Arts charities across Scotland can now apply to the William Syson Foundation’s Small Grants Fund, which is inviting applications for its latest round of funding. The programme supports a broad spectrum of artistic practice, offering flexible, unrestricted grants of up to £5,000 to help strengthen creativity, participation, and cultural engagement within Scottish communities.

The Fund welcomes applications from registered Scottish charities working in any art form, including: visual and performing arts; filmmaking; poetry; literature; music; photography; digital arts.

“Whether your organisation is seeking support for programme delivery, core costs, artistic development, or equipment, the fund is designed to provide tailored, proportionate support where it is most needed.”

To be eligible, organisations must:

be a charity registered in Scotland, with a bank account in the charity’s name
have a core charitable purpose focused on advancing the arts
be based in Scotland, delivering work which benefits people in Scotland
have an annual income of less than £500,000
have been operating for at least 12 months, with audited or independently examined annual accounts
provide updated child protection and vulnerable adult safeguarding policies

The fund is designed to support smaller arts charities which often struggle to secure flexible funding, and places particular value on organisations rooted in their local communities. The Small Grants Fund has an annual allocation available of approximately £250,000 for charities operating in Scotland.

The deadline for applications to the current round is 12pm on Friday 3 April 2026, with the William Syson Foundation aiming to provide a response within 10 weeks of this closing date.

For further information, including all application guidance and materials, please visit the William Syson Foundation website (linked for your convenience).