Culture Collective Fund
Creative Scotland
Award
£100k – £300k
Deadline
Rolling — apply any time
Where
Scotland
Summary
Supporting a network of creative practitioners, organisations and communities, working together to create a positive difference locally and nationally. Closed.
Who can apply
• Organisations in Scotland working in the arts, screen, or creative industries with a strong track record of working with the communities they aim to support.
Full details
Culture Collective Fund Supporting a network of creative practitioners, organisations and communities, working together to create a positive difference locally and nationally. Closed. Overview The Culture Collective Fund is a Scottish Government initiative which supports a network of creative practitioners, organisations and communities, working together to create a positive difference locally and nationally. The Fund will support activity developed collaboratively between artists, organisations, and communities. It aims to make a positive impact locally and nationally by funding community-engaged creative work, providing paid opportunities for creative practitioners, and actively engaging people in shaping the future cultural life of their community. The programme began as a COVID-19 response and now continues to address wider challenges such as the cost-of-living crisis, climate change, and social inequality. It encourages sustainable, creative community development, evolving in response to emerging community ideas and needs, and supports learning across a national network. The Culture Collective Fund supports the following goals: • Empower communities to shape their cultural life through creative collaboration. • Create paid roles for creative practitioners to work with communities. • Support skills development and build community capacity. • Establish a national network to share learning and explore models of community-engaged creative practice. • Evaluate impact to inform future cultural policy and funding. Organisations in Scotland working in the arts, screen, or creative industries with a strong track record of working with the communities they aim to support can apply for between £100,000 and £300,000. Guidance and Downloads Read the guidance, or download a plain text version below. You can also download the budget template below, required at Stage 2. • Culture Collective Fund Guidance • Access and Support • What is the Culture Collective Fund? • Key Information • Eligibility • What can I apply for? • How to apply • Stage 1: Expression of Interest • Stage 2: Full Application - Project Details, Addressing the Criteria, Project Impact • Stage 2: Full Application - Access Costs • Stage 2: Full Application - Budget • Decision Making Process • Subsidy Control, Data Protection, Complaints and Freedom of Information • Appendix 1 - Safeguarding • Appendix 2 - Help with Budgets Culture Collective Fund Guidance Applicants should read the fund guidance before applying via the application portal. Access and Support Creative Scotland is committed to offering clear and accessible application processes that are open to everyone. We have several ways of supporting you to make your application. Alternative Formats and Languages Our published materials, including funding guidance and application forms, can be made available in other formats as required. We can accept applications and supporting materials written in English, Gaelic or Scots. To request materials in other formats or languages contact our Enquiries Service by emailing: [email protected] If you are a d/Deaf BSL user, you can access our services with the Contact Scotland-BSL programme. Visit www.contactscotland-bsl.org for more information. Access Support to make an application We can help cover the cost of services that support you in applying for our funding. Access support is available to individuals or the lead applicant of a group who are defined as disabled under the Equality Act 2010, such as: • d/Deaf • Hard of hearing • Disabled or living with chronic or mental illness • Neurodivergence (e.g. dyslexia, autism or ADHD). To find out what support is available, and how to request it please visit the Access Support section of our website. If you have any questions, email us at: [email protected] Contacting our Enquiries Service If you require technical support, further information or have any other queries, contact our Enquiries Service by emailing: [email protected] What is the Culture Collective Fund? The Culture Collective Fund is a Scottish Government initiative which supports a network of creative practitioners, organisations and communities, working together to create a positive difference locally and nationally. The Fund will support activity developed collaboratively between artists, organisations, and communities. It aims to make a positive impact locally and nationally by funding community-engaged creative work, providing paid opportunities for creative practitioners, and actively engaging people in shaping the future cultural life of their community. The programme began as a COVID-19 response and now continues to address wider challenges such as the cost-of-living crisis, climate change, and social inequality. It encourages sustainable, creative community development, evolving in response to emerging community ideas and needs, and supports learning across a national network. The Culture Collective Fund supports the following goals: • Empower communities to shape their cultural life through creative collaboration. • Create paid roles for creative practitioners to work with communities. • Support skills development and build community capacity. • Establish a national network to share learning and explore models of community-engaged creative practice. • Evaluate impact to inform future cultural policy and funding. Key Information Who can apply? • Organisations in Scotland working in the arts, screen, or creative industries with a strong track record of working with the communities they aim to support. How much can I apply for? • Grants range from £100,000 to £300,000. • Total fund: £3 million, supporting around 10–15 projects. • Projects can start in April 2026 and run for up to 18 months. How do I apply? Step 1: Expression of Interest • Submit your Expression of Interest via the online portal. • Opens: 2pm, Tuesday 7 October 2025 • Closes: 2pm, Wednesday 22 October 2025 Step 2: Full Proposal (by invitation only) • If your Expression of Interest is successful, you will be invited to submit a full application. • Opens: 2pm, Tuesday 4 November 2025 • Closes: 2pm, Wednesday 3 December 2025 Key Dates Guidance Published Tuesday 23 September 2025 Expression of Interest Opens 2pm, Tuesday 7 October 2025 Expression of Interest Closes 2pm, Wednesday 22 October 2025 Stage 1 Decisions Monday 3 November 2025 Full Application Opens 2pm, Tuesday 4 November 2025 Full Application Closes 2pm, Wednesday 3 December 2025 Stage 2 Decisions February 2026 Public Announcement Following decision notification Project start date From Wednesday 1 April 2026 Eligibility Who can apply? • Organisations based in Scotland whose work involves the arts, screen and creative industries. Applicants should demonstrate a strong track record of working with the communities they intend to engage. • Consortia applications are welcome, but a lead organisation must be identified. This lead organisation would have overall responsibility for managing public funds and the supported activity. • You can submit one application as lead applicant. • You can also be part of another application (e.g. as a partner or part of a consortium) but another organisation must be the lead applicant. Who cannot apply? You are not eligible to apply if: • Your proposed activity is outside of Creative Scotland’s remit and unrelated to the arts, cultural and creative sectors. • Your organisation does not have a strong track record of working collaboratively with communities. • Your organisation is not based in Scotland. • Your organisation is currently in administration, receivership and liquidation. • You are an un-constituted group, such as an artists collective or band. • You are applying as an individual or sole trader. Note: This list is not definitive. If you have questions, please contact our Enquiries Service by emailing: [email protected] What can I apply for? • Grants range from £100,000 to £300,000, with a total fund of £3 million available. • Around 10–15 projects will be supported. • Projects can start from April 2026 and run for up to 18 months. Your budget should cover three key areas 1. Fees for Creative Practitioners • At least 50% of the total funding requested must go towards paying creative practitioners. • These practitioners will work directly with communities to develop and deliver creative projects. 2. Coordinator Role • You must identify a dedicated coordinator to manage the project. • This person will: • Lead the contracting of creative practitioners • Provide ongoing support to creative practitioners and projects • Manage the overall budget • Take part in the national Culture Collective network. • You can use this to budget for a new role or to enhance an existing one. • You can also include costs for office space, IT equipment, or other essentials to support this role. 3. Creative P