Call out for local projects and artists in Caithness as Youth Arts Open Fund is launched

A new Youth Arts Open Fund has been launched with £460k available to support children and young people living in poverty and those who face significant barriers to opportunity.

Using arts and creativity to engage children and young people has a huge impact on their learning, mental health and development, and builds their confidence and skills. Applications are being invited from projects and artists in Caithness.

The Youth Arts Open Fund is administered by YouthLink Scotland (the national agency for youth work in Scotland) and is part of Creative Scotland’s wider support for children and young people, funded by the Scottish Government. The purpose of the Youth Arts Open Fund is to support freelance artists or organisations seeking funding so that they can deliver high quality and accessible arts activity for children and young people, prioritising those who have traditionally found it hardest to access such opportunities.

Freelance artists can apply for funding up to £8k and organisations can apply for funding of up to £15k, to deliver up to 12 months of arts activity, and there is a total of £460k available.

Awards from the fund will be made to freelance artists or to creative, third sector or youth work organisations, who are based in Scotland, experienced in working with children and young people and supporting the delivery of free community-based arts activities for children and young people living in Scotland.

The deadline for applications is Monday, June 5. You can apply via the YouthLink Scotland website: www.youthlink.scot

YouthLink Scotland is the national agency for youth work. It is a membership organisation and is in the unique position of representing the interests and aspirations of the whole of the sector both voluntary and statutory.

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