Deadlines approaching for arts funding opportunities

THE DEADLINES for two funding opportunities from Shetland Arts is fast approaching.

The Creative Shetland Commissioning Fund offers grants of up to £20,000 to creatives in any discipline to help bring their artistic visions to life, whether it is a performance, exhibition, workshop or professional development.

Meanwhile, the Visual Artist and Craft Maker Awards (VACMA) provides fixed bursaries of £500 and £1,000 to support visual artists and craft makers in advancing their creative and professional development.

The deadline for the Creative Shetland fund is 31 January.

Applicants can choose between two funding levels – less than £500, or £501 to £20,000.

Projects must be completed by 31 December 2025, and applicants must either live in Shetland or demonstrate a strong connection to the islands.

Full guidance and application details can be found here.

The Visual Artist and Craft Maker Awards (VACMA) is a small grants programme delivered in partnership with local authorities and arts organisations across Scotland.

This scheme provides fixed bursaries of £500 and £1,000 to support visual artists and craft makers in their creative and professional development.

Applicants should choose between two funding levels:

·      £1,000 bursary: For those practicing for over five years, regardless of formal education.

·      £500 early career bursary: For those practicing for under five years, including recent graduates (2019 or later) and those without formal art education.

Artists at any stage of their careers are encouraged to apply if they believe the funding can help advance their creative and professional skills.

The bursaries are open to visual artists and craft makers working in any medium from; paint, clay, textiles, film, glass and more.

The deadline for applications is 4 February. More details can be found here.