Crafty Council Scheme to Provide Arts Funding

Craft Makers Award - North East Scotland

Posted: 08/10/2008

Aberdeenshire Council has initiated a new award to support craft makers in the north-east.

The Craft Makers Award scheme is a partnership with the Scottish Arts Council to support local craft makers living in Aberdeen City and Shire.

The priority of the fund is to encourage innovative professional practice and support quality training opportunities for makers in all forms of contemporary crafts. The first round of awards will be considered in November 2008.

Saskia Gibbon, Aberdeenshire Council arts development officer, said, “A study looking at the needs of craft makers in the area was produced earlier this year in close partnership with the Scottish Arts Council.

“This new funding scheme has been developed as a way of supporting new and established makers. It also recognises the potential benefits that the craft sector could bring to the north-east.”

The scheme adheres to the Scottish Arts Council definition of crafts and is principally concerned with contemporary creative work conceived, designed and made by individual practitioners in ceramics, furniture and wood, glass, jewellery and metalwork, lettering, musical instruments, textiles and basket-making.

The deadline for applications for the first round of awards is Thursday, November 13. Grants will be up to a maximum value of £1,000, and the total budget for the period 2008/2009 is £9,000.

Submissions will be assessed by a panel of experts who will consider a range of factors including the quality of the applicant’s work, the likely benefit that will be gained, the clarity of the submission, value for money and the quality of information supporting the application.

For more details about the Craft Makers Award Scheme contact Julie Bisset on 01261 815989 or click on the links below:

Contact e-mail address

julie.bisset@aberdeenshire.gov.uk

Website link

www.aberdeenshirearts.org.uk/funding/funding.html