The Open Fund supports a wide range of activity initiated by organisations, artists, writers, producers and other creative practitioners in Scotland. The Open Fund is one of Creative Scotland’s key funding programmes, supporting the wide range of activity initiated by organisations, artists, writers, producers and other creative practitioners in Scotland. The total budget for the Open Fund in the financial year 2021/22 is £13 million.

We have two strands – one for individuals and one for organisations, so the two are not in competition with each other for funds. These strands have separate budgets and applications are considered at separate panels.

Open Fund for Individuals

The Open Fund will support a period of research, development and/or delivery of creative activity for up to 24 months. The fund is for freelance and self-employed artists and creative practitioners living in Scotland who are at least 18 years old.

This fund is designed to support creative activity such as a specific project, production or a period of research and development. It can support an individual’s time where this is related to specific creative outcomes.

This fund can support applications for between £500 and £100,000. There are no deadlines for this fund – you can apply year-round.

For further details on the Open Fund for Individuals, visit: https://www.creativescotland.com/funding/funding-programmes/open-fund/open-fund-for-individuals

Open Fund: Sustaining Creative Development

The Open Fund: Sustaining Creative Development aims to enable organisations to explore ways of working that will help them to adapt and respond to the current changing circumstances for up to 12 months.

The fund is for organisations and groups based in Scotland whose work or project involves the arts, screen and creative industries.

This fund can support applications for between £1,000 and £100,000. There are no deadlines for this fund – you can apply year-round.

For further details on the Open Fund: Sustaining Creative Development, visit: https://www.creativescotland.com/funding/funding-programmes/open-fund-sustaining-creative-development

For further information, please contact enquiries@creativescotland.com or visit https://www.creativescotland.com/funding/funding-programmes/open-fund