Creative Shetland Commissioning Fund

Are you an artist, maker or creative practitioner living in—or connected to—Shetland? We have great news - we’re kicking off 2025 with an exciting opportunity for you: the Creative Shetland Commissioning Fund.

Offering grants of up to £20,000, this fund is here to help bring your creative ambitions to life - whether you’re planning a performance, exhibition, workshop or seeking training and development.

APPLICATIONS NOW CLOSED - THE DEADLINE FOR THIS FUND WAS FRIDAY 31 JANUARY 2025

What is the 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 can apply for up to £20,000 funding and must either live in, or be able to demonstrate a strong connection to, Shetland.
There are two levels of funding available:
- Less than £500
- £501 - £20,000
All activity must be completed by 31 December 2025.
A guidance document is available to download below.
The deadline for applications is Midday, Friday 31 January 2025; all applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application week commencing 10 February 2025.
Who can apply?
What support is available for applicants?
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 22nd January 2025, 12.00 – 13.00, in Mareel or online through a Teams link.
If you would like to attend either of these events, please email CSCF@shetlandarts.org.
We recommend attending one of these if you're interested in applying, 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 CSCF@shetlandarts.org.
What can these funds be used for?
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
What the funds cannot be used for
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:
  ► 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)
  ► 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.
How to Apply