COMMUNITY organisations in Glasgow are delivering vital funds to help the recovery of arts provision in the city. 

Over £100k has been shared between Glasgow Connected Arts Network, Wheatley Foundation and SambaYaBamba who will distribute grants between £500 and £5000 to arts workers on behalf of Creative Scotland.

The cash will ensure that there are employment and creative opportunities for young people despite the coronavirus pandemic.

Hannah Justad, Executive Director, Glasgow Connected Arts Network said: “This grant will allow us to roll-out a youth-led strand to our established small grant making framework whilst extending our reach through supporting youth-led decision making.

"Young people who are facing ever increasing barriers to the arts and community cohesive activity will have access to much needed creative experiences, which will broaden horizons and raise aspirations for young people from a variety of backgrounds here in the city.” 

Gaynor Milne, SambaYaBamba said: "SambaYaBamba are delighted to be involved in this exciting new way of distributing funds from Creative Scotland directly to practitioners in the street band network.

This will open up opportunities for freelancers to create their own youth projects, with support from our organisation.

We're really excited to welcome applications from individuals in early 2021, and look forward to seeing the new projects that emerge from this process." 

Lorraine McLaren, Director, Wheatley Foundation said: “Many people in our communities just don’t have the opportunity or the means to access the arts. 

We’re always keen to find new ways to support tenants and their families to take part in art, drama or music and this tranche of funding will enable us to do exactly that.

We’re looking forward to working with Creative Scotland and artists to bring some great projects to our communities right across central and the south of Scotland.” 

Minister for Children and Young People, Maree Todd said: “Youth music and youth arts organisations across Scotland are playing an important role in the lives of young people during these difficult times. This funding will widen access to high quality opportunities for young people, allowing them to participate and engage with music and other art forms. 

“It will also provide welcome employment opportunities to more than 200 youth arts practitioners, including freelance musicians, across Scotland.” 

Iain Munro, CEO, Creative Scotland said: “These vital emergency funds being delivered by Creative Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government are ensuring that creative opportunities continue to exist for young people and across Scotland at this critical time and provide important work for freelance artists whose opportunities have been so severely impacted by Covid-19.” 

Those interested in applying for the grants will be able to do so in the new year.