Deadline: 05-Sep-2024
The YouthLink Scotland is offering grants to support freelance artists or organisations seeking small amounts of funding so that they can deliver arts activity for children and young people – primarily those who have traditionally found it hardest to access such opportunities.
Funded projects are expected to engage children and young people in high-quality and accessible arts activity that empowers them through self-expression, enhances their mental health and wellbeing and that builds their confidence and skills.
Funding Information
- Freelance artists can apply for funding up to £8k and organisations can apply for funding of up to £15k, to deliver up to 12 months of arts activity.
- All funded activity must be delivered between November 2024- November 2025 All project reports must be submitted one month after project completion.
Who can apply?
- Awards from the fund will be made to freelance artists or to creative, third sector or youth work organisations. Applicants must be based in Scotland, experienced in working with children and young people and supporting the delivery of free community-based arts activities for children and young people living in Scotland.
- Creative Scotland RFO’s (Regularly Funded Organisations) are not eligible to apply to this fund due to the limited funding available and the aim to increase capacity for organisations working at a smaller scale.
Eligibility Criteria
- Proposals must:
- Be youth-led through incorporating the ideas of children and young people and empowering them in the development, management and running of your project. This is a core criterion as a panel of young people will assess the extent to which your project is youth-led. The youth panel will make final award decisions.
- Offer free, high-quality activities, which encourage children and young people’s access and participation in one or more art forms. (NB/ As the Youth Arts Open Fund is part of the Scottish Government’s commitment to expand the Youth Music Initiative (YMI) to other art forms they cannot fund music projects via this fund. Music could make up part of a wider arts offer, but it cannot be the prominent or sole focus of your proposal. The YMI Access to Music Making Fund is currently providing opportunity for music-based projects (Youth Music Initiative Funding | Creative Scotland).
- Take a proactive approach to addressing inequalities and ensuring the activities are accessible to all. They know that some children and young people have traditionally found it harder to access youth arts activities. These inequalities can be intersectional and can include children and young people who:
- Reside in areas of social and economic deprivation.
- Are experiencing or at risk of experiencing harm and neglect.
- Are care experienced.
- Are in the early years (0-5) of their life.
- Are of the global majority and/or ethnic minorities.
- Children and young people with disabilities/learning disabilities.
- Are neurodivergent including autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Tourette’s syndrome.
- Are experiencing mental health illnesses such as depression, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, bipolar, schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), eating disorders and addictive behaviours.
- Have experience of the criminal justice system.
- Are young carers (as defined by the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016) and/or young parents.
- Are experiencing homelessness or who have been homeless.
- Achieve at least four of the following outcomes for the children and young people (CYP) participating:
- CYP facing additional barriers have equal opportunities to access artistic and creative activities.
- CYP develop wider transferable skills through involvement in youth arts provision.
- CYP are empowered through their involvement in youth-led activities and their voices are amplified.
- The mental health & wellbeing of CYP is improved through their participation in artistic and creative activities.
- CYP feel better able to express themselves through involvement in arts activities.
- CYP feel better connected to their peers and communities.
- Partnerships between youth work and youth arts partners are strengthened.
- Youth workers are more confident in embedding creative and artistic projects in their delivery.
- Involve qualified and experienced tutors in the delivery of the art activities. (CVs of delivery staff must be provided). Creative Scotland is committed, through any activities they support, to ensure that artists and those professionals working in the creative community are paid fairly and appropriately for their time and effort.
Ineligible
- The Youth Arts Open Fund does not support the following:
- Proposals that do not fit the fund criteria.
- Applications from schools and/or their associated organisations, such as Parent Teacher Associations.
- Competitions, or participation in competitions.
- Events and activities that take place out with the period of the fund.
- Training courses for staff and volunteers.
For more information, visit YouthLink Scotland.