Funding

This page offers a list of links detailing sources of funding for the Heritage Sector in the Highlands and Islands. It is by no means exhaustive and local and other sources may also exist. If you would like to share any possibilities with the network please contact us at the email address at the foot of the page. Good luck, and let us know of any successes you have.

The Heritage Lottery Fund is the main funder of larger heritage projects in the UK. This is a link to the local Scottish details page, with contact details, and tip sheets detailing the various funds available.

· The Young Roots scheme offers grants of between £5k and £25k to project that will involve young folk in heritage.

· The Heritage Grant scheme offers funding to £50k in projects for projects in conservation, access and learning.

· Your Heritage supports projects that involve the community grants may be up to the value of £50k.

· Awards for All has a similar community focus, but aims further down the scale, from £500 to £5k. More details can be found on the Awards for All website.

The Scottish Museum Council offers grants to its member organisations. The small grants programme can be used through the cultural co-ordinators scheme, whilst the main grants programme covers larger more ambitious projects, The SMC site also offers advice and tip sheets on fundraising.

The Scottish Arts Council offers funding for both individual and organisations. Many projects run by heritage organisations and venues w could fit into the arts outcomes of the SAC, and they are certainly willing to listen to applications from heritage groups. They offer a handy step-by-step guide to the application process.

Grants are available through Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) via its network of Local Enterprise Companies (LECs). This is a list of the funds they administer. Not all of the pots may be appropriate, but some of them will bear further investigation. Most will be subject to “match funding” either in cash or in kind. HIE also administer individual training grants.

Particularly worth noting is HIE’s exciting THT Challenge fund which is now requesting notes of interest. Individual venues can register and may be networked with partners.

Though HI-Arts is primarily an arts development organisations, several funded projects have been run in an heritage context. This links to their funding home page. Further down they have interesting lists of trusts and foundations and other funding opportunities.

Most European funds require multi-agency partnerships for larger packages. Of the others Euclid is the most heritage friendly and has a UK delivery mechanism. The call for Culture2007 funding bids is now open. It also administers an EU funding alerts email list.