Creative practitioners living and working in Dumfries & Galloway, or who have a significant on-going connection with region, can apply to the Support for Ambition (SfA) fund for any amount up to a maximum of £3,000.
Through its Support for Ambition (SfA) scheme, Arts D&G supports regionally based creative performing arts practitioners to develop their artistic vision, and technical skills and working practices. Artists based in Dumfries & Galloway and working in the following disciplines – theatre, music, dance, film, spoken word and comedy – can apply for SfA seed funding to begin the development of new projects, and/or to develop new relevant skills, or to hone existing expertise.
Deadline for applications: Mon 16 March 2026, 10am
Decisions announced by : Fri 27 March 2026
Projects start after: Mon 20 April 2026
What they fund:
They are interested in applications which describe clearly how a period of focused time-limited research and exploration would enable you to begin to realise a brilliant creative idea, or how developing new technical understanding and confidence would help you to advance your performing arts career further.
You may want to work with a dramaturg or writer, or a musician or choreographer; you may want to attend a summer school or training course; you may wish to shadow a fellow practitioner whose methods and output you have always admired – this fund exists to provide support for specific, defined stages of your creative journey.
In addition, if a successful applicant requests it, they also offer informal bespoke mentorship and wellbeing support, as well as tickets to attend events their organisation presents. This assistance might, for example, help an emerging or early career performing arts practitioner develop their understanding of and engagement with the cultural sector, or facilitate an established artist to make a significant step change in their working practice.
SfA will support the following costs:
– Fees for your time and that of your collaborators (all personnel involved in your application, including yourself, should be remunerated at the least at minimum ITC/Equity/Musicians Union, or other relevant trade bodies’ rates)
– Relevant technical costs
– Rehearsal venue, studio or equipment hire
– Masterclass, training and/or workshop fees
– Relevant travel, accommodation and per diem expenditure.
For further information, please contact simon@artsdg.org.uk or visit https://artsdg.org.uk/what-we-do/opportunities/support-for-ambition-creative-practitioners/.
