National Lottery Open Fund Awards celebrate Scotland’s heritage, creativity and communities
Stories of Scotland’s past, present and future- from Gaelic song to inclusive storytelling, animation and contemporary theatre- are among the projects receiving the latest National Lottery Open Funding through Creative Scotland.
A total of 59 projects are receiving £1,455,888 in funding via the latest round of Open Fund recipients, supporting artists and organisations to create new work, reach audiences and develop opportunities across Scotland and beyond.
From stories rooted in family and place to new work created for children and young people, the projects reflect the power of culture to connect people with their communities, heritage and each other.
Taking place at the National Mining Museum Scotland, Jason & the Coal Mining Adventure presents the work of acclaimed disabled artist Jason Wilsher-Mills MBE, exploring disability, family. community and Britain’s coal-mining heritage.
Running from 21 August to 24 October 2026, the exhibition brings together large-scale inflatable sculptures, film, sketchbooks and digital work, drawing on Jason’s experiences of disability, childhood memories and his father’s life as a coal miner.
At its heart is Wish You Were Here, a three-metre-tall tapestry created with Flanders Tapestries in Belgium, inspired by Jason’s memories of his parents and childhood holidays, and his family’s connection to the mining industry.
Dr Ray Lafferty, Curator at National Mining Museum Scotland said: “Creative Scotland’s Open Fund has allowed us to be much more ambitious in presenting Jason Wilsher-Mills’ work in Scotland.
“Without that support, we would have had the tapestry and film, but we simply could not have shown the range of work that visitors will now see. The inflatables completely transform the exhibition.
“They are funny, colourful, strange, and enormously engaging, but, as Jason says, they are also a form of ‘Trojan Horse art’: their humour and colour draw you in before you realise that they are addressing much more serious subjects.”
My Kind of Book is creating Stories that Stretch and Bounce, a collection of sensory stories for children on the autism spectrum with severe or profound learning disabilities.
Using narrative alongside tactile and sensory props – from stretchy socks and boxes within boxes to objects to squish and bounce – the project aims to make storytelling joyful, engaging and accessible.
The stories will be developed with teachers and families, piloted in ASN schools and shared more widely, with some scripts made available as free downloads for use at home and in classrooms.
Ailie Finlay, Director of My Kind of Book said: “It’s fantastic to get this funding. These stories are so badly needed – we have been wanting to work on this for a long time now.
“It will take time, thought and experimentation to create the right kind of sensory stories- it would be impossible to do this without this funding from Creative Scotland.”
Acclaimed Gaelic singer and songwriterGillebrìde MacMillan will record a new album of original Gaelic songs and tour the work at venues across Scotland.
Gillebrìde has played a leading role in the resurgence of Gaelic song composition, with two critically acclaimed albums and the ÒranÙrproject, which has showcased new Gaelic songwriting through concerts, workshops and podcasts. He will work with a stellar band of musicians and producer Pablo Lafuente on the new recording.
Gillebrìde, who is also known internationally for his work as Gwyllyn the Bard on Outlander, said: “I am honoured and delighted to get this support from Creative Scotland for something that I am so passionate about.
“It is vitally important that Gaelic song composition is encouraged and developed. Original song recordings, and the performance of those songs, shows the vibrancy of the language and the community and ensures that the Gaelic song tradition is constantly renewing and developing.”
Aberdeen Animates will build on its successful inaugural event to create a more ambitious annual programme for emerging and early-career animation creatives in the North East.
The 2027 programme will feature screenings, industry talks, awards and networking at The Lemon Tree in Aberdeen on 27 March 2027, alongside year-round links with schools, colleges, universities and creative networks.
The programme aims to build confidence, industry knowledge and connections, while strengthening Aberdeen’s animation and digital creative community.
Aberdeen Animates’ project team said: “Creative Scotland’s support has allowed us to take something that started as a small local event and give it the space and resources to grow into something much more ambitious.
“For our audience, particularly emerging animators and early-career creatives, that means more opportunities to see their work celebrated, meet people working in the industry, build connections and feel part of a creative community.”
Leith-based Jaggy Edina Productions will bring The Rhinestone Cowboy to audiences in Scotland and Iceland.
Created by mother and son duo Heidi and Harry Docherty, the multimedia theatre production tells the true story of a young man’s journey from Scotland to Iceland, exploring identity, belonging, migration and mental health through theatre, original music, sound and projected visuals.
With Open Fund support, the production will grow from an intimate work into a more ambitious presentation, with performances at Tjarnarbíó in Reykjavik on 29 September and 1 October 2026, followed by Summerhall Arts in Edinburgh on 23 and 24 October.
Heidi and Harry Docherty said: “We are delighted to say that the Open Fund will enable us to evolve the play from its earlier, more intimate format into a more fully realised and ambitious presentation suitable for larger audiences and international contexts, reflecting the narrative journey at the centre of the production while supporting cultural exchange and international engagement with contemporary Scottish theatre.”
Paul Burns, Director of Arts at Creative Scotland said: “These awards showcase the extraordinary range of stories being created and shared across Scotland, and the many ways in which artists and organisations are connecting people with culture.
“From emerging talent to the continuing evolution of Gaelic song, to inclusive storytelling and contemporary theatre connecting Scotland with the rest of the world, these projects celebrate where we have come from whilst looking towards the future.”
“Thanks to National Lottery funding, the Open Fund is helping artists and organisations create work that can be enjoyed, experienced and shared by people of all ages and backgrounds, strengthening connections between people, communities and the places they call home.”
The full list of awardees in this round of Open Funding can be found on Creative Scotland’s website.
