The Visual Artist and Craft Maker Awards (VACMA) is a programme of small grant schemes delivered in partnership with a range of local authorities and cultural organisations across Scotland. The schemes are managed locally by these partners.
VACMA offers fixed bursaries of £500 and £1000. The purpose of these bursaries is to support visual artists and craft makers in their creative and professional development.
Perth and Kinross’ VACMA programme is delivered by Perth City of Craft with support from the National Lottery through Creative Scotland.
Perth City of Craft will be running one deadline, the winter deadline: 5pm 2 February 2027.
Funding Details
The bursaries are designed to help you grow and develop your creative practice.
You can use the funding for a wide range of activities including:
- Training and learning: This could be professional courses, workshops or peer-to
peer learning. - Mentoring and skills development: Working with a mentor or developing new
skills to support your creative growth. - Exploring new ideas: Trying out new techniques, materials or creative approaches.
- Research and development: Investigating and planning a new body of work.
- Sustainable practices: Experimenting with sustainable and renewable materials,
circular design and low impact processes. - Residencies: Taking part in a residency that supports your creative and
professional development. - Essential equipment: Buying equipment that clearly helps you experiment or
develop your practice. - Creating new work: Getting extra support to make new work for an exhibition or
public presentation.
Criteria
VACMA will give priority to applications that clearly demonstrate:
Commitment to practice – your application demonstrates relevant experience and
an ongoing commitment to the development of your visual arts or craft practice.
Creative development – your application clearly describes how the funding will help
you develop as an artist or maker, and the difference it will make to your practice.
Clear project plan – your application provides a clear outline of what you plan to
do with the funding and explains how you will do it
It is also a priority for Creative Scotland and all VACMA partners to support
Equalities, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and Environmental Sustainability.
VACMA is designed to be an accessible entry point into public funding and provide
opportunities for people to progress their practice despite the barriers they may face.
If demand is high, priority may be given to:
- People who are newer to public funding
- Those who have had fewer opportunities to develop their practice.
We will also prioritise projects and activities that consider and work to mitigate their
environmental impact.
These resources may be helpful:
Eligibility
This fund is for practicing visual artists and craft makers who are based in Scotland.
To be eligible you must:
- Live or maintain a studio space in the local authority area you are applying to (Perth and Kinross)
- Have submitted an End of Project Report if you are a previous VACMA recipient. (Previously, Perth and Kinross’ VACMA fund was managed by Fife Contemporary, we will be working closely to ensure that the handover of the fund from Fife Contemporary to Perth City of Craft is as smooth as possible for all previous applicants – if you would like to apply to VACMA in Fife, click here)
Part-time students can apply, but you must:
- Provide evidence of your part-time status
- Confirm the activity you are applying for does not contribute toward your
- academic studies.
Further detail regarding student eligibility is included in the VACMA FAQs (Appendix 2). If you are unsure about eligibility, please get in touch.
You are not eligible to apply if:
- You are a full-time student
- You do not live or maintain a studio space in the local authority area you are
- applying to (Perth and Kinross)
- You work in artforms other than visual art or craft
- You have previously received VACMA funding but have not submitted an end of project report by the application deadline.
Support
Perth City of Craft will be running advice sessions in late 2026 and early 2027, we will make the details of these sessions available soon. We cannot review specific applications, but you can ask questions and gain a clearer understanding of the application process.
Application
The full guidance for applicants can be found here. Be sure to read the guidance in its entirety to ensure your application is eligible.
Stiùireadh Gàidhlig do luchd-iarrtais. Dèan cinnteach gun leugh thu an t-sreath iomlan de stiùireadh gus dèanamh cinnteach gu bheil an t-iarrtas agad freagarrach.
Download the application form here. – Please send completed application forms to [email protected] in either .doc (Microsoft Word) format, PDF, or Google Doc – Please note that .pages documents can’t be opened and will need to be reformatted before submission.
Equalities Monitoring Form – This must be completed and returned with your application form for your application to be accepted.
VACMA Application Checklist – make sure everything is ticked off before your submission.
Deadline: 5pm 2 February 2027.
Enquiries: [email protected]
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