Visual Artist and Craft Maker Awards

Visual artists and crafts makers in Scotland can apply for funding through small grants funded by Creative Scotland and developed in partnership with Local Authorities and arts agencies across Scotland.

The Visual Artist and Craft Maker Awards (VACMA) are a programme of small grants schemes delivered in partnership with local authorities and art organisations across Scotland. The schemes are managed locally by these partners.

The purpose of these bursaries is to support visual artists and craft makers in their creative and professional development.

VACMA is supported by Creative Scotland through funding from the National Lottery.

In 2024/25 VACMA is offering fixed bursaries of £500 and £1000.

  • £500 Early-Career Bursary is for artists and makers that have been practicing for less than 5 years. This includes recent graduates (2019 or later) and those that have not studied art formally but have been practising as an artist or maker for up to 5 years.
  • £1,000 Bursary is for artists and makers who have been practising for over 5 years, regardless of whether they have gone through formal education or not.

We are working with partners across Scotland to deliver the scheme across 25 local authorities.

VACMA has two deadlines in 2024/25:

  • Autumn deadline: 5pm, 22 October 2024
  • Winter deadline: 5pm, 4 February 2025

Please note, not all partners offer a scheme with both deadlines – please check the following lists for detail on which partners are participating, and which deadlines they offer. Visit their websites to apply.

Find out more here

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