Creative Scotland Open Fund: Music Grants for Scotland-Based Artists
Rolling support for music practitioners in Scotland
Creative Scotland’s Open Fund for Individuals supports research, development and delivery of creative activity initiated by artists and other practitioners living in Scotland. For musicians, composers, songwriters, producers and interdisciplinary sound artists, the fund can support a defined period of creative development or a project that connects personal practice with wider audiences or participants. This is a Scotland-based opportunity, not a worldwide open call.
Who can apply
Applicants must be freelance or self-employed artists or creative practitioners, be at least 18 years old and live in Scotland. They need a UK bank account in their legal name. Full-time students are not eligible. Creative Scotland also requires applicants to explain their artistic practice, the proposed activity, its public benefit, equality and inclusion considerations, environmental impact, budget and practical risks. Music projects remain subject to the same competitive assessment as other eligible artforms.
Funding levels and timing
Requests may be made from £500 to £50,000. The programme has three funding bands: £500–£5,000, £5,001–£20,000 and £20,001–£50,000. Activities can last up to 24 months. There is no fixed closing date: applications may be submitted at any time while budget remains available. Creative Scotland states an indicative decision period of 10 weeks for requests up to £20,000 and 14 weeks for larger requests, so activity should not be scheduled to start before a decision can reasonably be received.
What music activity may fit
Possible activity can include artistic research, creation and development, professional development, collaboration, production and delivery of a specific music project, provided it fits the published criteria. The fund is highly competitive and an eligible application is not guaranteed support. Applicants should avoid treating the maximum award as a default; the request should be proportionate, fully costed and supported by a realistic plan. Ineligible expenditure and duplicate funding can reduce or invalidate an application.
How to apply
Read the current guidance and eligibility questions first, then use Creative Scotland’s online application portal. Prepare a concise artistic case, activity schedule, budget, access requirements where relevant and evidence that the project will benefit both the applicant’s practice and people in Scotland. Applications may be made in English, Gaelic or Scots; this listing uses English as the main language of the official programme information.
Official information
This article is an editorial summary, not funding advice. Eligibility, available budget and guidance can change, so confirm every requirement on the official pages before applying. Information checked on 15 October 2026.