EPAD and Creative Edinburgh Freelance Creatives Practice Support Fund announced

Edinburgh Performing Arts Development (EPAD) and Creative Edinburgh are delighted to announce the launch of a new Practice Support Fund for freelance artists, technicians and creatives working in the arts and creative industries in Edinburgh.

The fund has been made possible by the City of Edinburgh Council as a one-off response to the crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and its impact on Edinburgh’s freelancers, as highlighted in EPAD’s Covid-impact report. 

The purpose of the fund is to provide money that goes directly to supporting artists, technicians and creatives to sustain their practice in practical ways, whether that is to purchase equipment, hire a studio space, be paid to research and write a funding application or to cover caring costs whilst working.   

The fund will make small grants of up to £500 available across three deadlines between January and March 2021.  A total of £40,000 is available.

Anyone working professionally as a freelancer within the arts and creative industries and  living in the City of Edinburgh Council area is eligible to apply. Applications will be funded on a non-competitive basis, with applications being selected at random if the amount of funds requested exceeds that available in any one round. The decision-making process will be co-ordinated by a panel of representatives from EPAD and Creative Edinburgh.  Independent creatives will be invited to attend each selection meeting to ensure that due process is followed. 

The first round has now closed. The second round will open on 2nd February at 5pm with a closing date of 22 February 2021. The final deadline is 22 March 2021.  Funds will be spread evenly across the three deadlines.

You can read the guidelines and make an application here.

City of Edinburgh Council’s Culture and Communities Convener Councillor Donald Wilson said: “As part of the Council’s on-going and active support of the creative sector in the city during this challenging period, we have identified this funding for a small grants programme supporting the freelance sector in the continuation of their practice and professional development.  We are delighted to be working in direct partnership with Edinburgh Performing Arts Development (EPAD) and Creative Edinburgh whose evident expertise is best placed to manage and disperse the funding programme.”