Ayrshire Visual Artist and Craft Makers Award Scheme (VACMA)
Find out about the bursary and the deadlines
South Ayrshire Council, North Ayrshire Council and East Ayrshire Leisure in partnership with Creative Scotland are running a local combined Visual Artist and Craft Maker Awards (VACMA) Scheme. The VACMA scheme is currently offering 2 routes through the standard application form.
VACMA offers fixed bursaries of £500 and £1000. The purpose of these bursaries is to support visual artists and craft makers in their creative and professional development.
- Bursaries of £1000: For applicants that have been practicing for over 5 years, regardless of whether they have gone through formal education or not.
- Early-career bursaries of £500: For applicants that have less than 5 years' experience outside of education/training, graduated in 2019 or later, or that have not studied art formally but have been practising as an artist for up to 5 years.
VACMA has two deadlines:
- Autumn deadline: 5pm, 21 October 2025
- Winter deadline: 5pm, 3 February 2026
Information Sessions
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.
What can the funding be used for?
The bursary can be used to support a wide range of activities that support applicants to develop their creative practice. Activity can include, but is not limited to:
- Professional training, courses and peer-to-peer learning.
- Mentoring and skills development
- Testing new ideas and processes.
- Researching and developing a new body of work.
- Experimenting with sustainable and renewable materials, circular design and low impact processes.
- Residencies that are tailored to your creative and professional development.
VACMA will give priority to applications that clearly demonstrate:
- Commitment to practice - your application material demonstrates relevant experience and an ongoing commitment to the development of your visual arts or craft practice.
- Creative development - your application clearly describes the opportunity for development and the anticipated impact on your creative skills and ideas.
- Clear project plan - your application material demonstrates that the proposed activity is feasible and that there is a clear delivery plan in place.
Visit Creative Scotland VACMA for general helpful tips on applying.
