Free VACMA Scotland Grant Sessions Start 30 September
Scotland’s visual artists and craft makers can join a free VACMA information session on Wednesday 30 September, from 10.30am to noon. The workshop will be held online through Microsoft Teams, giving prospective applicants a chance to learn about bursaries of £500 and £1,000 before the autumn funding deadline.
Creative Scotland is also offering a second free session on Wednesday 13 January 2027, from 2pm to 3.30pm. Sign-up details for both dates are available on the VACMA webpage.
Two sessions lead into separate funding deadlines
The September workshop comes three weeks before the autumn application deadline of 5pm on 20 October 2026. The January session precedes the winter deadline of 5pm on 2 February 2027.
| VACMA date | Confirmed detail |
|---|---|
| 30 September 2026 | Online session, 10.30am–noon |
| 20 October 2026 | Autumn deadline at 5pm |
| 13 January 2027 | Online session, 2pm–3.30pm |
| 2 February 2027 | Winter deadline at 5pm |
Individual VACMA schemes may use only one of the two application deadlines. Artists and makers therefore need to check the website of the partner responsible for their area before planning an application.
What the £500 and £1,000 bursaries can support
VACMA offers fixed bursaries rather than one variable award of up to £1,000. Applicants are encouraged to select the £500 or £1,000 level that best matches the activity they are proposing.
The programme can support mentoring, skills development, research into new ideas, work with sustainable or renewable materials, essential equipment and residencies that contribute to creative development. The information sessions are intended to help artists and makers understand the application process and available funding before submitting their plans.
Previous recipients show the range of activity covered. Orkney artist Sheena Graham George used VACMA support for specialist research and travel that contributed to later exhibition and publication opportunities. Bobbi Cameron received funding in February 2025 to attend a nine-week summer residency at the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture in Maine.
Creative Scotland Visual Arts Officer Sarah MacIntyre said the bursaries give artists and makers space to explore ideas, build skills and experiment with new approaches.
A national fund delivered through local partners
The funding comes from The National Lottery through Creative Scotland and is delivered with 16 VACMA schemes covering 23 Scottish local authority areas. Local authorities and arts organisations administer the awards and provide local partnership support.
Coverage includes Angus, Argyll and Bute, Ayrshire, Dundee, East Lothian, Edinburgh, Fife, Forth Valley, Glasgow, the Highlands, Moray, Na h-Eileanan Siar, North Lanarkshire, Orkney, Perth, the South of Scotland, Shetland and West Dunbartonshire.
The locally administered structure means application arrangements can differ between areas even though the bursary levels are fixed nationally. Between 2020 and 2025, VACMA distributed more than 1,366 awards to artists and makers across Scotland.
How to join the online workshops
Both information sessions are free and take place on Microsoft Teams. They are aimed at visual artists and craft makers considering an application for professional or creative development support.
Full eligibility criteria, local scheme information and session sign-up instructions are provided on the VACMA webpage. The published notice does not list separate accessibility arrangements for the online sessions, so applicants who need that information should check the available booking details before registering.
Source: Creative Scotland News
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Event dates, session times, bursary levels and application deadlines were checked against Creative Scotland’s announcement.
- Confirmed that both information sessions are free and delivered through Microsoft Teams.
- Checked the session dates and times for September 2026 and January 2027.
- Matched the £500 and £1,000 bursaries with the stated October and February deadlines.
- Retained the warning that individual local schemes may operate only one deadline.
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- Creative Scotland News
- Scope
- Scotland
- Updated
- 2026-08-27 13:43
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