Dewar Arts Awards
Offered by Dewar Arts Awards
Who can apply
Applicants must be under the age of 30, live or work in Scotland, demonstrate outstanding talent in any artform (which covers music performance and composition), and be without the financial means to achieve their full potential. Trustees look for demonstrable outstanding ability, strong artistic or creative ambition and real passion for the chosen artform or project, and direct support towards candidates with genuinely limited financial means. A nominator endorsement and references are required.
About this opportunity
The Dewar Arts Awards support Scotland's brightest young artists, set up by the then Scottish Executive in memory of Scotland's first First Minister Donald Dewar, and have supported more than 1,200 young artists. Awards are allocated on a rolling basis, so there are no deadlines, but the Trustees warn that gathering the required evidence can take several weeks. No fixed award value is published, so the amount depends on the case you make. Important exclusions for musicians: the Trustees do not fund the production of CDs or DVDs, tend not to fund performing arts production (though such applications are occasionally considered), and cannot consider retrospective awards. The emphasis is predominantly on education and professional development through institutions and courses, so an application built around study, training or a course is a better fit than one built around a release. Competition is described as intense and the core criteria applied with rigour.
Gatekeepers · Past editions
Know who's reviewing — and what has won before.
For opportunities approaching their deadline, Pro members get a researched briefing: who sits on the jury, what they care about, and what past winning projects looked like. Briefings are prepared roughly 5 to 10 weeks before each deadline, while there's still time to shape your application.
Sign in to go ProIncluded with Pro, alongside apply links for every upcoming date, unlimited saves, calendar sync and reminders from a month out.
Frequently asked questions
- When is the deadline for Dewar Arts Awards?
- This opportunity has no fixed deadline — applications are accepted on a rolling basis, so you can apply at any time.
- Who offers Dewar Arts Awards?
- Dewar Arts Awards runs it, from United Kingdom.
- Who can apply for Dewar Arts Awards?
- Applicants must be under the age of 30, live or work in Scotland, demonstrate outstanding talent in any artform (which covers music performance and composition), and be without the financial means to achieve their full potential. Trustees look for demonstrable outstanding ability, strong artistic or creative ambition and real passion for the chosen artform or project, and direct support towards candidates with genuinely limited financial means. A nominator endorsement and references are required.
- How do I apply for Dewar Arts Awards?
- You apply on the funder's own site. The link is on this page: with a free GrantGigs account for deadlines in the next 30 days, or with Pro for later ones. If applications are new to you, our guide on how to apply for music grants walks through the whole process. Read the guide →
Similar opportunities
Closing soon
Dewar Arts Awards