EPAD & Creative Edinburgh Freelance Creatives Practice Support Fund

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

The fund has been made possible with funds from the Scottish Government and the City of Edinburgh Council through the Covid-19 Discretionary Business Support Fund. Its purpose is to support creative freelancers whose ability to work was affected by Covid-19 restrictions before 31st March 2021.  

The fund will make grants of £1,000 available to eligible freelance artists and creatives.  A total of £150,000 is available.  To be eligible, applicants must work professionally as a freelancer within the arts and creative industries, live in the City of Edinburgh Council area and have suffered financial loss as a result of government Covid-19 restrictions before March 31st 2021.  

City of Edinburgh Council’s Fair Work Convener, Councillor Kate Campbell said:

 “Throughout the last eighteen months things have been particularly challenging for the creative sector, especially for people who are self-employed.  And our creative sector is a vital part of Edinburgh’s economy and our cultural identity. As a former freelancer I know how difficult things can be in normal times, so I can only begin to imagine how hard it has been during the pandemic. We need people to continue to work in the creative sector in Edinburgh, and to protect those vital skills and knowledge so that as we recover our creative industries can return to health and then flourish again. I hope this fund will help to do that.”

Applications will be funded on a non-competitive basis, with selections being made at random from all eligible applications.  The selection process will be co-ordinated by a panel of representatives from EPAD and Creative Edinburgh, overseen by independent creatives who will ensure that due process is followed. 

To read the guidance and make an application, please go here.

The closing date for the applications is 17:00 on Monday 1st November 2021