Open Fund for Individuals: Closure of Fund

We know that many of our members will be shocked and deeply concerned following the announcement from Creative Scotland on Monday 19th August that they have had to close the Open Fund for Individuals due to the Scottish Government being unable to confirm the funds.

 

Read the full statement here.

 

Upland knows this is devasting news for artists and the creative community. As a membership organisation we wouldn't exist without artists and makers and we will do all we can to advocate on their behalf and provide support where we can. In an already precarious environment the loss of this fund will have a detrimental impact on artists and the cultural landscape overall.

 

Upland has signed an open letter (spearheaded by Take Me Somewhere) to the Scottish Government along with over 100 other cultural organisations to express our grave and deep concern over the Scottish Government's failure to provide certainty surrounding the £6.6 million Grant in Aid budget for Creative Scotland and the impact this has on artists. The letter states - "The Open Fund for Individuals is not just a financial resource—it is the cornerstone of independent artistic creation in Scotland, supporting the livelihoods of countless artists. Without it, many artists are left without the means to continue their work."

 

You can read the full letter here.

 

If any of our members would like advice or support please do get in touch.

 

We have pulled together some links which we hope can help signpost to support and actions:   

 

• Sign the Campaign for the Arts petition!  Calling for MSP Shona Robison to deliver on arts funding pledges. See the petition here. 
  
  
• Craft Scotland are offering support to makers and continuing to advocate. You can find out more here.
  
  
• SCAN have spearheaded an open letter to the Cabinet Secretary in response to the announcement of the closure of Creative Scotland’s Open Fund for Individuals, sent on behalf of 10 culture sector support bodies across Scotland. See the letter here.
  
  
• Craft Entrepreneur Club have event taking place on 28th August at 8pm - this webinar invites creative practitioners to come along and share concerns.
  
  
• Locally, DG Unlimited are looking for individual creative practitioners within D&G to get in touch with them to collate responses by Friday 6th September 2024. See their Facebook post here 

• Please also see SCAN & the Scottish Artist Union 

 

We know many organizations and individuals are campaigning and advocating for the Scottish Government to address this issue urgently, the list above is not exhaustive but pulls together some info and support which we are aware of that may be useful to our membership of artists and makers specifically. We will aim to update regularly.