Nurturing Talent Fund – bringing young people's creativity to life
Creative Scotland's Nurturing Talent Fund supports creative 11-25-year-olds to develop their chosen mediums, passions and talents. These include short film-making, music production, publishing, poetry, photography, recording demos and hosting events.
The Nurturing Talent Fund is designed by young people for young people. It supports their creative ideas and ambitions – no matter whether they have lots of experience or they're just developing their interest in the arts. It was designed by the National Youth Arts Advisory Group (NYAAG) – a group of 14–24-year-olds from across Scotland who work with Creative Scotland to represent the voices of young people within arts and culture in Scotland.
"As always we are impressed and inspired by the breadth of talent within Scotland’s young people and are delighted to fund a wide range of exciting new projects that help them reach their creative potential. We love seeing the funded projects develop, and can’t wait to see what this round brings." - Emma Ruse, NYAAG
Thanks to funding from the National Lottery and the Scottish Government through Creative Scotland, the Fund has supported hundreds of young people since 2014. The latest recipients include young people developing their passions for dance, short film, writing and music.
This round of the Nurturing Talent Fund sees nearly 40 projects receiving over £36,000 of support.
Ria Smart, publishing her collected poetry and drawings.
Sophie Minervini, creating a zine documenting foraging techniques and dyeing fabrics.
Hollie Avery, creating a comedy set in the Scottish Borders in a radio station.
Nathan Dudley, establishing New Found Hope, Scottish skater streetwear brand.
Jennifer Galt, creating ‘Returning (the act of)’ – a multimedia serial.
Mathilde N’Doye, publishing a cookbook featuring recipes and conversations from Glasgow-based community organisations.
Work in Progress Thinktank, opening a conversation on issues around statues and representation within Kelvingrove Park.
Étáin Saoirse Sweeney, launching sophomore four-track EP.
Fibi Cowley, developing a short film ‘A Dispute With a Butterfly’.
Clara Hancock, undertaking an oral history project on the Isle of Eigg.
Martha Williams, starting summer residency at Pedvale Art Park in Latvia.
Natalie O’Neill, hosting mixed media art workshops for children.
Leif Coffeild, releasing a single.
Roza Stevenson, putting on a musical.
Morven Kemp, creating audio/visual musical project.
Melissa Cassidy, writing a children's book that explores diversity in families.
Mairi Maclean, giving young dancers living in South Uist and the Isle of Barra a performance opportunity post COVID-19.
Ruth MacGilp, developing podcast, Common Threads, about ethical fashion.
Tom Joyce, short film about corruption and misinformation.
Ossian Arkotxa, playing as a band again and encouraging others to join and learn instruments.
Lucy Gill, making an original character mask and suit.
Steven Gilmour, establishing a Drama Club.
Aliesha Mcculloch, creating clay models and painting.
Aischa Daughtery, curating and publishing ‘we fell in love on the internet’, an anthology of lesbian love notes.
Cameron Wilson, developing a multi-media photography, videography and audio business.
Evie Waddell, creating a micro-documentary in Gaelic – Dùthchas.
Joe Hunter, creating a choose your own adventure audio drama.
Islay Allen-Hopkins, making a new EP.
Eve Park, creating a 15-minute piece of work that has BSL,Gaelic and Scots collaboration/crossover.
Connor Barr, finishing a debut album.
Theo Seddon, creating a filmed performance 'Dawn of Man'.
Taylor Waggoner, creating a QR code based experience implemented around the city of Perth.
Scott Adams, developing a short western film.
Elizaveta Dokukina, developing ‘Catching Up’ - a Fringe show from Theatre Paradok.
Natalie Doidge, putting on a networking a socialising event for people from creative backgrounds.
Catriona McNicoll, producing a feature film treatment about women working in the computer industries in the 1960s.
Steffi Campbell, putting on dance workshops.
Eleanor Tennyson, creating ‘The Hairy Manifesto’ – a pamphlet and provocation.
Lavie Rabinovitz, developing a platform to showcase a range of writers, performers, MDs, and directors.
Melanie Chuaiprasit, creating a rug that is the exact size of the floor-plan of parent’s house.
Charlotte Muller-Stuart, holding a series of workshops that enhance the voices of Scotland's young environmentalists.
Rebecca Ayalew, developing an experimental, research based docu-series that challenges the racist categorisation of the African Diaspora and its effects on black people, particularly black women.
Rosie Trevill, creating a screen-printed textile installation that connects with a digital hypertext game.