Tickets are now on sale for the new production of Scottish Opera’s Opera Highlights, which hits the road from 2 October to 22 November, bringing world-class opera to 17 communities across the country.
The audience will follow the story of four very different characters, watching how their personal relationships intertwine at the office party.
With no shortage of messy romance and an unforgettable work soiree, this will be a night of opera to remember!
Performing in this one-of-a-kind show, created specifically for Scottish Opera each season, are 2025/26 Emerging Artists mezzo-soprano Chloe Harris and tenor Luvo Maranti, along with soprano Ceferina Penny and baritone James Geidt, both making their Company debuts. Accompanying the singers on piano is Music Director Meghan Rhoades, Emerging Artist Repetiteur.
Transforming smaller venues into a local opera house, the show travels to East Kilbride, Ayr, Gartmore, Brechin, Ellon, Crail, Castle Douglas, Melrose, Crawfordjohn, Birnam, Nairn, Lochinver, Glenuig, Castlebay (a return visit following the Company’s Opera Highlights performance in February being cancelled due to bad weather), Lochranza, Johnstone, and Edinburgh.
Scottish Opera’s extensive touring programme is one of the largest of any European opera company, ensuring performances are within reach of as many of Scotland’s dispersed population as possible.
Over 4000 people of all ages attended the Spring Opera Highlights tour this year, with audience members commenting how it was ‘wonderful that Scottish Opera comes to some of the more remote and rural areas’, bringing the show ‘to our doorstep’.
The show’s Director is Emma Doherty who last worked with Scottish Opera on the Outreach & Education show, The Giant’s Harp, and was Assistant Director in 2024 on Oedipus Rex and Marx in London! Designs are by the award-winning Kenneth MacLeod, who worked on last Season’s Opera Highlights.
The playlist cleverly combines a fabulous collection of much-loved classics with a treasure trove of lesser-known pieces. These include music from Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci, Gounod’s Romeo and Juliette, Massenet’s Werther, Handel’s Alcina, Strauss II’s Die Fledermaus and Samuel Barber’s one-act opera, A Hand of Bridge.
These operatic snapshots are curated by Fiona MacSherry, Scottish Opera’s Head of Music. All are sung in English or an English translation, making the story immediate and accessible for the audience.
Director Emma Doherty said: ‘I am delighted to be directing the next Opera Highlights tour, which showcases some beautiful music and deals with the themes of forbidden love and deception. In the show, designed by the brilliant Kenneth MacLeod, audiences can expect to see four colleagues with complicated love triangles who are gearing up for their office party!’
While on tour with Opera Highlights, Scottish Opera is running school and community workshops, with more details to be announced soon. At these free ‘How to stage an opera’ interactive sessions, those attending will learn about the process of powerful storytelling through opera, using scenes from the tour as inspiration.
The creative team will explore how music can illustrate dramatic context on stage, and the mechanics of staging and directing scenes from an opera.
Participants learn how singers use their voices and stage techniques to generate atmosphere and create mood to develop character, and how basic props can support the time, location and even the weather in which the story is unfolding.
These sessions, lasting approximately one hour, are open to all ages, and no previous experience is required.
Opera Highlights goes on the road again in Spring 2026, when Emerging Artist Repetiteur Toby Stanford accompanies singers including Emerging Artists Daniel Barrett and Kira Kaplan withAlexandria Moon and Connor James Smith.
The tour runs from 3 February to 14 March, with performances in Glasgow, Tillicoultry, Helensburgh, Town Yetholm, Newton Stewart, Dunlop, Dalmally, Dornie, Stornoway, Gairloch, Newtonmore, Banchory, Fraserburgh, Cromarty, Orkney, Wick, Lairg, and Bathgate.
Opera Highlights is supported by Friends of Scottish Opera and JTH Charitable Trust.
Fans who missed out on tickets to see Oasis at Murrayfield this summer can still enjoy the iconic anthems at Fort Kinnaird on Sunday 10th August, thanks to a free live performance by popular tribute band ‘Oasus’.
Oasus is set to bring the classic Wonderwall, Live Forever and Don’t Look Back in Anger anthems to the centre for the many fans who tried and failed to get tickets to the Scottish leg of the tour, coming to Murrayfield on Friday 8th August, Saturday 9th August and Tuesday 12th August.
This two-hour live gig will take over Fort Kinnaird’s Summer Stage near Pizza Hut, promising all the swagger, sound and 90s nostalgia of the real deal – minus the ticket fees and stadium crowds. Whether you’re a die-hard Gallagher fan or just fancy a fun Sunday with the family, it’s a brilliant way to soak up the buzz set to sweep the city.
Liam Smith, centre director at Fort Kinnaird, said:“There’s so much excitement around the Oasis reunion gigs at Murrayfield, so it’s only right that we bring a bit of that buzz to Fort Kinnaird too.
“Oasus are a brilliant tribute act and their free show is the perfect chance for Oasis fans of all ages to get involved in the action. It’s a great way to spend a Sunday – grab a bite, enjoy the music and make a proper day of it with friends or family. Definitely Maybe also pick up an iconic bucket hat while you’re here too!”
The event is just one of the free events running at Fort Kinnaird this summer, designed to offer visitors of all ages memorable, free experiences.
This includes character visits between 11am – 4pm from Aloha Alien on Sunday 27th July, and a Wicked Duo on Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd of August.
With more than 70 shops, a seven-screen ODEON cinema, and dining favourites including Wagamama, TGI Fridays and Nando’s, there’s something for everyone – whether you’re after a day of retail therapy, tasty food, or dancing to your favourite 90s bangers.
The centre is easy to reach too, just off the A1 with 2,600 free parking spaces and good public transport links.
For more details and to plan your day at Fort Kinnaird, please visit:
The sprightly double bill of Scottish Opera’s new staging of Gilbert & Sullivan’s Trial by Jury and the world premiere of Emma Jenkins and Toby Hession’s A Matter of Misconduct! will be available to watch on OperaVision from 3 August for six months.
The production opened in May at Theatre Royal Glasgow, before touring to Festival Theatre Edinburgh and Opera Holland Park, with Trial by Jury directed by John Savournin, and A Matter of Misconduct! directed by Laura Attridge. Both operas are conducted by Toby Hession, and designs are by takis.
The film of the double bill was produced for the freeview streaming platform OperaVision by Gemma Dixon of Maestro Broadcasting, who also directed the A Matter of Misconduct! film, with Jonathan Haswell directing the film of Trial by Jury. Audio production was by Floating Earth Ltd., and the recording was made at a Festival Theatre Edinburgh performance.
First performed in 1875, Trial by Jury (a co-production by Scottish Opera, D’Oyly Carte Opera and Opera Holland Park), was the first major hit from the partnership of WS Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan. Set around a classic case of broken vows – the defendant having literally left the claimant at the altar – the trial bubbles over with emotion, humour, and downright chaos, leaving the jury divided. How will they decide between the charming yet swindling defendant and the utterly captivating claimant?
This production, which marks 150 years of Gilbert & Sullivan’s collaboration with D’Oyly Carte Opera, formed upon the first performance of Trial by Jury, has a fabulous comic cast which includes Richard Suart (The Gondoliers & Utopia, Limited 2021), Jamie MacDougall (Albert Herring 2024) and 2024/25 Emerging Artists Kira Kaplan (Opera Highlights 2025), Chloe Harris (Opera Highlights 2025) and Edward Jowle (The Makropulos Affair 2025).
It is performed alongside Emma Jenkins and Toby Hession’sA Matter of Misconduct!, a new co-commission and co-production by Scottish Opera and D’Oyly Carte Opera.
Following the crowd-pleasing political satire In Flagrante, also by Jenkins and Hession, which premiered on the 2023/24 Opera Highlights tour, A Matter of Misconduct! tells the story of how when a scandal threatens to break about the front runner in a bloody leadership campaign, a lawyer is needed to prevent information from reaching the press. Sylvia Lawless from the firm Lawless, Lawless, Lawless and Crook must find the loopholes in this modern take on unsavoury behaviour.
Jamie MacDougallstars in this daring new operetta, alongside 2024/25 Emerging Artists Ross Cumming, Kira Kaplan, Chloe Harris and Edward Jowle.
Launched in 2017, OperaVision – curated by Opera Europa, the European association of opera companies and festivals – streams performances from all over the world, allowing viewers to watch productions from the greatest European opera houses from the comfort of their own home. As well as full-length performances shown with subtitles, it features extracts, interviews and behind the scenes footage.
Scottish Opera General Director Alex Reedijk said: ‘We are absolutely thrilled that our film of Trial by Jury & A Matter of Misconduct! will reach global audiences through OperaVision this summer.
‘We hope viewers all over the world enjoy this brilliant double bill, and it’s a great opportunity to share the exceptional artistry of Toby Hession and Emma Jenkins, and directors John Savournin and Laura Attridge, as well as the talented cast and The Orchestra of Scottish Opera.’
In 2019, in a very important first for Scottish Opera, Stuart MacRae and Louise Welsh’s Anthropocene was featured on the platform, followed in 2023 by the Company’s production of another Gilbert & Sullivan classic, The Gondoliers.
It has been watched more than anything else since Christmas 2023, amassing almost 70,000 views to date.Audiences praised the production calling it ‘magnificent’, ‘truly first rate’ and ‘superb’.
Karen Stone, Opera Europa Executive Director said:‘Scottish Opera is respected internationally for the quality of its productions, its commitment to creating new work and its dedication to serving many communities across Scotland.
“I am delighted that the double-bill of Trial by Jury & A Matter of Misconduct! will find new audiences across the world through Opera Europa’s streaming platform. “We look forward to Scottish Opera becoming a more regular contributor to OperaVision, which showcases all the vibrancy of opera-making in Europe today.’
Executive Producer Gemma Dixon said: ‘Producing the fabulous Trial by Jury & A Matter of Misconduct! double bill for streaming on OperaVision was a real joy.
‘Our job is always to cherish a production and tell the story through the lens, matching the quality of what we see on stage with what we put on the screen.
“The beauty of our work is in capturing the extra details, the story beats, reactions and facial expressions that can be missed in the auditorium when watching from a distance, and they are in abundance here! The quality of both productions and the superb cast and production teams made the job easy for us.
‘Although both productions are brilliant on screen, A Matter of Misconduct! was particularly fun to direct because of the level of detail in the musical score, the witty libretto and the close interplay between the score, libretto and action. I’ve tried to highlight these moments and replicate the energy and comedy of the production in the choice of framing and the timing of camera shots.’
Trial by Jury & A Matter of Misconduct! are available to watch from 6pm BST (7pm CET) on 3 August at https://operavision.eu/en
Trial by Jury is supported by the Michael Bishop Foundation, Lord Glendonbrook and the D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust.
A Matter of Misconduct! is supported by Scottish Opera’s New Commissions Circle.
Buzzin’ for the next version of Shoreline Sessions down @thepittmarket on Friday 1st August! Now, since so many of you have asked, for a formal open mic session in the first 45 minutes! Get down early and sign up!
This summer, Party at the Palace is hitting a high note for the planet. Thanks to renewable energy pioneers GreenFox, the festival will host Scotland’s first solar-powered festival stage, the GreenFox Energy Breakthrough Stage, twinning clean energy and the joy of live music.
Over 7,000 music lovers will head to Bonnytoun Farm in Linlithgow on Saturday, 2, and Sunday, 3 August and, for the first time, a large part of the festival will be sun-powered.
The new solar setup will supply sound, lighting, and equipment using a combination of solar panels and battery storage. The battery will be fully charged with green energy generated in the days before the event.
The system is expected to produce up to 100 kilowatt-hours of clean energy over the weekend. This is enough to power an average UK home for about 10 days and will prevent around 20 kilograms of CO₂ emissions.
“Festivals are full of energy – and now we’re bringing the renewable kind too,” said Eddie Curran, co-founder of GreenFox Energy.
“It’s brilliant to now be part of the action and help power a festival that’s such a big part of the local community.”
In a world where most festivals still rely on diesel generators, the GreenFox initiative proves solar power is a viable, vibrant alternative and a great fit for a family-friendly, future-focused event like Party at the Palace.
Eddie added, “It’s a small step with a big message: at Party at the Palace alone, switching to solar saves around 20 kg of CO₂ and that’s just one stage, at one festival.
“If every festival across the UK did the same, we could save over 12.8 tonnes of emissions each year. It shows how small changes, delivered at scale, start to really add up.
“This is just the beginning, and we’re excited to explore even more ways to make Party at the Palace a leader in sustainable, low-impact events in the future.”
Now in its 11th year, Party at the Palace continues to grow and so does its commitment to doing things differently.
“We’re always looking for ways to make the festival better, not just for the fans, but for the planet too,” said John Richardson, director of Party at the Palace.
“We’re very much a family festival so it’s important to us to help create a better future for the next generation. We are passionate about leading by example, both through our work in the local community and encouraging people to make more eco-friendly choices.
“That’s why bringing in solar power with GreenFox Energy is such a proud moment. It’s a simple idea to use the sun’s power to drive our second stage but one that shows small changes can make a big difference – and it’s fine to start with what is doable now, with the goal to build on it in the future.”
Headliners for this year’s festival include Boney M and Squeeze, alongside a vibrant lineup on the GreenFox Energy Stage with standout performances from Laurie Wright, Forgetting the Future, and Pistol Daisys.
Festival goers can also plug into the movement by showing their Party at the Palace ticket to get 15% off solar installations with GreenFox Energy*.
Brits take a nostalgic look back to the 80s on Live Aid’s 40th anniversary
Survey reveals Brits’ most-loved 1980s songs, shows and memories.
Research also reveals average ticket prices for concert-goers have increased by over 500%.
Simple pleasures like ‘being able to call the doctor directly’ and ‘life without social media’ are much-missed.
Research* conducted by Ambassador Cruise Line has stepped back in time encouraging Brits to reflect on their favourite cultural moments from the 80s and reveal what they miss most about the era.
To mark the 40th anniversary of Live Aid on 13 July 2025, the affordable quality cruise line – which is staging a six-night Summer of ‘85 Revisited tribute cruise departing Bristol on Sunday# – asked the nation to share their thoughts on the music, TV and memories that defined a generation*.
From Wham! to Woolworths, caravan holidays to cassette tapes, the results paint a vivid picture of a decade that continues to resonate deeply with the Great British public.
From the silver screen to the radio waves, the 1980s delivered an explosion of creativity that people still just can’t get enough of. When asked to name their favourite entertainment from the era, responses from Brits read like a ‘who’s who?’ of zeitgeist-defining pop culture.
Going for a Song
13 July 2025 is set to mimic 13 July 2025 with blue skies and soaring temperatures, but when it comes to the nation’s most beloved 80s track by a British or Irish artist, it’s Christmas all year round with Wham!’s ‘Last Christmas’ named the UK’s favourite song according to the research.
There was a four-way tie for second place in the 80s Top 10, with ‘In The Air Tonight’ by Phil Collins – famed for playing both the Wembley and Philadelphia Live Aid shows – followed by Queen’s ‘A Kind of Magic’, taken from the Album of the same name after a Live Aid-driven ‘renaissance’; Bonnie Tyler’s ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’ (originally written for Meat Loaf); and Chris de Burgh’s ‘Lady in Red’ taking up the remaining spots.
The Nation’s Favourite 80s Songs
1
Wham!
Last Christmas
1984
2
Phil Collins
In the Air Tonight
1981
3
Queen
A Kind of Magic
1986
4
Bonnie Tyler
Total Eclipse of the Heart
1983
5
Chris Be Burgh
Lady in Red
1986
6
Band Aid
Do They Know It’s Christmas
1984
7
George Michael
Careless Whisper
1984
8
Pet Shop Boys
West End Girls
1986
9
Dexys Midnight Runners
Come on Eileen
1982
10
Queen & David Bowie
Under Pressure
1981
TV Gold
On the small screen, the antics of everyone’s favourite wheeler dealers in Only Fools and Horses reigned supreme, with long-running perennial staples like Doctor Who and EastEnders following closely behind.
Gender preferences revealed that men leaned toward action and bawdy comedies like The A-Team and Blackadder, while women preferred dramas and music-based shows like EastEnders and Top of the Pops.
The Nation’s Favourite TV Show of the 80s
1
Only Fools and Horses
1981-2003
2
Doctor Who
1963-1989; 2005-present
3
EastEnders
1985-present
4
Blackadder
1983-1989
5
The A-Team
1983-1987
6
Top of the Pops
1964-2006
7
Dad’s Army
1968-1977
8
The Young Ones
1982-1984
9
Grange Hill
1978-2008
10
The Two Ronnies
1971–1987
Firm Film Favourites
The survey found that the magic of 80s movies hasn’t faded one bit over the last 40 years. Brits are still having the time of their lives with Dirty Dancing (1987), dubbing it their favourite film of the decade – with a notable 18% of women giving it top billing.
Action-packed blockbusters and feel-good favourites also made a strong showing, with Top Gun, The Karate Kid, E.T., Back to the Future and Die Hard proving that the 80s were a golden age for unforgettable storytelling, iconic characters and endlessly quotable lines.
The Nation’s Favourite 80s Movies
1
Dirty Dancing
1987
2
The Karate Kid
1984
3
Top Gun
1986
4
Back to the Future
1985
5
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
1982
6
Die Hard
1988
7
Ghostbusters
1984
8
The Terminator
1984
9
The Goonies
1985
10
Beetlejuice
1988
Live Aid Memories: Who Wants to Live Forever?
With Live Aid celebrating its 40th anniversary, the survey asked the British public which moment from the day that ‘rock and roll changed the world’ they’d most like to experience again. The most common responses included ‘Status Quo opening it with ‘Rockin’ All Over The World’; ‘Phil Collins on Concorde’; Paul McCartney performing ‘Let it Be’; David Bowie singing ‘Heroes’; and last, but not least, ‘Bob Geldof’s sweary rant’.
However, it will come as a surprise to absolutely nobody that Queen’s ‘electrifying’ performance ‘which showed other bands how to play to a live crowd’ topped the poll by a considerable margin. ‘Freddie had the audience in the palm of his hand’ just about sums up the responses, making it clear there’s one band (and more specifically, one moustachioed maestro often cited as the greatest frontman to have ever lived) that people just can’t break free from…
Top Ten Live Aid Moments – Quotes
1
One of the best live displays ever – the Queen performance and Freddie Mercury having 100,000 people in the palm of his hand. Awesome!
2
Status Quo opening it with Rockin’ All Over the World
3
Bob Geldof’s sweary rant
4
The sense of togetherness for my family and friends
5
When Phil Collins performed in the UK then flew to the USA and performed there
6
The enjoyment of all the bands coming together for the good of others
7
Paul McCartney singing Let It Be
8
U2 – Bono was brilliant!
9
David Bowie’s magnificent set and his emotional rendition of ‘Heroes’ – simply amazing
10
The incredible amount of money raised for a good cause
Counting the Cost of Legends Live
With many Live Aid performers still touring today, Ambassador compared their ticket prices from the 1980s to the 2020s, and the results are staggering.
The comparison shows just how far the music industry has come – and how the era-defining acts of the 80s are still as relevant and popular today as they were 40 years ago, even if a ticket to see them play live has soared in price!
1980s Ticket Prices:
Queen (1986 – Wembley) – £25
U2 (1987 – Joshua Tree Tour) – £15
Genesis (1986 – Invisible Touch Tour) – £15-£20
Madonna (1987 – Who’s That Girl Tour) – £15
Paul McCartney (1989/90 – The Paul McCartney World Tour) – £20
Phil Collins (1985 – No Jacket Required Tour) – £15
Dire Straits (1985 – Brothers in Arms Tour) – £16
Duran Duran (1984 – Sing Blue Silver Tour) – £12
The Rolling Stones (1982 – Tattoo You Tour) – £18
Simple Minds (1985 – Once Upon A Time Tour) – £12
2020s Ticket Prices:
Queen + Adam Lambert (2023 – The Rhapsody Tour) – £100+ – 300% increase
U2 (2023 – The Sphere Tour) – £120 – 700% increase
Genesis (2022 – The Last Domino? Tour) – £80+ 355% increase
Madonna (2023 – Celebration Tour) – £150+ – 900% increase
Paul McCartney (2024 – Got Back Tour) – £110 – 450% increase
Phil Collins (2023 – Not Dead Yet Tour) – £85+ – 467% increase
Dire Straits (2023 – Mark Knopfler Tour) – £100 – 525% increase
Duran Duran (2023 – Future Past Tour) – £75 – 525% increase
The Rolling Stones (2022 – No Filter Tour) – £130 – 622% increase
Simple Minds (2022 – 40 years Of Hits) – £70 – 483% increase
(Prices based on average tickets with two time periods compared to find mean percentage increases)
Get Back! (to where we once belonged…)
Last, but by no means least, when asked what aspects of 1980’s life they’d most like to bring back to today, Brits overwhelmingly longed for the simplicity and personal connections we enjoyed ‘back in the day’.
The most missed element of daily life was the ability to call the doctor directly to book an appointment, cited by 37% of respondents. This was closely followed by a desire to return to a time of greater respect for elders (34%) and life without the pressures of social media (33%). Nostalgia for the high street was also strong, with 29% wishing for the return of staples like Woolworths.
The survey also revealed a deep affection for holidays in the 1980s, which many respondents described as “simple,” “cheaper,” and “more family-focussed.”
Caravan parks, Butlins, and classic UK beach breaks were frequently mentioned, evoking memories of a slower pace and stronger sense of togetherness.
One respondent recalled “less faff in airports, less pressure to ‘go places’,” while another opined, “We loved caravan holidays. We actually spoke to each other.”.
Members of the public are being encouraged to stay safe in the sun as warm weather is expected this weekend.
Thousands will be attending TRNSMT, and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) is asking festivalgoers to ensure they are protected from the sun, stay hydrated, and look after both themselves and others.
Common health conditions during nicer weather can include sunburn, food poisoning, bites or stings.
For those heading to TRNSMT, travel-sized sunscreen and collapsible water bottles (500ml or smaller) are permitted.
Medication is also allowed but must be clearly labelled in its original packaging and limited to a one-day supply. Sunglasses and a hat or cap also protect against the sun.
At the festival there are first aid points, a wellbeing area, welfare spaces, and a Welfare Team.
For those also planning to enjoy the weather outside, NHSGGC also emphasised the importance of keeping essential items, such as over-the-counter medicines, a first aid kit, and an ice pack to help manage minor cuts, bruises, sprains, and strains.
If you’re planning a barbecue, take care to avoid food poisoning by ensuring food is cooked thoroughly and hygienically.
NHSGGC’s Top Tips for the Weekend:
Sunburn and sunstroke – Always cover up in the sun to protect yourself and your family from burns and heat exhaustion. This includes wearing a high-factor sunscreen, appropriate clothing, and spending time in the shade.
Medicines – Ensure you have over-the-counter medicines available for common illnesses, including paracetamol or ibuprofen, remedies for bites and stings, and antihistamines for allergies.
First aid – Keep a first aid kit in your home with plasters, bandages, and antiseptic wipes for cuts, as well as an ice pack for minor strains or sprains.
Food poisoning – Barbecuing can lead to food poisoning if it is not done correctly. Ensure meat is cooked thoroughly and evenly and keep cooked and raw food separate.
For those requiring support or medical treatment for non-life-threatening conditions, there is a range of services available to help, and NHSGGC continues to ask people to ‘think ABC’ before attending A&E:
Ask yourself: Do I need to go out? For information on keeping yourself well and treating minor illnesses and injuries from home, visit the NHS Inform website or download the NHS24 app.
Be aware: There is help for many conditions right on your doorstep. Your local GP, pharmacy, dentist or optician offer a range of services. This could include directing you to a Minor Injuries Unit or arranging an appointment for you with NHSGGC’s Virtual A&E Flow Navigation Centre.
Call 111: If it’s urgent, or you’re not sure, call NHS 24 on 111. They’ll make sure you get the help you need.
If you believe your condition or injury is urgent or life-threatening, please call 999 or attend A&E immediately.
Dr Emilia Crighton, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s Director of Public Health, said: “This weekend is looking like a great time to get outside for warmer weather.
“No matter what you’re doing, please enjoy the good weather safely by protecting yourself when in the sun, staying hydrated, and having common medicines to hand.
“We know tens of thousands of people will be heading to TRSNMT, and we hope everyone has a fantastic time. We ask festivalgoers to look after themselves and others so everyone can enjoy the event safely.
“For those who do require medical support this weekend, we want people to be aware that there are many services available to them other than emergency departments.
“By using NHS 24’s digital resources and through 111, people who need care can be seen by the most appropriate staff in the most appropriate setting.
“We ask everyone to think ABC before A&E. This will ensure you get the right care in the right place, will help reduce waiting times, and free up capacity for those who need it most.”
Amazon launches the Regional Creatives Fund, offering multiple grants of up to £30,000 for charities in Edinburgh and around the UK which focus on upskilling people for careers in creative industries.
Grants are available for charities in Edinburgh which run programmes aimed at boosting skills and increasing access to creative industry careers in gaming, publishing, fashion, film, advertising, TV, and music.
The fund is open for applications today from single charitable organisations and consortiums in Edinburgh and across the UK. Applications close on 31st August 2025.
Amazon today launches the Regional Creatives Fund, offering grants of up to £30,000 to UK charities that develop creative industry career pathways.
The Regional Creatives Fund is open to organisations in Edinburgh and across the UK that help underserved communities access careers in publishing, music, gaming, film, TV, fashion, advertising, and more.
The aim of the Regional Creatives Fund, which aligns with the Government’s recently announced Creative Places Growth Fund, is to increase access to careers in the creative industries for people from underserved communities.
The fund is open for applications from single charitable organisations and consortiums based in the same region that are currently running impactful skills projects and are seeking additional funding to scale, sustain, or innovate their efforts.
Applications for up to £30,000 can be made by individual organisations that meet eligibility criteria, while consortium applications for up to £100,000 are also available. Regional Creatives Fund grants will give charities with existing creative upskilling programmes the flexibility to address their most pressing needs.
Applications are open for small to mid-size organisations who are registered charities in the UK[2]. Applicants must currently be running a programme that focuses on upskilling people from underserved communities for careers in creative industries.
Increasing access to creative industries
Creative Access, the UK’s leading inclusivity organisation in the creative industries, defines underserved communities as a population proven to be under-represented in the sector.
A study from The Sutton Trust, the UK’s leading social mobility charity, shows that many people, particularly those who identify as ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, neurodivergent individuals, and people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, continue to face significant barriers to entering and progressing in the UK’s creative industries.
Research released by The Sutton Trust found that younger adults from working-class backgrounds are four times less likely to work in the creative industries compared to their middle-class peers. Data from Arts Council England shows only 9% of the creative workforce identifies as disabled, compared to 22% of the general working-age population.
Applicants must be able to demonstrate that the fund will be used to expand or continue an existing, impactful programme. Examples of programmes that a Regional Creatives Fund grant can be used for include funding for placements in game development studios, music production training, and portfolio development for future advertising creatives.
Grants will be awarded by an independent judging panel. The panel includes senior leaders from Amazon, The National Theatre, the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, Help Musicians, and Music Minds Matter.
Funding applications will be assessed across five key areas. Strong proposals will reflect the fund’s spirit with energy, optimism, and a clear creative purpose; deliver real impact through skills, access, and industry links; show a smart, achievable plan with confident delivery; centre inclusion by amplifying underrepresented voices; and build on existing programmes to grow what’s already working.
More information on the judging criteria is available here.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: “I want every young person to have the opportunity to build a successful career within the creative industries, which is one of this country’s greatest assets.
“Whether it’s in film, TV, gaming, fashion or music, we have so much homegrown talent and I am delighted that the Regional Creatives Fund will help shine a spotlight on that right across the country helping people contribute to our national story.
“Alongside our Creative Industries Sector Plan this new fund will help to support growth in these fast-growing sectors by preparing the next generation of creatives to tell our national story on the world stage.”
Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, Chair of the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee and RCF Board Member added: “The creative industries are one of the UK’s greatest success stories, but for too long access to careers in this sector have been limited by social and economic barriers.
“Amazon’s Regional Creatives Fund is exactly the kind of initiative we need – offering substantial grants and practical support to help level the playing field.
“By supporting local charities with both funding and industry expertise, this programme will help unlock creative talent across our communities and ensure the UK’s creative sectors truly reflect the diversity of our society.”
“Amazon has been a passionate supporter of creative industries in the UK for many years and the Regional Creatives Fund will supercharge that support in Edinburgh and across the country,” added Paul Firth, Director, Global Music Industry, Amazon Music.
“The aim of the Regional Creatives Fund is to help charities amplify the reach of existing programmes that support pathways to careers in the creative industries. We understand talent is everywhere, but access isn’t, and we’re working to change that. Through the Regional Creatives Fund, we want to help create a future where creativity belongs to everyone.”
Amazon has invested over £4.2 billion in the UK’s creative industries since 2010, with over 2,000 people permanently working across our Film and TV, music and audio, books and publishing, fashion, and gaming businesses, and supporting 16,000 additional jobs.
Amazon’s creative industries footprint extends across the entire UK: from acquiring the historic Bray Film Studios in Berkshire last year, which will house the production of the next season of Citadel; to the long-term contract with Shepperton Studios for exclusive use of new state-of-the-art production facilities at the Surrey studios where The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is currently filming; Guy Ritchie’s Young Sherlock in Wales; Harlan Coben’s Lazarus in Manchester; productions at First Stage Studios and Leigh Studios in Edinburgh; and multiple productions on location in and around London such as the live action movie Masters of the Universe.
The Amazon Literary Partnership has been awarding grants to inspiring non-profit literary organisations, writing centres and community engagement programmes groups since it was first launched in the UK six years ago.
While each has a different focus, all have a shared goal of uplifting and offering opportunities to aspiring writers at any stage of their creative journey, and empowering those from underrepresented communities to experience and contribute to the magic of storytelling through the written word.
Amazon Music is committed to expanding access to UK music talent through a series of targeted initiatives. Partnerships with organizations including the BRIT Trust, Amplify, and the Association for Independent Music support new creative professionals entering the industry.
The Step-Up Fund, a collaboration with the Featured Artists Coalition, will launch its fourth year in 2025. This fund provides financial support to emerging independent artists by offering development grants.
Since its inception, Step-Up has distributed £250,000 to more than 30 UK musicians, including both bands and solo artists across multiple genres. These grants enable artists to fund new recordings, touring costs, marketing campaigns, PR activities, video production, and content creation.
As part of its global strategy to shape a more inclusive audio-storytelling industry, Audible is partnering with multiple institutions in the UK to support creative development programmes, from funding scholarships and classes at the London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art (LAMDA), to sponsoring the Barbican Young Poets Program and Women’s Prize for Fiction Discoveries Programme.
To find out more about the Regional Creatives Fund, visit:
