“The impact that the bursaries create carries a ripple effect. We know from the evaluations we’ve done, the feedback we receive and the conversations we have with partners, that the award can be the beginning of an important new development and lead to other opportunities.”
The awards are open to applications for £500 and £1000 grant funding, with applicants encouraged to apply through their local authorities by 3 February.
VACMA is one of the longest-established funding streams for the visual arts and crafts in Scotland, going back to the days of the Scottish Arts Council.
The scheme supports individual artists’ development, helping them achieve more impactful creative outcomes
MacIntyre said: “The primary focus of VACMA is supporting the creative development of artists and makers. We don’t necessarily expect projects to have a public outcome – we understand that if you want to have good art, and for people to have access to interesting work and ideas, then you have to invest in practice.
“The local authority partnerships are really important to VACMA. They help us to extend the reach of our funding, to reach artists and makers who might not always apply for our Open Funds, or who aren’t at the stage yet where they feel confident enough to.
“It’s often described as being a more accessible route into public funding.
“It can be the catalyst for trying something new or taking a creative risk and developing the skill they wouldn’t have been able to without that money.
“And it’s also about the validation of the practice. It builds confidence and allows artists and makers to feel they’re being taken seriously. That can be a really important thing especially for those at the earlier stages of their careers.”
She added: “It can be about getting mentorship from a more experienced artist or maker to develop your skills, or it might help artists access facilities where they can learn new processes or build on the ones they already have.
“We have had people use the bursary for courses, or to support residencies where artists have focused time to develop.”
The award aims to create a rare commodity in artist and makers’ lives.
“Investing time in your practice or investing in your skills development, if you’re a freelance artist or maker, can be really challenging,” said MacIntyre.
“That can be the area that can be sacrificed because you need to just keep your practice afloat. This allows that bit of space and time and reflection to step away to be able to do that.”
Creative Scotland work in conjunction with 24 local authorities from Shetland to the Borders, and are keen to extend VACMA partnerships with some of the country’s eight remaining local authority areas.
MacIntyre said: “We work with local authorities and cultural trusts and other arts organisations to deliver VACMA, and they’re very committed to supporting artists and makers in their areas.
“That partnership working is really key for us.
“Artists and makers we have supported tell us that the fact their local area has a VACMA scheme makes them feel like art and culture is more valued locally. It adds to the creative ecology of an area.”
Full information and sign-up details are available on creativescotland.com/funding/funding-programmes/funding-delivered-by-partners/visual-arts-and-crafts-awards
