Visual Artist and Craft Maker Awards (VACMA) 2026/27, Winter Deadline

About this call

The Visual Artist and Craft Maker Awards (VACMA) are small grant schemes funded by Creative Scotland through the National Lottery and run locally by local authorities and arts organisations across Scotland. The bursaries support visual artists and craft makers based in Scotland in their creative and professional development: training and learning, mentoring, exploring new ideas, research and development, sustainable practices, residencies, essential equipment, or creating new work for an exhibition or public presentation. Applicants choose a fixed bursary of £500 or £1,000. The winter deadline is 5pm on 2 February 2027; apply through the scheme of your own local partner, as not every partner runs both deadlines.

Who can apply

• Limited by country or region
• Medium: Painting / Sculpture / Ceramics / Textile / Drawing / Printmaking / Photography / Mixed Media
• Entry fee: See official site
• For practising visual artists and craft makers based in Scotland. You must live or maintain a studio space in the local authority area you apply to; if your area has no VACMA scheme you can apply elsewhere only where you maintain a studio. Partners in the winter deadline: Angus, Argyll and Bute, Ayrshires, Dundee, East Dunbartonshire, East Lothian, Edinburgh, Fife, Forth Valley, Glasgow, Highland, Moray and Na h-Eileanan Siar, Orkney, Perth & Kinross, Shetland Isles, South of Scotland, West Dunbartonshire; apply on your local partner's website with its form. Artists working in artforms other than visual art or craft cannot apply. Full-time students cannot apply; part-time students must provide evidence of part-time status and confirm the activity does not contribute to their academic studies. Previous recipients must have submitted an End of Project Report. One application per round. Activities must begin at least 8 weeks after the deadline. Not supported: artists or makers with no experience of presenting work publicly (including only on social media), accredited academic courses, business activity, applications mainly about marketing or websites, filmmaking outside a visual arts practice, community or educational projects (only self-initiated projects within a socially engaged or participatory practice are considered, never projects delivered on behalf of an organisation), graphic designers (illustrators only with an independent creative practice beyond client work), building or renovation, framing and presentation costs only, and duplicate Creative Scotland funding. The project can take place anywhere. Submit your local area's application form (a 30-word summary, up to 250 words on your practice, up to 300 words each on the activity and on your development, up to 200 words each on timeline and risks, any public element, barriers you have faced and environmental impact), a CV, 6 examples of recent work and an Equalities Monitoring Form; for an exhibition or residency include a letter of confirmation from the venue or host. Disabled applicants and those with caring responsibilities can request Personal Access Costs separately from the bursary. Decisions within 8 weeks of the deadline. Application fee not stated.