Collaborative initiatives throughout Scotland have secured over £1.2 million in the latest round of Open Fund awards from The National Lottery through Creative Scotland.
Among the initiatives are programmes that bring together amateur performers, professional artists and local community groups to create new work and strengthen cultural participation.
Paisley Opera is connecting with the Scottish Opera Orchestra, community group right2dance and choruses from three local primary schools to bring their innovative reimaging of Bizet’s Carmen to the heart of Scotland’s largest town. Set in 1960s Renfrewshire against the industrial backdrop of the Ferguslie Thread Mills, Paisley Opera’s production is alive with vivid local colourthat introduce a modern element to the 19th century work.
Based on an ethos of accessibiliy, Paisley Opera is dedicated to dismantling the barriers that often prevent local people from engaging with opera. At the heart of its work is its community chorus, where no entry auditions are held and entry completely free, ensuring anyone can take part. Carmen will be sixth popular opera the group has translated into Paisley Scots with four performances scheduled at the Tannahill Centre, Paisley, in May.
Simon Hannigan, Artistic Director at Paisley Opera said: “This production would not be possible without help from the Open Fund. Paisley Opera has been referred to by many of our members as a life-changing experience. Carmen is our latest and most ambitious project to date involving more people than ever and giving them all the chance to experience great live music drama first hand.”
Aberdeen Science Centre is set toput style in the spotlight with Fashion the Future, a new public engagement programme exploring where fashion, technology and creativity meet. Delivered in partnership with Robert Gordon University’s Gray’s School of Art, the initiative will bring together five local creatives working across fashion, textiles, garment design and digital fashion to co-create hands-on experiences for children and families.
Running throughout July and August, the programme includes a one-day Skills Academy to support creatives’ in developing their public engagement skills, alongside a series of artist-led workshops. Visitors can also look forward to additional fashion-themed activities and eye-catching displays across the centre. Around 9,000 children and adults are expected to take part, including 50 families from underserved or underrepresented communities, ensuring that the future of fashion is shaped by as many voices as possible.
Calli Buchanan, Visitor Experience Manager at Aberdeen Science Centre said: “Creative Scotland’s Open Fund enables Aberdeen Science Centre to bring fashion and technology to life for children and families. Through Fashion the Future, local creatives can develop hands-on workshops that share their expertise while inspiring curiosity, creativity and an understanding of the processes behind fashion. This support delivers meaningful, practical learning experiences for our community that might not otherwise be accessible.”
The Metagama: An Atlantic Odyssey project was created in 2023 to mark the centenary of mass emigration to Canada from the Hebrides, when nearly 1500 young people left the islands onboard ships SS Metagama, Marloch and Canada. This powerful, multi-artform concert shines a light on their courage, their hopes, and the extraordinary journeys that carried many of them onward to the USA, where they forged new lives in car factories and construction projects and rapidly changing cities.
Blending newly composed songs and instrumental music from the Metagama Ensemble, along with traditional Gaelic song, evocative narration and striking projected archive photographs and artwork, the performance transports audiences across oceans and decades from the vast Canadian landscapes, to the bustle of 1920s Detroit and the era of Prohibition.
In 2026, Stoneyport Associates will bring this remarkable story to audiences across Scotland with a national tour, alongside workshops for schools and community groups, ensuring that the legacy of the Metagama emigrants continues to inspire new generations and deepen understanding of this pivotal chapter in Scotland’s history.
Liza Mulholland, Producer and Performer at Metagama Ensemble said: “We are thrilled that Stoneyport have received this new support from Creative Scotland, enabling the Ensemble to undertake a new two-week tour in March 2026. This tour will include locations from Argyll to the Highlands & Islands and enables us to share this important story in Hebridean history with a much wider audience. We are hugely grateful for this funding award, as it will allow us to develop our Metagama: An Atlantic Odyssey show artistically, undertake extensive community engagement through Q&As, workshops and talks along the way, and build on what the project has achieved since 2023.”
These Open Fund awards are among 44 individual grants made to artists and creative practitioners across Scotland in December 2025, with the full list of awards available on our website. Other awards spanning artform and location in this round, include:
- Refugee Festival Scotland: 2026 Arts Programme – A 10-day celebration across Scotland, focusing on the arts, culture and tradition people bring with them when they first arrive in the country.
- Perth Festival of the Arts 2026 – Supporting the rising stars in Music and Poetry in Scotland as part of its established Scotland Trending series which is dedicated to promoting early career artists and connecting them with audiences.
- Rutherglen 900: Striding the Streets – To celebrate the 900-year anniversary of Rutherglen being granted Royal Burgh status, R900 is hosting a year-long programme of events, exhibitions, performances, community storytelling and activities.
Commenting on December’s Open Fund awards, Paul Burns, Interim Director of Arts at Creative Scotland said: “This collection of awards demonstrates the power of collaboration across art forms and cultures in Scotland. Thanks to the support of National Lottery players, audiences will have the chance to access the arts in their local communities, gain hands-on experience in the world of fashion and learn more about Scotland’s rich history through music and performance.”
