Courtesy of Tasgadh

Tasgadh is a fund devolved from Creative Scotland, managed by Fèisean nan Gàidheal and open to organisations and individuals. Tasgadh is designed to provide support for traditional artists and organisations to create, perform, tour and showcase work. The fund can also support professional development and learning projects. Tasgadh cannot support the purchase of equipment nor can the fund be used to match other Creative Scotland funds.

Tasgadh is a fund devolvit frae Creative Scotland, mainaged by Fèisean nan Gàidheal and open tae organisations and indiveeduals. Tasgadh is designit tae gie an upheeze tae tradeetional airtists and organisations tae mak, perform, tour and shawcase wark. The fund will uphaud professional development an learnin projecks as weel. Tasgadh canna support the purchase o graith and canna be yaised tae maitch ither Creative Scotland funds.

The remaining 2023-24 deadline date for applications is:

26 January 2024
Guidelines and an application form may be downloaded from the right hand side of the page. The form may be completed, saved and sent to tasgadh@feisean.org.

Or, you can fill in your application online by registering here. Once you regsiter you will receive a link by email and you can then proceed with your application.

As a guide to assist applicants, some case studies of projects funded previously may be downloaded on the right-hand side of the page.

The following people, with relevant skills, have agreed to assist in reaching decisions on grants:

• Arthur Cormack
  Catriona Hawksworth
  Dave Francis
  Fiona Campbell
  Martin Hadden
  Joanne Urwin
  Ilyana Nedkova

A register of their interests is available here.

Further information is available in video from a live, online session by Arthur Cormack with guidance to potential applicants for Tasgadh and Maoin nan Ealan Gàidhlig. Access that video here.

The Feis Rois Youth Small Grants Scheme: Folk and Traditional Music fund opens for applications on Friday 29^th January. The Youth Small Grants Scheme is part of a Scottish Government Covid-19 Funding Package aimed at supporting the arts. Feis Rois, one of several organisations awarded funding through the Small Grants Scheme, has a fund budget of £40,000 and is inviting applications from freelance musicians living anywhere in Scotland and working in folk and traditional music.

Applicants can apply for between £500 – £5,000. The grants aim to create work opportunities for freelance musicians and at the same time provide arts activities for children and young people, especially those most affected by Covid-19.

The closing date for applications is midnight on Sunday 14^th March.

For more information please visit:  https://www.feisrois.org/what-we-offer/funding-opportunities/

The Hardship Fund for Creative Freelancers reopened on Tuesday 10 November. The fund aims to support freelance creative professionals working in the arts and creative sector in Scotland who are experiencing immediate financial difficulty due to the loss of income as a result of COVID-19.

It offers a one-off monetary contribution to those who are most deeply impacted and disadvantaged by the cancellation of work as a result of the emergency situation.

All applicants must be based in Scotland and must be able to demonstrate they were working and making income as a freelance creative professional before lockdown began (in March 2020).

The Hardship Fund for Creative Freelancers is open to:

Freelance professionals whose work has direct creative outcomes. This can include (but is not limited to) a visual artist, a writer or maker of poetry, prose or fiction, a playwright, actor or theatre- maker, a comedian, dancer, musician, craft maker or designer.

Freelance professionals whose work directly supports the making and presentation of creative work including events. This can include (but is not limited to) a theatre producer, a lighting designer, a gig promoter, an independent curator or creative producer.

For more information please visit: Creative Scotland: hardship-fund-for-creative-freelancers

New Music Support Fund for Folk In Crisis Launches In Scotland To Help Musicians and Music Production Professionals. Stonehaven Folk Club has teamed up with Hands Up For Trad to start up a fund to help support Folk musicians and music production staff living in Scotland during the crisis.

The Folk Club is providing 20 grants of £250 to help towards living expenses during this period when people are unable to work. It’s hoped that further donations from other organisations and the public will help the fund grow.

Stonehaven Folk Club celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2017 and has twice been voted Club of the Year at the Trad Awards. Through this initiative, the club hopes to be able to help some of the fantastic Folk talent in Scotland get through the next few months and hopefully stay as performing artists.

For more information, to support the project and/or to apply for a grant please visit: Hands Up For Trad.

The PRS Open Fund for Music Creators supports the development of songwriters and composers of all genres and backgrounds who are at different stages of their career. The deadline for applications is 6pm on 5^th October 2020.

The fund, which offers grants of up to £5,000, can support projects by songwriters, composers, or artists, bands, producers and performers who are writing their own music or commissioning others.

The project must fulfil three funding priorities:

• To support the creation, performance and promotion of outstanding new music in any genre.
• To enable the UK’s most talented music creators to realise their potential
• To inspire audiences.

For more information please visit: prsfoundation.com

The GDMT 2020 Performance Award Funding is open to self-employed, professional Scottish traditional musicians who have limited savings and require some financial assistance – successful applicants will receive an award of £250.

The Gordon Duncan Memorial Trust (GDMT) was formed, as a tribute to Gordon, following his tragic death in 2005. The Trust aims to preserve and build on Gordon Duncan’s legacy by funding and supporting young traditional musicians.

In addition to the application form, applicants are asked to supply a 5-minute video of them performing exciting and cheery music, including one of Gordon Duncan’s tunes.  All applicants will be considered by the GDMT Musical sub-Group and if successful the Trust will also post the video performance on their YouTube channel and showcase the performance in the Gallery section of the website. GDMT asks that in return, the successful applicants also share GDMT links across their own networks.

To be eligible to apply you must be over 18 years of age and a self-employed, full-time professional musician who plays Scottish traditional music either in a solo capacity or in a group or band and you must be financially dependent on your musicianship

For more information please visit: https://www.gordonduncan.co.uk/2020-awards/