Creative Scotland has announced the latest round of National Lottery and Scottish Government backed Open Fund awards, distributing £904,963 to artists and organisations across Scotland.
Lou McLean by Debs Smooth Photo
Among this round of funding are projects aimed at supporting diverse artists voices and community-driven projects across the country.
Dunoon Burgh Hall Trust is rolling out a programme of exhibitions celebrating both local talent and global perspectives over the next 18 months. The initiative supports local artists and makers through networks such as CHARTS, Dunoon MOCA and Cowal Open Studios, while also welcoming international contributors like Chinese artist Li Zhengde through her exhibition From the Xijiang to Yangtze River.
In partnership with Glasgow’s Street Level Photoworks, the Hall will also host photography exhibitions, including FONDS: Stories of People Through Objects They Love by Morwenna Kearsley and Isola by Dr John Perivolaris.
Speaking on the new programme of events and exhibitions, Christina McKenzie, Chair of Dunoon Burgh Hall Trust says, “Alongside these exhibitions, we offer artist talks, guided tours and community workshops, ensuring an engaging and inspiring experience for all. This exciting programme brings a rich variety of creative expression to our community, fostering connection, conversation and cultural exchange, while bringing a diverse range of artistic perspectives to Argyll.”
Alasdair Taylor's Yes She Is Here, as will be exhibited at Dunoon Burgh Hall.
Elsewhere, the Queer Audio-Visual Artists Collective (QuAVAC) has received funding to empower eight young queer artists in Glasgow in a collaborative residency. Four audio artists and four visual artists have been paired together to create new work over a four-month period, with their final pieces being showcased at a live event in August.
Jax Hoefnagels, QuAVAC Producer said: “This funding empowers talented artists to strengthen their collaborations from QuAVAC’s first iteration and confidently present their work to peers and industry professionals. The program celebrates queer creativity, supporting artistic practice and fostering future opportunities in Scotland’s queer art scene.”
Musician and songwriter Lou McLean has been awarded funds to record her debut album, Women’s Work, a project rooted in female empowerment. Alongside recording, the funding will support costume designer Biz Sutton, photographer Jannica Honey and a majority-female team of session musicians, producers and engineers. The costume and photography will be used for the album’s cover art, posters, and social media promotion, drawing inspiration from historical images of the Newhaven fishwives.
Beyond the album, McLean will deliver a series of songwriting workshops which she’ll tour across Scotland. She said: “This funding will allow me to bring the art of songwriting to women and gender-diverse people across the country. The workshops are based on Scotland’s rich history of working-class women songwriters, and I hope to inspire more women to pursue this rich tradition.”
These awards are just a few of the 47 individual grants made to writers, musicians, theatre makers and other creative practitioners across Scotland, supporting a wide range of impactful projects, including:
- The return of the Glasgow Choir Festival this summer, taking place at the iconic Queen’s Park Arena.
- A South American tour for the Brian Molley Quartet in November this year, who will work alongside South American partners to develop new material while on the road.
- The Fife Coast and Countryside Trust will commission artist Julie Brook to create a large-scale coastal sculpture alongside community-led art workshops and performances, culminating in a 117-mile walk, cycle, horse ride, row, and kayak journey along the Fife Coastal Path in May 2025 to celebrate coastal beauty, cultural heritage and climate awareness.
Iain Munro, CEO at Creative Scotland said: “The Open Fund awards are vital in supporting projects that reflect the diversity and vibrancy of Scotland’s arts landscape. These projects highlight the importance of giving artists the space and resources to create meaningful work, strengthening Scotland’s creative community and making the arts accessible to all.”
Background
- In February 2025, with support from The National Lottery, Creative Scotland’s Open Fund made 47 awards totalling £904,963.
- The Open Fund is one of Creative Scotland’s key funding routes, supporting the wide range of activity initiated by artists, producers and other creative practitioners in Scotland. The Open Fund has no deadlines, and full eligibility criteria and application guidance can be found on the Creative Scotland website.
The National Lottery has raised over £50 billion for good causes since its launch in November 1994. National Lottery players raise around £30 million for good causes every week. More than 700,000 grants have been awarded across the UK since 1994. The National Lottery has created more than 7,400 millionaires or multi-millionaires across its games. On average, seven new millionaires are created every week - equivalent to one new millionaire every day of the year.
Creative Scotland is the public body that supports culture and creativity across all parts of Scotland, distributing funding provided by the Scottish Government and The National Lottery, which, now in its 30th year, has supported over 14,600 projects with more than £501.9 million in funding through Creative Scotland and its predecessor, the Scottish Arts Council. Further information at creativescotland.com. Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Learn more about the value of art and creativity in Scotland and join in at www.ourcreativevoice.scot.