Culture Fund opens for applications

Orkney Islands Council is inviting applications for its Culture Fund aimed at supporting cultural activity in Orkney.

While the total value of the overall fund has not been set yet, it is anticipated to be the same as last year (£19,000). The scheme is now open to applications for financial support for cultural events, activities or projects taking place in Orkney between1 April 2021 and 31 March 2022.

Funding can be awarded for projects related to arts, heritage or Orkney dialect, and can support new or existing projects.

Emma Gee, the Council’s Arts Officer, said: “The Culture Fund continues to support a really wide range of cultural activity which is important to the community and brings with it the potential for further external investment.

“Last year, the fund supported 13 projects including the Orkney Storytelling Festival which went online for the first time this October and Orkney Young Carers to support creation of artworks and then rework them into a calendar as a way of exhibiting and raising funds during covid restrictions.

“These are just examples of how local organisations have had to rethink their approach this year and have creatively responded to the challenges - and how the Culture Fund has supported them to explore how their sustainability and development might look in the new normal.”

“The fund remains very competitive and applications are determined on the basis of merit, so I’d encourage interested groups to get in touch to talk through project ideas in advance of filling out the application.”

Applications forms and guidance can be obtained from the Orkney Islands Council website www.orkney.gov.uk/CultureFund
The deadline for applications is Friday 12 February 2021 at 17:00.