture and Sport Unit, City of Edinburgh Council on 0131 529 6720 or by email at: tracy.scodellaro@edinburgh.gov.uk
Craft Maker Awards: South of Scotland
Dumfries & Galloway Council and Scottish Borders Council, in partnership with Creative Scotland are running the Craft Maker Awards 2011-12. This is a new scheme for the South of Scotland – previously a similar scheme was run by the 2 councils separately. The scheme is for individual artists living and working in the Scottish Borders or Dumfries and Galloway. Artists are eligible to apply for awards towards the cost of creating new work or developing current work. The Craft Maker Awards scheme is administered by the CABN (Creative Arts Business Network) Project.
Individual awards between £500 and £1,500 are available, which will assist artists to develop and extend their own personal practice. There were 2 deadlines throughout 2011-12: 5pm, Monday January 16th 2012 and 5pm, Tuesday March 6th. To receive an application form and guidelines please contact Lesley Rogers, Creative Arts Business Development Officer, Dumfries and Galloway Council, tel:01387 262084 e:lesley.rogers@dumgal.gov.uk, www.artandcraftsouthwestscotland.com
Forth Valley Awards Scheme
Clackmannanshire, Falkirk and Stirling Councils work in partnership with the Scottish Arts Council to bring this unique scheme of grants to visual artists and craft makers in the Forth Valley area. Forth Valley Awards Scheme makes grants of £200 - £1000 to individuals to provide artists and makers in the with the opportunity to develop their work in new ways, take risks and explore new ideas.
To receive an application form and guidelines please contact Lesley MacArthur stating which award you are applying for: Visual Artist or Crafts Maker. Lesley MacArthur, External Funding Officer Corporate & commercial Services Falkirk Council, Municipal Buildings, West Bridge Street, Falkirk, FK1 5RS.
t: +44 (0)1324 506 260, e: lesley.macarthur@falkirk.gov.uk.
Dewar Arts Awards
The Dewar Arts Awards support Scotland’s young artistic talent, including craft makers. Anyone under 30 and living in Scotland who can demonstrate outstanding abilities is eligible to be nominated by a sponsor. Applications are considered on a rolling basis, however the trustees usually meet 4 times a year. Full details and an application form can be found on the Dewar Arts Awards website.
UK Grants
British Council Grants to Artists Scheme
If you are a professionally exhibited visual artist resident in the UK, the British Council may be able to help with the costs of transporting work to an exhibition in a gallery abroad.
Submission rounds run quarterly - 1 February, 1 May, 1 August and 1 November – and the amounts awarded range from £100 to £2,000. Forms and further details can be found on the British Council Arts Grants to Artists page, or by contacting +44(0)20 7389 3050.
Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust Awards (QEST)
QEST funds further study, training and practical experience for UK crafter makers who can display a high level of skill and are committed to their craft. Funding of £1,000 to £15,000 is available through the scholarships, and is awarded twice a year. The funding deadline for 2010/2011 was Friday 27 May 2011. Further details can be found on the QEST website.
Details about one-off grants are included in our Opportunities and Training section.
Craft Scotland - making connections, creating opportunities.
Craft Scotland, 15 Coburg Street, Leith, Edinburgh, EH6 6ETCraft Scotland is a company limited by guarantee registered in Scotland no. SC 270245
A registered Scottish Charity no. SC 039491
