News

Funded by The National Lottery through Creative Scotland, the Adapted Cultural & Creative Buildings Fund, 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 across Scotland remain usable, resilient and fit for purpose as climate conditions continue to change.

The demonstration fund is designed 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.

With a strong emphasis on experience and insight, 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.”

This new fund represents a significant opportunity for owner-organisations across Scotland’s cultural and creative sector to take practical steps on climate adaptation, protecting valued assets today while shaping a more resilient future.

Karen Ridgewell, Climate Emergency and Sustainability Lead from Creative Scotland, explained: “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.”

Successful projects will contribute to a growing evidence base on how cultural and creative infrastructure can adapt to climate risks that are already being felt, or are expected in the near future.

Grant funding will support the delivery of projects to be completed within the 2026 – 2027 financial year.

The deadline for completed applications is Wednesday 25 March 2026.