In partnership with Creative Scotland #VACMAScotland #VACMADundee
Autumn Deadline: 5pm, 21 October 2025
Winter Deadline: 5pm, 3 February 2026
In partnership with Creative Scotland, the Visual Artist and Craft Maker Awards: Dundee has been established to support Dundee-based visual artists and craft practitioners in their creative and professional development.
The awards are intended to encourage artists to live and work in Dundee and to ensure that the arts play a vital and lasting role in the city.
The Visual Artist and Craft Maker Awards
There are two levels of bursaries offered by the VACMA scheme, you should apply for the one that best suits your situation.
£500 Early-Career Bursary: for artists and makers who have graduated within the past 3 years or those who can demonstrate experience of the public presentation of their work within the same timeframe.
£1000 Bursary: for artists and makers who can demonstrate more than 3 years’ experience of the public presentation of their work.
This funding is made possible by The National Lottery through Creative Scotland, working in partnership with 16 different Visual Artist and Craft Maker Awards (VACMA) schemes covering 24 local authority areas. The schemes are delivered by a network of local authorities and arts organisations across the country.
VACMA can support a wide range of activities, including mentoring and skills development, exploring new ideas, experimenting with sustainable and renewable materials, purchasing essential equipment, and undertaking residencies that contribute to an artist’s creative development.
Sarah MacIntyre, Visual Arts Officer at Creative Scotland said
“We are delighted to launch the Visual Artist and Craft Maker Awards and look forward to working with our local partners, whose expertise and dedication are central to the programme’s success. The grants offer essential support to artists and craft makers, helping them to explore ideas, develop their creative skills and experiment with new approaches. The bursaries make a significant contribution to the development of creative practice across Scotland, offering an accessible and inclusive route to public funding while fostering the growth of creative practice nationwide.”
Information sessions, delivered by partner representatives and members of Creative Scotland’s Visual Arts Team, will take place on Microsoft Teams on Tuesday 30 September 2025 at 10:30am-12:00pm and Tuesday 13 January 2026 from 2:00pm–3.30pm. Full information and sign-up details are available on Creative Scotland’s website.
To apply for the Visual Artist and Craft Maker Awards: Dundee visit https://www.leisureandculturedundee.com/culture/vacma
