We are pleased to launch this year’s funding stream for Visual Artists and Craft Makers living or working in West Dunbartonshire.
The Visual Artist and Craft Makers Awards (VACMA) scheme offers small grants to visual artists and craft makers for their creative development at all stages of their career. These awards are delivered by West Dunbartonshire Council in partnership with Creative Scotland.
Next Deadline for Applications
- Winter deadline: 5pm, Tuesday 6 February 2024
We are delighted to offer fixed bursaries in recognition of the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 on individual artists and makers. The VACMA scheme offers two levels of bursaries:
- Bursaries of £750
- Early-career bursaries of £500 (For applicants that have less than 5 years' experience outside of education/training, graduated in 2017 or later, or that have not studied art formally but have been practising as an artist for up to 5 years).
The fund is open to visual artists and craft makers who can demonstrate a commitment to developing their creative practice and who are living or working or maintaining a studio space within the Local Authority area to which they are applying.
Application Process
All eligible applications go to a panel meeting that will make decisions on who is supported. The panel is made up of representatives of West Dunbartonshire Council and local arts professionals. Creative Scotland officers are also involved in the panels to bring a wider overview of developments at a national level.
In advance of the panel meeting, the panel will read and consider your written application as well as viewing the six supporting images. During the panel meeting, the visual and written material is reviewed and discussed against the criteria. The recommendations for awards are based on these discussions. If you are not successful individual feedback will be provided.
Please make sure you read the guidance notes before submitting your application.
- Guidance Notes for Applicants (External Site - notes at the bottom of the page)
- Application Form
- Equalities Monitoring Form
- VACMA artist checklist
Alongside your application, you must complete an Equalities Monitoring Form. This provides Creative Scotland with essential statistical information so that they can understand who receives funding and any gaps. The Equalities Monitoring Form is anonymous and will be processed separately from your application. Data is managed confidentially, has no bearing on your application and is processed in accordance with Data Protection laws and GDPR.
Please make sure you read the guidance notes before submitting your application.
All applications, forms and evidence should be sent to the Arts Development Officer at arts.development@west-dunbarton.gov.uk.
Applicants will be notified within 6 weeks of the deadline on the outcome of their application. You will be contacted if there is any change to this timetable.