Who can apply?
You can apply if you identify as a Black Person or Person of Colour, you are 18+, and you live in Scotland. Your practice can be creative, cultural, or both – this includes visual art, music, film, writing, performance, design, craft, fashion, photography, audio, gaming, heritage work, community arts, curation, producing, programming, and more.

What if I’m not sure if I’m eligible?
Get in touch at hello@weareherescotland.com and we can chat it through with you.

Do I need to have a registered business?
No. You might be freelancing, working on the side, or just getting started. We're looking for people who are serious about building a sustainable creative practice, whatever stage you're at.

What if I’ve applied before?
If you applied for Round 1 and weren’t successful, you’re welcome to apply again.

How much will I receive?
Your total support package is worth £2,980. Here’s how it breaks down:

•          £1,514 – direct funding for your creative development

•          £586 – paid to you for attending your 20 hours of mentoring (£29.30/hour)

•          £880 – paid directly to your mentor(s) by us (£44/hour)

Please note that rates are calculated as per Scottish Artist Union (SAU) recommended rates of pay.

So you’ll receive £2,100 in total.

What can I spend the £1,514 on? Things like equipment, training, materials, workspace, marketing, collaboration costs, professional services, or anything else that supports your development. We’ll ask you to explain how you plan to use it.

When will I receive the money?
We’ll confirm payment timelines once you’re accepted onto the programme.

How does the mentoring work?
You’ll receive 20 hours of mentoring from industry professionals over 12 months, this can be finished sooner depending on the agreement with your mentor(s). We match you with mentor(s) based on your development needs.

Can I have more than one mentor? Yes. We’ve found that some people benefit from having two mentors with different expertise - for example, one focused on creative practice and one on business development. We’ll discuss what’s right for you.

Do I get paid for my mentoring time? Yes. You’ll receive £29.30 per hour for attending your mentoring sessions (£586 total for 20 hours). This will be paid once you have completed each session. You can choose to invoice after each session or in one lump sum upon completion. We can also supply an invoice template for you to use if this is something you haven’t done before.

What if I don’t know what kind of mentoring I need?
That’s fine. You can tell us you’re unsure in your application and we’ll discuss it with you if you’re selected.

How do I apply?
Complete the online application form at https://tally.so/r/Ekl5PN - the deadline is 11am on 25 February 2026.

Can I apply in a different format?
Yes. We welcome applications in written, audio, video, or combined formats. If you need a more accessible version of the form or want to apply differently, here is a Word version or you can email hello@weareherescotland.comfor other options.

How long will the application take? Set aside about 45-60 minutes. You’ll need to answer questions about your creative practice, your goals, and how you’d use the funding and mentoring.

Can I save my application and come back to it?
Your answers are automatically saved in your browser as you go, so you can close the tab and return later using the same browser on the same device. However, if you clear your browsing data or switch devices, your progress will be lost. We recommend writing your longer answers somewhere else first, then copying them in.

What supporting materials should I include?
This is optional. You might include images of your work, a portfolio, a short video about your practice, or anything else that helps us understand what you do. Don’t worry if you don’t have anything polished, we’re interested in you and your potential.

Yes. We're running two free online information sessions where we'll explain how the programme works, what we're looking for, and answer your questions.

1. Tuesday, 3 February 6pm

2. Thursday, 19 February 6pm

Register for an information session here

If you can't make either session, you can still register and we'll send you a recording.

You're also welcome to email us at hello@weareherescotland.com if you have questions before you apply.

How long is the programme?
12 months from when you start. It can be completed sooner.

What’s expected of me?
You’ll need to engage with your mentoring, stay in contact with the We Are Here Scotland team, and be committed to developing your creative practice.

What if my circumstances change during the programme?
Life happens. If something changes, talk to us and we’ll work with you.

Will I need to attend events?
There will be a Creators’ Showcase event in October 2026 where you can share your work. There will be fees paid for showcasing.

How will applications be assessed? We’re looking at: Your creative work and vision. Your goals and how the funding will help you achieve them. How ready you are to engage with the programme.

Who decides?
We Are Here Scotland will shortlist applications and then an independent panel with experience across the creative and business sector will select the final awardees. All judges will be from Black and Global Majority communities.

When will I hear back?
We’ll let you know by 13 March 2026.

What if I’m not successful?
We'll let you know either way. Due to the volume of applications, we are unable to provide individual feedback.

Email us at hello@weareherescotland.com – we’re happy to help.