Perth and Kinross based artists have been presented with a funding opportunity which aims to support their innovative creative professional development.
The Visual Artist and Craft Makers Awards (VACMA) is a Scottish programme of small grants schemes to allow artists to grow in their fields.
The Perth & Kinross VACMA scheme, run by Perthshire Creates in association with Creative Scotland, began in 2018/19, making this the second year of its running.
Twelve local artists have been awarded grants since its set up in the Fair City.
Perth-based jeweller Kate McLaughlin is one of the artists who benefited from the scheme last year.
She said the funding had been motivational for her in taking on challenges.
She said: “I used my VACMA grant towards funding a week long residency at Cove Park with the aim of developing a body of new work to submit to industry standard jewellery events I’d not previously applied to.
“I was able to use the time to explore different concepts, trial new forms and work in a different scale.
“The residency and design time has re-energised my creative practice and provided motivation to take on the more challenging parts of my future plans.”
The financial grants are awarded to support a variety of different creative development opportunities, including attending residencies, workshops and masterclasses.
They can also support artists in purchasing new equipment which would allow them to develop their skills and produce new work.
The scheme, supported by Culture Perth and Kinross is aimed at a wide range of artists.
A Culture Perth and Kinross spokesperson said: “This scheme is aimed at visual arts practitioners working in the fields of drawing, painting, sculpture, print-making, photography, moving image or filmmaking, and craft makers creating contemporary creative work conceived, designed and made by individual practitioners in ceramics, jewellery and metalwork, furniture and wood, glass, textiles and basket-making.”
Awards of between £500 and £1500 are available to applicants, with deadlines held in October and February.
The deadline for artists who wish to apply for this round of funding is February 4.
Application forms for the scheme can be found online.
