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 read the guidelines before submitting an application. All applications should be submitted using the online application form below.
Download & read the Guidelines here
Download & read the Guidelines in GAELIC here
Complete the online Application Form here
Complete the online Equalities Monitoring Form here
VACMA has two deadlines in 2025/2026:
Round 1: Tuesday 21 October 2025, 5pm
Round 2: Tuesday 3 February 2026, 5pm
Access support to make your application
VACMA – BSL Guidance (Vimeo link)
Easy Read Guides – Part A VACMA Guidance / Part B VACMA Application Questions / Part C VACMA Common Question / Part D Writing a CV
Creative Scotland can help cover the cost of services that support you in applying for funding. Access support is available to individuals – or the lead applicant of a group – who are defined as disabled under the Equality Act 2010, such as:
- d/Deaf or hard of hearing
- Disabled
- Living with a chronic or mental illness
- Neurodivergent (e.g. dyslexia, autism, ADHD)
To find out what support is available and how to request it, please visit the Access Support section on Creative Scotland’s website. If you require access support, we advise that you contact Creative Scotland at least 4 weeks before the deadline, by emailing: [email protected]
For any other queries regarding the Visual Artists and Craft Makers Awards scheme in the Highlands, Moray and Na h-Eileanan Siar please contact: Kirsten Body [email protected]
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