Creative grants of up to £15,000 for community organisations and schools, and grants of up to £5,000 for individuals for activities that promote creativity through Creative Education, Creative Communities and Creative Individuals.
Hugo Burge (1972-2023) was a British entrepreneur, philanthropist and art lover who spent the last ten years of his life turning his home in the Scottish Borders into a haven for makers and creators.
Hugo hosted events and concerts, built workshops and studios, established artists' and writers' residencies, supported local community groups, and became an important local patron of the arts. In just a few short years, Hugo transformed the cultural life of the Scottish Borders. The Hugo Burge Foundation has been founded to continue what Hugo started.
The Foundation is dedicated to supporting the arts, crafts and creative industries across the United Kingdom. The Foundation aims to work with schools, charities and other educational institutions to increase young people’s access to creative learning, and support apprenticeships in traditional crafts.
Grants are available to individual artists and makers, community events and local and national festivals.
The Foundation also provides free and affordable studios and workspaces in the Scottish Borders. It also offers funded and self-funded residencies throughout the year.
The Foundation’s inaugural round of grant funding will support projects, people, and organisations that align with three key areas:
- Creative Individuals: A fund that is open for individual artists, musicians, performers, writers, etc. who are working alone or with one other creative. The intent is to fund a specific project, work, piece, etc proposed by the individual, who must be over 18 years of age. For 2025, this fund is only open to those based in Scotland. In subsequent years, they plan to expand this to the whole of the UK. The maximum grant is £5,000
- Creative Communities: This fund is open to organisations, community groups, festivals, and fairs that are planning on developing and delivering initiatives focusing on culture and creative arts in the United Kingdom. Maximum grant available: £15,000.
- Creative Education: This fund is open to any creative or arts led programmes designed for young people in education. They will fund programmes and classes aimed at participants between the ages of 0 and 29. The maximum grant is £15,000. If they project is under £10,000, they may fund it completely.
Further information, guidance, frequently asked questions and details about how to apply is available on the Foundation’s website.