Saltire Society launches £50k fund for young artists

The Saltire Society is marking its 80th anniversary by launching a £50,000 funding programme to support young and emerging Scottish artists.

The ‘Inspiring Scotland’ programme, set up with contributions from The Saltire Society Trust, Creative Scotland and the British Council, will pay for up to 20 awards this year, including four international travel bursaries in literature, architecture, visual arts and music, funded by the British Council Scotland. Another award will pay for one artist to spend a three-month residency in New York.

Scottish arts organisations such as the Edinburgh International Film Festival and Hands Up For Trad will help choose the winning applicants.

Saltire Society executive director Jim Tough said the funding package is its most ambitious to date.

“Central to the philosophy of the Saltire Society is to invest in ideas, innovation and risk,” he said. “We were determined to honour that philosophy on this, our 80th anniversary year, by pulling together a bumper programme of support to help nurture and develop the next generation of Scottish creative talent.”

More details about the programme will be revealed at the Saltire Society’s official 80th anniversary event, which will take place at the Dundee Contemporary Arts centre on 5th April.