All competitions · Grant / bursary
Visual Artist and Craft Maker Awards (VACMA) 2026/27
Creative Scotland with local authority and arts partners (e.g. Shetland Arts) · United Kingdom
Scotland-wide bursary scheme for visual artists and craft makers at any career stage, delivered through local partners. Fixed awards of £500 or £1,000 for development activity; 2026/27 deadlines 20 October 2026 and 2 February 2027 (varies by partner).
Your eligibility
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Who can enter
- Location
- United Kingdom (by country of residence)
- Local area
- Scotland
- Age
- No age limit
- Career stage
- Emerging, Mid-career, Established
- Mediums
- Painting, Drawing, Printmaking, Sculpture, Photography, Ceramics & glass, Textile & fibre, Digital art, Video & film, Mixed media, Design & craft
- Submission
- Online submission
- Also
- Visual artists and craft makers based in Scotland, applying via the partner for their local authority area; any career stage.
About
The Visual Artist and Craft Maker Awards (VACMA) are a programme of small grants for Scotland-based visual artists and craft makers, funded by Creative Scotland and delivered locally by councils and arts organisations such as Shetland Arts, Falkirk Leisure and Culture and South Ayrshire Council. Awards support creative and professional development: training, mentoring, research and development, residencies, sustainable practice, essential equipment and the creation of new work.
In 2026/27 the scheme offers fixed bursaries of £500 or £1,000, with applicants choosing the level that matches their proposed activity regardless of career stage. There are two deadlines, autumn (5pm, 20 October 2026) and winter (5pm, 2 February 2027), though some partners run only one round, so applicants must apply to the partner covering their area. Applications are made on a form emailed to the local partner; there is no fee.