Visual Artist and Craft Maker Awards (VACMA) 2026/27

The Visual Artist and Craft Maker Awards (VACMA) is a programme of small
grant schemes delivered in partnership with a range of local authorities and art organisations across Scotland. Fife Contemporary deliver the VACMA scheme for artists living or working in Fife.

VACMA 2026/27 graphic | Image © Creative Scotland

The VACMA  scheme 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.

This year we will be running ONE round of applications for the 2026/27 VACMA for artists living or working in Fife only. The deadline for this years applications is 5pm on Tuesday 2 February 2027.

Eligibility

The VACMA fund is for practicing visual artists and craft makers who are based in Scotland. If you live or work outside Fife see the Creative Scotland page to find your regional partner.

To be eligible to apply through Fife Contemporary, you must:
– Live or maintain a studio space in Fife
– Have submitted an End of Project Report if you are a previous VACMA recipient.

Part-time students can apply, but you must:
– Provide evidence of your part-time status
– Confirm the activity you are applying for does not contribute toward your
academic studies.

You are not eligible to apply if you are a full-time student, you do not live or maintain a studio space in the local authority area of Fife, you work in artforms other than visual art or craft, or you have previously received VACMA funding but have not submitted an end of project report by the application deadline.

If you are unsure about eligibility, please contact kate.bell@fcac.co.uk

Please note, we are no longer managing the scheme for Perth and Kinross. Applicants who live or work in the region of Perth and Kinross should now do so through Culture PK.

Funding Details

The bursaries are designed to help you grow and develop your creative practice. You can use the funding for a wide range of activities including:

Training and learning: This could be professional courses, workshops or peer-to peer learning.
Mentoring and skills development: Working with a mentor or developing new
skills to support your creative growth.
Exploring new ideas: Trying out new techniques, materials or creative approaches.
Research and development: Investigating and planning a new body of work.
Sustainable practices: Experimenting with sustainable and renewable materials, circular design and low impact processes.
Residencies: Taking part in a residency that supports your creative and
professional development.
Essential equipment: Buying equipment that clearly helps you experiment or develop your practice.
Creating new work: Getting extra support to make new work for an exhibition or public presentation.

For details of what the funding does not support, please see the VACMA Guidance for applicants.

Fund Criteria

VACMA will give priority to applications that clearly demonstrate:

Commitment to practice – your application demonstrates relevant experience and an ongoing commitment to the development of your visual arts or craft practice.
Creative development – your application clearly describes how the funding will help you develop as an artist or maker, and the difference it will make to your practice.
Clear project plan – your application provides a clear outline of what you plan to do with the funding and explains how you will do it.

It is also a priority for Creative Scotland and all VACMA partners to support
Equalities, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and Environmental Sustainability.

VACMA is designed to be an accessible entry point into public funding and provide opportunities for people to progress their practice despite the barriers they may face.

If demand is high, priority may be given to:

People who are newer to public funding
Those who have had fewer opportunities to develop their practice.

These resources may be helpful:

Resources | Shape Arts

Artists’ Environmental Resource | Fife Contemporary

Resources for Artists | Culture for Climate Scotland

How to Apply

To apply you will need to complete an Application Form and an Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form. We cannot accept applications without receiving both forms.
Download the Application Form Here
Download the Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form Here

Your Equal Opportunities form has no bearing on your application and is for monitoring purposes only.

All entries for VACMA 26/27: Fife must be emailed to kate.bell@fcac.co.uk by 5pm on Tuesday 2 February 2027.

Help With Your Application

There are a variety of resources to help you write a more successful application. We strongly recommend you use the guidance notes to complete the application, there is also a helpful checklist you can use to make sure you have send us everything.
Download the Guidance Notes Here
Download the Checklist Here

Guidance Notes in Other Formats
The guidance notes are also available in Gaelic, Plain Text and Easy Read, and BSL versions. These can be found on the Creative Scotland VACMA information pages.