A £400,000 pilot fund has been launched to support pioneering projects designed to help organisations owning Scotland’s cultural and creative buildings respond to climate change.
Funded by The National Lottery through Creative Scotland, the programme, to be managed by public sector infrastructure body, the Scottish Futures Trust, will provide grants of up to £80,000 per project that address identified climate-related risks. The aim is to award funding to 8-10 projects and ensure cultural and creative assets remain usable, resilient, and fit for purpose.
The demonstration fund aims to support pathfinder projects where practical interventions can be completed at pace, while generating valuable learning to inform future investment decisions across Scotland’s cultural and creative estate. The programme will prioritise projects that are capable of being delivered quickly, and able to demonstrate ‘clear, transferable lessons’.
Marc Cairns, associate director at the Scottish Futures Trust, said, “Scotland’s cultural and creative places are vital to our communities and heritage. This fund will support practical and deliverable solutions that strengthen resilience in the face of climate change.
“By prioritising projects that can be delivered quickly and generate real learning, the aim of the programme is to unlock insights that will inform future investment and help protect Scotland’s treasured assets for many generations to come.”
Karen Ridgewell, climate emergency and sustainability lead from Creative Scotland, added, “This inaugural funding from a brand-new collaboration between Creative Scotland and Scottish Futures Trust will drive tangible results and increased understanding of the impact of the changing climate on Scotland’s cultural and creative estate. Adapting to our changing climate is essential to enable a thriving Scotland and these pathfinder projects will pave the way in doing so.
“We hope that this first step together will provide insight into current and future challenges of creative and cultural buildings, the organisations and activities they host, and the joint effort needed to address them.”
Grant funding will support the delivery of projects to be completed within the 2026-2027 financial year.
To find out more and to apply, click here. The deadline for completed applications is Wednesday 25 March, 2026.
