Touring Fund for Theatre and Dance

The Touring Fund for Theatre and Dance supports professional theatre and dance productions of varying scales to tour across Scotland.

Applications open at 2pm on Tuesday 8 July

About the Touring Fund for Theatre and Dance

The Touring Fund for Theatre and Dance supports professional theatre and dance productions of varying scales to tour across Scotland. This includes outdoor, circus, interdisciplinary and site-specific work.  

You can apply for funding to support:  

  • New productions 

  • Revivals and successful past shows  

  • Productions that have been developed but not yet toured 

The fund aims to bring high quality performances to more places and people across Scotland, supporting a mix of artists, producers, venues and companies.  

Guidance and Downloads

For full information on the fund, view the guidance for applicants, or download a plain text version below. You can also download the Risk Assessment Form and Budget Template.

How to apply

Applications are currently closed, but guidance for applicants is available to enable you to prepare. Applications will open at 2pm on Tuesday 8 July

All applications to the Touring Fund for Theatre and Dance should be made through Creative Scotland’s online application portal.

Successful applicants

If you are successful, you will be expected to develop an audience plan, in collaboration with the venues you tour to, using the tour planning spreadsheet and the FST code of conduct as a basis.

FST Touring Code of Practice Cohort of Venues and Promoters 

As part our commitment to improve the experience of the makers and programmers of shows supported through the Touring Fund, we are encouraging venues to learn more about the benefits of joining the Federation of Scottish Theatre’s Touring Code of Practice

Venues and promoters that sign-up to the FST Touring Code of Practice are eligible to receive Touring Fund work as part of the Touring Fund deal, which includes fee-free shows and the right to retain 80% of the box-office income. 

In addition, joining the existing cohort of venues and promoters gives prospective applicants the ability to decide on tour venues and model plans for their submission to the fund in advance. 

Who can join the Code of Practice? 

Venues and promoters based in Scotland can sign up to be part of the FST Touring Code of Practice. Creative Scotland maintains the list, and venues and promoters can join at any time. There is no maximum number of venues and promoters which can be listed nor a deadline for sign up.

Applicants to the Touring Fund are welcome to advise any venues and promoters not listed to contact Creative Scotland for further information. 

Venues and promoters who sign up to the Code of Practice will be expected to report back annually on their experience of the Touring Fund to assist Creative Scotland in future versions of the fund and its development.  

Please note that this commitment does not replace any of your usual contracting practices and is not a legal requirement.  

Can I receive a Touring Fund deal without signing up to the Code of Practice? 

No. Venues and promoters who have not committed to the terms of the Code of Practice will not be eligible to receive Touring Fund work on the Touring Fund deal which underwrites the costs of the show.  

You can still programme work that is funded through the Touring Fund, however without a commitment to the Code of Practice this will be a on a box office split or fee basis.  

How do I sign up? 

To sign up, email [email protected] providing:  

  • Venue/Promoter Name and address, including post code 
  • Programming contact details 
  • A link to your venue details on TourBook (if applicable) 

Resources

The Performing Artist's Audience Handbook is useful for applicants applying to the Touring Fund for Theatre and Dance, as an understanding of audiences should be at the centre of any application for touring and presentation.

Access support

Creative Scotland is committed to offering clear and accessible application processes and programmes that are open to everyone. We have a number of ways we can support you to make your application. Please get in touch with our enquiries team by visiting our Contact Us page to find out more.