Join us on 1 November to explore the incredible impact of youth work through stats and stories – sign up for this year’s National Youth Work Conference.
The purpose of the Youth Arts Open Fund is to support freelance artists or organisations seeking small amounts of funding so that they can deliver arts activity for children and young people – primarily those who have traditionally found it hardest to access such opportunities.
Funded projects are expected to engage children and young people in high-quality and accessible arts activity that empowers them through self-expression, enhances their mental health and wellbeing and that builds their confidence and skills.
Freelance artists can apply for funding up to £8k and organisations can apply for funding of up to £15k, to deliver up to 12 months of arts activity, and there is a total of £460k available.
Awards from the fund will be made to freelance artists or to creative, third sector or youth work organisations. Applicants must be based in Scotland, experienced in working with children and young people and supporting the delivery of FREE community-based arts activities for children and young people living in Scotland. Organisations currently in receipt of Creative Scotland funding for projects with and for children and young people must demonstrate how the proposed activity is additional to your existing funding agreement and how the activity enhances current and future plans. This fund is not open to private/commercial businesses.
3rd May 2023 – Fund Opens for applicants
5th June 2023 – Deadline to submit applications
4th June – 26th July 2023 – Assessments
27th July 2023 – National panel meets
28th July 2023 – Outcome of panel decision emailed to applicants
1st August 2023 – 31st July 2024 – All proposed activities must take place
1st September 2024 – Deadline for final reports
Applications will initially be sifted for eligibility and scored against the fund criteria by a team of assessors at Creative Scotland. Short-listed applications will then be passed to a national panel of assessors (including representatives from the arts; voluntary and local authority youth work sector and young people) who will make final award decisions (based on their own assessment scores and scores and comments of previous Creative Scotland assessors).
Freelance artists can apply for funding up to £8k and organisations can apply for funding of up to £15k, to deliver up to 12 months of arts activity, and there is a total of £460k available.
Awards from the fund will be made to freelance artists or organisations in the arts, screen, and creative industries, third sector and the youth work sector, who are based in Scotland, experienced in working with children and young people and supporting the delivery of FREE community-based arts activities for children and young people living in Scotland.
Local authorities may apply as long as the funding isn’t used to cover the cost of or to replace existing services. So, if it’s something additional or that will enhance existing provision that’s fine
Yes you can apply to provide new opportunities or that are additional and enhance existing opportunities – but not to fund existing provision
If you have trouble using the links in Guidance please find links below for Rates of Pay and Youth Music Initiative:
https://www.creativescotland.com/funding/funding-programmes/targeted-funding/youth-music-initiative
https://www.creativescotland.com/resources/our-publications/funding-documents/rates-of-pay-guidance
We’re always around for a chat if you want to run ideas by us or help you with queries of any kind. If you need further information or support please contact Jane Dailly (National Grants Manager) and Donna Tobin (National Grants Administrator).