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.
The Youth Arts Open Fund is administered by YouthLink Scotland (the national agency for youth work in Scotland) and is part of Creative Scotland’s wider support for children and young people, funded by the Scottish Government. 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, prioritising 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 health, wellbeing and personal development, and 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 £740k 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.
Creative Scotland “Multi-Year Funded” organisations are eligible to apply, but any proposed project must be separate and distinct from their existing Creative Scotland-funded activity. However, the fund aims to build capacity among smaller-scale organisations, and applications from these organisations will be prioritised.
As the Youth Arts Open Fund is part of the Scottish Governments commitment to expand the Youth Music Initiative (YMI) to other art forms we cannot fund music projects via this fund. Music could make up part of a wider arts offer, but it cannot be the prominent or sole focus of your proposal. The YMI Access to Music Making Fund is currently providing opportunity for music-based projects (Youth Music Initiative Funding | Creative Scotland).
Applications will initially be checked for eligibility by YouthLink Scotland and scored against the fund criteria by a team of assessors at Creative Scotland. Short-listed applications will then be passed to a panel of young people who will make final award decisions. The Youth Panel will look specifically at the extent to which short-listed applications demonstrate a youth-led approach. You should therefore ensure that your application is written in as accessible a way as possible.
Online applicant support sessions are available on the dates below.
To book a place, please contact: Jane Dailly, National Grants Manager, YouthLink Scotland jdailly@youthlink.scot
All applications must be submitted by no later than 5pm on the 25th of August.
The Youth Arts Open Fund was launched in 2023 in partnership between Creative Scotland, YouthLink Scotland and Scottish Government.
See the list of funded projects in 2023/24 and in 2024/25.
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).