The Visual Artists and Craft Makers Awards (VACMA) scheme offers small grants to visual artists and craft makers for their creative development at all stages of their career.
These awards are supported by Creative Scotland through funding from the National Lottery in partnership with High Life Highland and are open to artists and makers who can demonstrate a commitment to developing their creative practice.
VACMA offers fixed bursaries:
£500 Early-Career Bursary: for artists and makers who have graduated within the past 3 years or those who can demonstrate experience of the public presentation of their work within the same timeframe.
£1000 Bursary: for artists and makers who can demonstrate more than 3 years’ experience of the public presentation of their work.
Who can apply?
Visual artists and craft makers who live or maintain a studio space in the Local Authority areas of Highland, Moray or Na h-Eileanan Siar. If you are out with our area please refer to Creative Scotland’s website for a list of the other region schemes.
Previous VACMA recipients who have submitted an End of Project Report.
This fund is for practising artists and makers. Applicants should have achieved a body of work out with formal education (unless a recent graduate) and have experience of the public engaging with their work.
Part-time students can apply but will need to prove their part-time status and that the activity they are applying for does not contribute toward their academic studies.
How to apply
Please note the deadlines have now past for this round of funding. We hope to have the next round confirmed by September 2026 - so check back then!
