The Stage

SAC launches financial support scheme for young artists

Published Monday 9 May 2005 at 12:40 by Ruth Gillespie

The Scottish Arts Council has launched a £20,000 initiative in partnership with Young Scot, the national youth information agency, to provide financial support for people under the age of 26 wishing to participate in dance, drama and music.

The Young Scot Action Fund has been created in response to a recent report commissioned by SAC, which allowed young people north of the border to have their say about how arts provision is delivered for the first time. The consultation was carried out between July and November 2004, collecting the views of more than 1,200 participants in an online survey.

This revealed that, although young people have a positive attitude towards the arts, their development is often limited by financial restrictions. The year-long funding scheme is open to everyone aged 12 to 26 and will award grants of up to £200 to individuals and £750 to groups to help them pay for travel expenses, publicity, training or materials and costumes.

Joan Parr, head of education at the SAC, said: “The young people in our research were very clear on their passion for all kinds of arts experiences. There is certainly no shortage of imagination out there and I’m delighted that our partnership with Young Scot will allow some of those creative ambitions to become a reality.”