Grants of up to £80,000 are up for grabs

The Creative Communities Glasgow programme has opended, thanks to £745,000 funding from Glasgow City Council’s Communities and Place Fund.

Facilitated by Inspiring Scotland, the new programme will support community organisations in the area to develop and run cultural and creative projects with a focus on wellbeing for those who may face barriers to accessing cultural activities.

Applications are open until 30 June 2023 for grants up to £80,000, and the programme will run from August 2023 until March 2025.

Erica Judge, director of funds at Inspiring Scotland said: “We know from the work the Inspiring Scotland team has done so far through our previous Creative Communities programme that there is a need and great appetite for these projects in Glasgow, where there is also an incredible hub of creativity and network of peer support already in place to build upon.  

“Each Creative Communities funded project is community-led and as a result is unique, personal, and reflects the strengths, interests, priorities and talents of the people taking part.

“Taking part in cultural activity is known to have many benefits including strengthening community ties, improving mental wellbeing and reducing loneliness. We would encourage applications from community-based organisations in Glasgow seeking to explore people and communities' creative sides and experience the benefits in terms of building relationships, improving happiness, and providing stigma-free pathways to other forms of support for those who need it.”

Previous Glasgow projects included Maryhill Integration Network’s Museum of Things project, which supported refugees and asylum seekers to create an exhibition of objects related to their experiences of leaving their home countries and becoming New Scots, and Stronger Together Enterprise, who provided dance and drama classes to children and young people from minority ethnic backgrounds.

Councillor Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council, said: “The Creative Communities programme will support local organisations in Glasgow develop and run creative projects which will help the wellbeing of people in communities across the city.  Previous projects of this kind in Glasgow have brought real benefits to a range of different groups.”

Applications and further information are available at the Creative Communities Glasgow web pages

The application deadline is midday 30 June 2023.