Published: 01 Mar 2023
Creative Scotland and Engage Scotland are delighted to announce the Stephen Palmer Travel Bursary Fund 2023 is open for applications.
The fund, now in its second year, provides support to freelancers / self-employed people working in the visual arts in Scotland, to connect with peers across the UK, and enhance their creative and professional development.
Artists, curators, producers, writers, educators and others, at any stage in their career, can apply for awards of up to £500 each.
Those who have experienced limited opportunities to travel to develop their practice are particularly encouraged to apply, including people who are not in a position to travel due to a health condition, disability and/or caring responsibilities.
The fund will support people unable to travel physically, to connect digitally.
The fund was launched in 2022 with 10 bursaries awarded. In 2023, a further 10 bursaries will be presented.
Creative Scotland and Engage Scotland established this bursary fund to honour Stephen Palmer, a highly regarded and deeply respected Officer and Visual Arts specialist who devoted much of his career to the work of Creative Scotland and its predecessor body the Scottish Arts Council.
Established following his death in 2021, these annual awards reflect Stephen’s deep belief in the value of travel to broaden horizons, to build new connections and to inform and inspire the development of new work.
Previous 2022 awardees from across Scotland include:
Alison Scott, based in Arbroath, who undertakes projects focussed on climate, energy politics, embodied experiences of weather, the commons and collaborative learning;
Glasgow based Joey Simons who travelled to Great Yarmouth to explore shared elements of radical history;
and Ukrainian/Canadian artist and educator Ayla Dmyterko, who travelled from Glasgow to the Cairngorm Forest to embark on a residency at the Inshriach Bothy.
The Bursary has been developed by Creative Scotland in partnership with Engage Scotland, the lead advocacy and training network for visual arts engagement and participation, representing arts educators, organisations, freelancers and artists from across the country.
The Stephen Palmer Travel Bursary Fund is supported by The National Lottery through Creative Scotland.
Sarah Robinson Frood / Engage Scotland quote:
“We were delighted to be able to continue to support artists from across Scotland to access the Stephen Palmer Travel Bursary Fund and excited to see the range of applications for 2023. We can see from the experiences of the participants in 2022 the diversity and breadth of research and practice development this has enabled.”
Amanda Catto, Creative Scotland quote:
“Stephen Palmer was a great connector of people who believed strongly in the value of travel to build relationships and to create new possibilities. These awards build on Stephen’s legacy by supporting new travel opportunities within the UK for artists and other visual arts professionals based in Scotland. We especially want to encourage applications from people who have had limited opportunities to travel and from those who cannot travel but who seek to develop their work by building connections within the UK.”
Applications can be made between 10am, 2 March 2023 – 5pm, 20 April 2023 on the Engage website.
Find out more about the Stephen Palmer Travel Bursary Fund 2023 and apply
