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Creative Communities - Inspiring Scotland

Creative Communities

Creative Communities

The Creative Communities programme supports communities to develop and deliver initiatives involving culture and creative arts and focuses support on people and places where social or geographical circumstances make engaging with cultural activities more challenging. 

The Creative Communities approach is deeply participatory: each project is designed and led by the communities they work with and, as a result, every project is unique, reflecting the strengths, interests, priorities and talents of the people taking part.  

Local people lead the way, working with creative practitioners on projects that are meaningful to them in the way that suits them best.

46

Charities Supported

15,000+

£2m

funding in 2020-2022

9,800+

creative workshops, classes & activities 

Creative Communities Evaluation Report

Between 2020 and 2022 the Creative Communities Programme supported 46 community and arts organisations across Scotland to deliver creative projects to over 15,000 adults and children. These included young people in secure care, refugees and asylum seekers, and people living with profound and multiple disabilities.

Research Scotland completed an independent evaluation of the Scotland-wide Creative Communities Programme. They concluded that Creative Communities projects:

Provided the opportunity for people to engage in creative arts that they would not have otherwise, have fun and feel joy and pride

Brought people together, building connections and reducing loneliness – which was particularly important during, and emerging from, the pandemic; and

Helped participants develop a wide range of improved skills around creativity, digital engagement and skills for life, learning and work.

Download the full report

Resources

Inspiring Scotland’s Annual Report 22/23
19.12.2023

Inspiring Scotland’s Annual Report 22/23

Inspiring Scotland’s Annual Report 22/23 provides an overview of the work undertaken to deliver on  strategic priorities and mission to improve the lives of people across Scotland. In the period we supported over 700 organisations across 16 funding programmes worth over £50m. As well as new funding opportunities being created, nine of  programmes  provided vital

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Ullapool Sea Savers
13.09.2023

Ullapool Sea Savers

Janis Patterson of Ullapool Sea Savers tells us about the difference Specialist Volunteering has made to her organisation.

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We Are Brass Tacks
13.04.2023

We Are Brass Tacks

In this video, Tommy Seymour talks with We Are Brass Tacks about the support they provided to visual impairment charity, Seescape.

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News

Inspiring Scotland’s Annual Report published
18.12.2023

Inspiring Scotland’s Annual Report published

We are pleased to share our Annual Report 22/23 providing an overview of the work undertaken to deliver on our strategic priorities and mission to improve the lives of people across Scotland. We supported over 700 organisations across 16 funding programmes worth over £50m. As well as new funding opportunities being created, nine of our

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Specialist Volunteer Network at the Gathering
01.12.2023

Specialist Volunteer Network at the Gathering

Earlier this month saw 3,000 people from the third sector attend SCVO’s the Gathering, the largest free voluntary sector event in the UK. Our team were more than attendees, taking part in a collaborative funders session and our Specialist Volunteer Network (SVN) hosted a panel discussion alongside Pilotlight on opportunities for charities to access professional

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New creative activities & opportunities for communities in Glasgow
05.09.2023

New creative activities & opportunities for communities in Glasgow

Ten Glasgow-based projects have been selected as part of the Creative Communities Glasgow programme, which will support and empower community-led creative activities for people & communities who face barriers to participating in culture. Creative Communities Glasgow is developed and delivered by Inspiring Scotland and is made possible thanks to funding from Glasgow City Council’s Communities

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