Eligibility
For individuals
For organisations
Important notes before you apply
Who can apply
- Individuals working at a professional level in the arts
- Applicants must be based in Scotland (unless otherwise indicated in the detail of the specific fund to which you are applying). By this we mean you must have your principal home in Scotland, as opposed to having a residence in Scotland which is used on an occasional basis, however regularly, or for whatever purpose
- For professional development applications, organisations may apply on behalf of an individual, using the application form for individuals
In most cases, collaborative projects from individual artists working together are eligible and there are three ways in which you can apply:
- Where two or more people always work together on projects as one collaborative unit, you can apply jointly for a grant. However, one individual will need to take the lead and be responsible for managing the application and any grant awarded. The grant will be in that person's name, unless you operate your collaborative practice under a group name.
- Where two or more people, who normally work on their own, wish to collaborate on one-off or occasional projects, each individual should apply separately. Your application should mention that the project is in collaboration with the other person. However, your budget should only show your own proportion of the project costs. Your application should focus on how funding will benefit only you. This also applies to individuals who normally collaborate with others, but who do not operate as a single unit in terms of their artistic practice.
- Bands/Groups/Ensembles can complete the application form in one of two ways:
- one band member can apply in his/her name, and be responsible for managing the application and any grant awarded. The grant would be paid in that person's name.
- the band can apply in the name of the band, with one member as the main contact for all correspondence. To do this, you must have a bank account in the band name. The grant would be paid in that name.
Who cannot apply
- Students in full-time formal education (ie 16 hours or more per week) at the date of making the application. Applications may be considered from individuals who are working at a professional level within the arts and undertaking a part-time course of study, but this will depend on the nature of your project and how it relates to your course. We cannot fund any activity which is related to courses of formal education.
- Individual film-makers, unless you can demonstrate that the main benefit of the project will be to an artform supported by the Scottish Arts Council. Otherwise you should contact Scottish Screen.
- Architects and designers unless you can demonstrate that the main benefit of the project will be to an artform supported by the Scottish Arts Council.
- Individuals working in museums or heritage, unless you can demonstrate that the main benefit of the project will be to an artform supported by the Scottish Arts Council.
- Academics or other education professionals seeking professional development funding.
What is not eligible
- activities that are not arts related
- applications for prolonged study at centres of further education
Who can apply
Types of organisations which are eligible
Project location
Who cannot apply
Only organisations which are formally constituted and have a commitment to Equal Opportunities are eligible to apply for funding.
In order to demonstrate accountability for public funds, all participants are required to provide evidence of their legal and financial status, usually in the form of a written constitution* and audited accounts**. The type of constitution document you have will depend on the type of organisation you are, but should clearly describe how your organisation is structured and managed, including how it will deal with financial matters. It should be appropriately authenticated with signatures and dates.
* If you have previously sent a constitution, you do not need to submit this again unless there have been significant changes to it since you first sent it.
** Whether you have applied for funding in the past, or intend making more than one application, you must provide your latest audited accounts with each application, unless you receive core funding from us.
Please note: if you are a new organisation, you must be properly constituted before you make an application. We are unable to consider applications from organisations whose legal status is not resolved. If you are formally constituted but do not yet have audited accounts, we will require evidence that suitable business banking arrangements are in place.
You should primarily be an arts organisation, though we welcome applications from a wide range of other organisations seeking funding for arts activity, such as:
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Type of organisation
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You are eligible for the following reason/s
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Local authorities, registered charities and any other relevant organisations |
Your organisation cannot distribute profits |
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Public sector agencies |
If the arts activity is outwith your day to day work |
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Schools |
If the arts activity is clearly outwith the normal curriculum, and there is significant professional artistic input which will result in production of new work, as well as clear public benefit. Please note: annual school productions are not eligible for funding. |
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Artists' groups |
You may apply, as long as you are already established with an appropriate management structure in place, a written constitution, and dedicated banking arrangements. |
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Commercial organisations |
Only if you can clearly show that your project will promote the public good and will not be for private or commercial gain. We may ask you for a business plan. |
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Sole traders |
You are not excluded from applying, but you must show that your project will promote the public good and will not be for private or commercial gain. If you do not have a formal governing document, we will require you to provide information about the aims and objectives of your business, along with appropriate documentation to demonstrate that your business is appropriately set up and registered as a separate legal entity.
This may vary from person to person, but as a minimum we would require evidence that you are registered with HM Revenue and Customs and that you have a dedicated bank account for your business. If your business has been operating for a year or more, we will require audited accounts. You will be competing for funds with organisations which have strong administrative and management structures in place, so we will expect you to clearly demonstrate how you will deliver the project, detailing the systems you will put in place to manage public funds and mitigate any likely risks. |
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Groups of organisations (consortia) |
If you are working together as a consortium, you may apply. You will need to provide us with a formal consortium agreement which clearly sets out the aims and objectives of the consortium, its membership and how the consortium will manage all aspects of its affairs. |
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Joint applications |
These can also be made. However, one of the organisations involved will need to take the lead and have the main responsibility for managing the application and any grant. The nominated lead organisation must maintain this status throughout the project. Once the award has been made, we are unable to change the lead organisation to which the grant has been paid.
You will need to provide us with a partnership agreement. |
Location - the project must take place in Scotland
We anticipate that most applicant organisations will be based in Scotland. However, unless otherwise stated in the specific guidance, any project which benefits audiences and participants in Scotland will be considered. As long as this condition is met, we welcome applications from organisations based outside Scotland.
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Please note:
If you receive Foundation funding from the Scottish Arts Council, you must consult your lead officer before making an application. |
- Individuals
- Organisations which are not formally constituted as described above
- Organisations which do not have a commitment to equal opportunities
- We do not usually make grants to organisations in poor financial health. You must have sufficient assets to meet your current liabilities. If you are in deficit, there must be evidence that you are managing the deficit so that it is reducing, rather than growing.
- We will not normally fund any activity which has already started (any exceptions to this will be clearly indicated in our specific guidance), or which will have started before you are notified of a decision on your application. We will also not pay for any goods or services which you order before receiving our official decision and offer letter. This means that you must not issue or enter into any binding contracts before this date. Any exceptions to this will be clearly indicated in the specific guidance. In particular, there are some instances where funding is from our 2008/09 budgets, and is only available for projects which start after 1 April 2008.
- The project start date is defined as the point at which you begin preparatory work which represents a commitment, financial or otherwise, to understanding the whole project, as opposed to the dates when any exhibitions/performances/festivals take place. You must not include reference to support from Scottish Arts Council funds in publicity material before you have received our offer letter, and satisfied any conditions that may be included in this.
- If your project includes non-arts activities as well as arts activities, we will only offer funding for the arts activities.
- You must ensure that any venues you use for your funded activity are fully accessible to disabled people.
- The Scottish Arts Council will not normally fund productions through project funding that are programmed to appear at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival or Edinburgh International Festival only. Tours which include these festivals are eligible but the festival appearances must be part of a larger Scottish tour. The majority of performances must happen outside of the festivals.
For exceptions to this, please refer to individuals and organisations guidelines.
If any of the above applies to you and you are unsure whether you would be eligible for support, please contact our Help Desk for guidance before applying.
For some areas of funding, there may be other exemptions and these will be detailed in the Specific Funding Information of the guidelines. | |