Fund open
Contents
- What is Creative Scotland's Open Fund for Individuals?
- What the fund supports
- Eligibility
- Funding amounts
- Timescales
- How to apply
- Downloads
- Access Support
What is Creative Scotland's Open Fund for Individuals?
The Open Fund for Individuals is one of Creative Scotland’s key funding programmes, supporting the wide range of activity initiated by artists, writers, producers and other creative practitioners in Scotland. The overall annual budget for this fund is £5 million.
What the fund supports
The fund is intended to support periods of research, development and/or delivery of creative activity, such as specific projects and productions for up to 24 months. It can support an individual’s time where this is related to specific creative outcomes.
We will ask you to tell us the start and end date for this activity and to describe the outcomes, benefits and impacts that you wish to achieve.
Eligibility
Freelance and self-employed artists and creative practitioners living in Scotland who are at least 18 years old are eligible to apply. You must have a UK bank account in your name - learn more about legal names of applicants.
If you are not a self-employed individual or a sole trader, you may be eligible for the National Lottery Open Fund for Organisations.
Please read the guidance for full information on eligibility.
Funding amounts
You can apply for between £500 and £50,000.
Timescales
As standard, if your application request is between £500 and £20,000 you will hear the outcome in 10 weeks. If your application request is between £20,001 and £50,000 you will hear the outcome in 14 weeks.
To accommodate the office closure over the Christmas and New Year period:
- Applicants applying for over £20,000 will have an additional 2 weeks added on to the turnaround period
- From 23 October 2024 onward, applicants applying for under £20,000 will have an additional 2 weeks added on to the turnaround period
How to apply
Download the guidance for applicants, and apply using the online portal.
Downloads
Application form walkthrough
If you have any questions or concerns, for example, about an impact on project dates, our Enquiries Team are here to help. Visit the Contact Us page to get in touch with them.
Please ensure you have checked the Guidance for Applicants and the Funding FAQs before getting in touch, as you are likely to find the answer to your question there unless it is highly specific to your activity.
Access support
Creative Scotland is committed to offering clear and accessible application processes and programmes that are open to everyone. We have a number of ways we can support you to make your application.