The Creative Minds Fund will support museums and organisations working with people experiencing mental health issues to create engagement opportunities. Projects will involve participants in creative activities related to the museum and its collection.
This fund aims to develop programming that includes and benefits people experiencing mental health issues. It also aims to strengthen relationships between Scottish museums and mental health organisations and increase the museum sector’s confidence and capacity to become more inclusive places.
This fund can support a wide range of costs for engagement programmes including costs for:
- Materials for activities
- Events
- Exhibitions
- Mental health training and support for participants and project team
- Museum and Heritage skills training for participants
- Marketing, communication and design costs
- Salary cost for new staff, additional staff time, and fees for freelancers
- Expenses and travel costs for project team and participants
Who can apply?
Accredited and non-accredited museums in Scotland. [terms apply for non-accredited museums] All museums must apply in partnership with an organisation which provides support or services to those experiencing mental health issues. The organisation must be a registered charity, Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO), public body or local authority. This partnership does not have to be new. Museums and mental health organisations that have existing partnerships are encouraged to apply. A partnership agreement between the museum and mental health organisation will be required as part of the application to the fund.
How to apply
If you are considering applying to the Creative Minds Fund, please get in touch with the grants team at [email protected] by the Expression of Interest (EOI) deadline. The grants team are happy to advise on all potential applications. Applicants who talk to MGS before application are more likely to be successful. Apply via application portal on website.
Closing date: 8 December 2026
