Creative Shetland Commissioning Fund

A fund that can support a wide range of work and opportunities including, but not limited to:

• Creative projects Performances
• Exhibitions
• Participatory projects and workshops Training
• Development
• Research

• Applicants must either live in or be able to demonstrate a strong connection to Shetland
• Applicants can apply for up to £20,000
• There are two levels of funding. Less than £500 and £501 - £20,000
• The deadline for applications is Midday Friday 31 January 2025
• All activity must be completed by 31 December 2025
• All applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application week commencing 10 February 2025

Freelance and self-employed artists and creative practitioners who are at least 18 years old either living in, or able to demonstrate a strong connection to, Shetland.

You must have a UK bank account in your legal name or business name, which must be the same name you apply under. Please ensure the name on your funding application matches the name on your bank account, as we cannot pay into an account with a different name.

We are keen to get a wide range of applications from emerging and established artists. We will be providing 2 information sessions in January where you can ask questions and meet others interested in applying for the commissions. These will be led by Creative Project Manager Kathryn Gordon and will take place on the following dates:

• Tuesday 14th January 2025 18:30 – 19:30 in Mareel or online through a Teams link

• Wednesday 15th January 2025 12.00 – 13.00 in Mareel or online through a Teams link

We recommend attending one of these, if possible, as hearing answers to others’ questions can help inform you, give you ideas and shape your application. However, if you’re not available for either of these slots, individual support is available. If you have access requirements or would like to request an individual meeting, please email [email protected].

These commissions aim to deliver on 3 categories:

• Creation and/or Presentation of works
• Development, Training or Research
• Participatory projects and workshops

Creation and Presentation of works
The funding can be used to initiate new collaborations, present or develop existing or new works.

For example:

• The development of a concept,
• Framing and delivery of an exhibition or
• The creation of a new performance piece or moving image work.

Development, Training or Research

Is there a training course, development programme or piece of research that you would love to undertake that will help develop your creative practice? This funding can be used to cover travel, accommodation, any training course fees, stipend (amount to offer loss of income) and per diems. You may wish to explore connecting with a mentor to develop your practice and you could apply for a fee for yourself and the mentor to deliver this.

If your project involves you leaving Shetland, we ask that you do a feedback session that is open to the public.

For example:

• Visiting somewhere that will feed your creative practice.
• Attending a training course to allow you to develop new skills and help develop your work

Participatory projects and workshops

Do you have a skill you’d like to share or a participant group you’d love to connect with? This could be sharing a specific skill with others, or thinking about a specific group that you would love to connect with. These workshops can be delivered in Mareel (availability permitting) or at a venue of your choice around Shetland.

For example:

• A 6-week block of workshops for you to share your specialisms and skills with the public
• A 1 off workshop exploring a particular idea or sharing a specific skillset

This fund does not support the following:

• Non-Arts Activities: Activities unrelated to the arts or creative industries.

• Non-Shetland based or connected applicants.

• Student Projects: Projects led by or involving full-time students, funding for tuition fees, or projects which are part of an accredited course or core curriculum activity. This includes individuals enrolled as full-time students but who are taking a leave of absence or other break from study.

• Schools Activities: General arts or creative activities in schools. Artist-led activity which is in addition to core curriculum delivery and demonstrates clear partnership working can be supported provided the application comes from an individual with an established creative practice and adds value to the learning experience.

• Building Projects: Building work or feasibility studies for building projects

• Business Costs: Business start-up or ongoing running costs.

• Equipment-only Funding: Funding solely for equipment.

• Self-Publishing: Self-publishing projects, except those related to Visual Arts, Crafts and Design. Visual, Arts, Crafts and Design books can be supported if:

1. their purpose does not align with standard trade publishing or sit within that market (which may mean they do not have ISBNs or are not sold through the recognised book trade)

2. they are craft pieces in their physical form; or they are interventions, catalogues, or writing used to specifically support a visual art practice rather than literary form.

• Fundraising Programmes: Funding for fundraising activities.

• Organisational Activity: Activities better suited for an existing organisation where the applicant holds a key role, or where the primary beneficiaries are a constituted organisation.