Funding opportunities
DG Unlimited is a membership organisation, and one of the most vital elements of sustaining a creative practice is trying to ensure stable funding to support professional self development, new projects or collabroations.
You can find current funding opportunities from DG Unlimited and our funding partners here. Please check this page regularly, we will update it as and when relevant funds become available. Please also let us know if you are aware of a great funding opportunity your fellow members would be interested in.
VACMA FUnding
Support available for artists and craft makers in Dumfries & Galloway and The Scottish Borders through VACMA Scotland funding
Please read these guidelines carefully before applying.
Practising Visual Artists and Craft Makers across the South of Scotland, (Dumfries and Galloway and The Scottish Borders), are invited to apply for grants of up to £1000 to support their creative and professional development, thanks to funding from The National Lottery through Creative Scotland and in partnership with Live Borders Arts & Creativity and Dumfries & Galloway Council providing match funding with additional support from DG Unlimited and Upland.
The Visual Artist and Craft Maker Awards (VACMA) funds activities such as mentoring and skills development, testing new ideas, experimenting with sustainable and renewable materials, purchasing necessary equipment, and residencies tailored to the artist’s creative and professional development.
The programme offers a newly enhanced £1000 bursary for artists and makers who have been practising for over 5 years, as well as a £500 early-career bursary for artists and makers that have been practising for less than 5 years. Artists must live and work in Dumfries and Galloway or The Scottish Borders to be eligible.
Bursaries of £500 and £1000 now available with the following deadlines:
- NEXT DEADLINE 3rd February 2026
Should an applicant wish to discuss any aspect of submitting an application to VACMA – and this is strongly recommended– we urge you to please contact Upland (Dumfries and Galloway) or Arts Service, Live Borders (The Scottish Borders):
- Upland
Email: hello@weareupland.com - Live Borders Arts & Creativity
Email: artservice@LiveBorders1.org.uk
Applicants from either, Dumfries and Galloway and The Scottish Borders must submit their applications, by the round deadline, to Live Borders Arts & Creativity: artservice@liveborders1.org.uk
For more information visit the VACMA page on the Live Borders Website
Expand Horizons
Application Guidelines
Please read these guidelines carefully before applying.
Expand Horizons is DG Unlimited’s new award. It replaces the previous Innovate, Create, Cultivate Award Fund. The Awards are currently funded by DG Unlimited., supported in part by our partners Dumfries and Galloway Council.
Expand Horizons are awards of up to £500 for creatives. Specifically:
1. Young creatives from 11 – 18 years old. (Rising Star Members)
2. Emerging creatives or or students 18+ (Comet Members)
3. Established practitioners or freelancers of any age working in the creative sector in Dumfries and Galloway. (Meteor Members)
Applicants can be engaged in any creative practice but must be able to demonstrate exceptional talent in their chosen creative area and a clear commitment to continuing and improving their creative practice.
The Awards can be used to contribute toward the costs associated with attending galleries and exhibitions, professional events, professional development seminars or workshops, conferences, or as a contribution toward the costs required to visit other events, artists or projects anywhere in Europe.
CREATIVE SCOTLAND
FUNDING
Funding for creative sector individuals and organisations is one of Creative Scotland’s key roles, supporting the wide range of activity initiated by organisations, artists, writers, producers and other creative practitioners in Scotland.
There are have separate strands for organisations and individuals, so they are not in competition with each other for funds. These strands have separate budgets and applications are considered by separate panels.
PLEASE NOTE THE FORM AND GUIDELINES FOR CREATIVE SCOTLAND FUNDING HAS BEEN UPDATED. THE APPLICATION FORM IS NOW AN ONLINE FORM.