Creative Scotland awards £976k to artists, authors and organisations through Open Fund

Creative Scotland has awarded £976k to “a wide array” of artists and organisations through the Open Fund. The money is being used to support essential needs such as dedicated time for research and development, childcare provision, networking and fostering international connections.

The funding is backed by The National Lottery and the Scottish government.

These awards are among 65 individual grants made to writers, musicians, theatre and performance makers and creative practitioners, including a follow-up to award-winning author Jenni Fagan’s 2012 novel The Panopticon. 

Other recipients include:

• Funding for Dance Horizons Ltd for their Innovations Contemporary Dance Platform, which will provide spaces for independent dance artists, companies and collectives to present new works.
• The return of SEALL Festival of Small Halls for 2024. 
• The debut album of electro-pop artist/producer SHEARS. 
• White Gold, an innovative art project that seeks to unite cultures through the creation of intricately hand-embroidered shepherd cloaks.

The full list of awards made in this round of the Open Fund can be found on the website.

Paul Burns, interim director of arts at Creative Scotland, said: “These diverse awards and projects underscore the crucial role that Creative Scotland’s Open Fund plays for organisations and individuals alike, helping to address and nurture artistic growth, support cultural collaboration and provide opportunities for creative development across the country.”