The Visual Artist and Craft Maker Awards (VACMA) is a programme of small grant schemes delivered with a range of local authorities and art organisations across Scotland.  East Ayrshire Leisure, North Ayrshire Council and South Ayrshire Council in partnership with Creative Scotland support and manage the scheme for applicants based or resident across Ayrshire.

VACMA 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.

·                £500 Early-Career Bursary: for artists and makers who have graduated within the past 3 years or those who can demonstrate experience of the public presentation of their work within the same timeframe.

·                £1000 Bursary: for artists and makers who can demonstrate more than 3 years’ experience of the public presentation of their work.

Autumn deadline: 5pm, 21 October 2025
Winter deadline: 5pm, 3 February 2026
Please note we are planning to hold two online information sessions, delivered by partner representatives and members of Creative Scotland’s Visual Arts Team, to take place on Microsoft Teams on Tuesday 30 September 2025 at 10:30am-12:00pm and Tuesday 13 January 2026 from 2:00pm–3.30pm. Full information and sign-up details are available on Creative Scotland’s website.

What can the funding be used for?
The bursary can be used to support a wide range of activities that support applicants to develop their creative practice. Activity can include, but is not limited to:

• Professional training, courses and peer-to-peer learning.
• Mentoring and skills development
• Testing new ideas and processes.
• Researching and developing a new body of work.
• Experimenting with sustainable and renewable materials, circular design and low impact processes.
• Residencies that are tailored to your creative and professional development.

VACMA will give priority to applications that clearly demonstrate:

• Commitment to practice – your application material demonstrates relevant experience and an ongoing commitment to the development of your visual arts or craft practice.
• Creative development  – your application clearly describes the opportunity for development and the anticipated impact on your creative skills and ideas.
• Clear project plan – your application material demonstrates that the proposed activity is feasible and that there is a clear delivery plan in place.

 Applications
Please read the guidelines before submitting an application. All applications should be submitted using the application form and must be sent via email only.
Make sure that your supporting image format is set to JPEG.  This is the most web-friendly option.  Please do not send images larger than 2 MB as they may not be delivered through our email security systems.  Please send the maximum number of images requested, as this helps the panel to truly see the quality and the breadth of your work.

Download the application form and supporting documents

Applications should be emailed to arts@eastayrshireleisure.com by the deadline given.

*VACMA application form (word version)
*VACMA application form
*Equalities Monitoring Form 
Please complete and submit this form along with your application - it is used to provide Creative Scotland and the VACMA partners with essential statistical information about who our applicants are, and who we’re funding.
*VACMA Guidance 
Please read this document before you start your application form. It will help you to submit the strongest application you can.
Artist Checklist
For more information and Guidance Materials in accessible formats, please contact Geraldine.greene@eastayrshireleisure.com’