Visual Arts

Learn more about Creative Scotland's Visual Arts team.

The Visual Arts team at Creative Scotland has three main areas of work.

  • Project Funding
    We give advice on applying for the Open Fund, both for individuals and organisations, assess applications, give feedback on unsuccessful applications, monitor funded projects, and review end of project reports. We also work with other  teams to help assess education, creative industries and equalities funds.
  • Multi-year Funding
    We monitor Regularly Funded Organisations and work with them on development areas such as their Equalities, Diversity and Inclusion plans.
  • Targeted Activities
    We work with a wide group of partner organisations to deliver funds and projects with specific development goals in the visual arts sector. We aim to create new opportunities and positive changes like stronger international links and increased representation of minority groups.

Visual Arts team

  • Emma Nicolson - Head of Visual Arts
  • Anne Petrie - Visual Arts Officer
  • Sarah MacIntyre - Visual Arts Officer
  • Lottie Thorne - Visual Arts Officer
  • Kirsteen Macdonald - Visual Arts Officer

Organisations working in Visual Arts

The Regular Funding Network 2018-21 consists of 121 organisations, supported by Grant in Aid funding through a three-year commitment from the Scottish Government.

The Visual Arts team is responsible for a number of these organisations.

Production facilities in Scotland

Scotland’s Workshops is a network of 11 visual arts production facilities all across the country. The spaces give both artists and newcomers access to an amazing array of equipment, studio spaces and unique technical expertise to create and learn about art.

 

Residencies

Residencies provide important opportunities to refresh practice and to exchange ideas, to share and build knowledge, and to create friendships, extend professional networks and learn new skills. Many organisations in Scotland are involved in residency programmes, including:

 

Artist-Run Initiatives

Artist-run initiatives make a significant contribution to the distinctive culture of the visual arts in Scotland, generating a critical mass of energy, enquiry, experimentation and expertise. There are many different and evolving models of self-organised and collective activity, but a significant majority are self-funded and delivered by people working in a voluntary and unpaid capacity.

Here are some we've been working closely with over the last three years.

Artist Film and Moving Image

Lux Scotland supports, develops and promotes artists moving image in Scotland.

Alchemy Film & Arts is based in the Scottish Borders town of Hawick and work with communities and artists both locally and internationally, using film as a way to come together, have conversations and make positive change.

Relevant funds

Our main source of funding for Visual Arts is Open Funding:

  • Open Fund for Individuals - this fund can support individual visual artists, as well as those collaborating.
  • National Lottery Open Fund for Organisations - this fund aims to continue to support organisations who seek funding to undertake creative activity such as a specific project or production, a programme of creative work, or a period of research and development.
  • National Lottery Extended Programme Fund - a new time-limited funding opportunity for arts and cultural organisations launched in February 2023. The fund aims to create the opportunity for non-profit organisations to get longer term support than is currently available through the National Lottery Open Fund for Organisations.

We also run targeted funds for projects or activities which have more specific criteria.

  • The Visual Artist and Craft Maker Awards (VACMA) are a programme of small grants schemes delivered with a range of local authorities and art agencies across Scotland to support Scotland-based visual artists and craft makers in their creative development.
  • The Stephen Palmer Travel Bursary Fund is delivered by Engage Scotland, and is for freelancers working in the visual arts in Scotland. It was launched to honour Stephen Palmer, Visual Arts Officer at Creative Scotland.
  • Create:Inclusion seeks to increase the diversity of people in the arts and creative industries.

Key resources

  • Scottish Contemporary Art Network (SCAN) is a not-for-profit charitable organisation with a small team who work alongside a range of collaborators and freelancers. The majority of the Board is made up of SCAN members who are artists or who work within contemporary visual arts.
  • Scottish Artists Union (SAU) produces various resources for its members.
  • Engage Scotland represents the Scottish body of Engage members, responding to training and networking needs within gallery education with a Scottish focus.

International

Scotland + Venice is a major, international project designed to promote the best of contemporary art and architecture from Scotland on the world stage. Founded in 2003 the project supports the development of new work, fosters international connections and exchange, and positions Scotland as a vibrant place for creative and cultural production. More details on the partnership can be found on the Scotland + Venice website.

Get in touch

We’re very happy to talk to you about projects that might be eligible for our support.

If you’ve never applied before, get in touch to talk about your ideas and ask any questions. We might be able to give examples that make the criteria clearer or tell you more about how our funds work.

Get in touch by visiting our Contact Us page. Explore the team member list to find out who’s who.