Skip to main content

Diversity & Inclusion - Collaboration, Research & Development Fund

15 Jan 2021

In line with the commitment to promoting ethnically diverse artists’ and creatives’ greater opportunities, visibility and representation across the arts and culture sector, the City of Edinburgh Council’s Culture Service has allocated the remaining Diversity & Inclusion Fund resources to support freelance practitioners in collaboration, research and development as well as production projects.

Background and Objectives of Fund

This funding has been allocated as a result of the city’s Culture Plan to deliver wider access to Council cultural funding opportunities and continues the Council’s core role in ensuring Edinburgh is a city of creative opportunities. Our cultural activity and offer continues to be a crucial contribution to the city’s success as an exceptional place to live and work.  The City of Edinburgh Council’s Culture Service is committed to promoting stronger collaboration, developing new partnerships and creating new funding streams for the culture sector in Edinburgh.
 
The Diversity & Inclusion Collaboration, Research, Development and Fund is aimed at supporting independent artists and creatives who wish to further their creative activity in partnership with other freelancers and continue collaborations, develop new projects or promote individual practice via digital media.  Following conversations with local ethnically diverse artists and creatives who identify barriers to funding for new, experimental work, the Culture Service wishes to encourage applicants to also consider this fund as an opportunity to take risks and experiment as well as develop new ideas and ways of working.
 
A total budget of £10,000 is available offering grant awards of between £1,000 and £2,500 in the financial year 2020/21. It is expected that projects will be scheduled to take place and conclude in financial year 2021/22.

Who Can Apply and Further Information

Grants will be awarded to projects that promote greater collaboration between ethnically diverse artists and practitioners and have a practical impact on the participating creatives’ practice. Projects should be developed, artistically led and managed by ethnically diverse artists and creative practitioners.  The fund is intended to support collaborative research, development, production and/or promotion activities that utilise one or multiple art forms, such as visual and performing arts (music, dance, spoken word and theatre), film, digital arts, literature and poetry, to promote greater collaboration between ethnically diverse artists and creatives based in Edinburgh.
 
Only one application per collaborative partnership can be considered and applicants should apply for the exact amount needed for their project and will not automatically be awarded the maximum available. The awards panel reserves the right to offer an amount different to that requested.

The Application Form and Fund Guidelines are available on the Council's Consultation Hub or you can download below. 

Following our first information session, we have compiled the fund FAQ document, which is also available to download below. 

Deadline: Friday 26 February 2021.

How to Apply

You are encouraged to read the Fund’s Guidelines before starting your application online through the Council’s Consultation Hub.  Please contact Beata Skobodzinska 0131 529 4577 (beata.skobodzinska@edinburgh.gov.uk) or Sandra Elgin 0131 529 6720 (sandra.elgin@edinburgh.gov.uk) should you require advice on your application.

You can also register for a 1:1 feedback session to discuss your idea / draft proposal. Find available dates and times and register online now.

Information Sessions

Please register online to participate in the second fund information session on Monday, 8 February 2021 (3-4pm) to learn more about this funding opportunity and find answers to any questions you might have.