Craft Scotland’s flagship learning and development programme, COMPASS: Emerging Maker Programme returns in 2025.
COMPASS: Emerging Maker Programme 2025 focuses on nurturing talent and equipping individual makers with the skills they need to create a successful and sustainable creative and business practice.
About the programme
COMPASS: Emerging Maker Programme 2025 takes a practical approach to nurturing a creative business through the early stages of development. The programme is due to start in March 2025.
The programme is delivered through a combination of online workshops, an immersive five-day residential, one-to-one sessions, specialist advice, peer learning, work critiques and mentoring. All participants will work with a mentor at the end of the programme. You will also be provided with resources to enhance your learning experience.
We have up to eight places available for a cohort of makers working supportively together through the programme. Participants will learn about finance, marketing, branding, selling effectively, developing resilience and a wide range of invaluable creative development skills.
See previous year's programmes and participants: COMPASS: Emerging Maker Programme 2023
Application Pack and Guidance
We recommend reading through the information provided before applying.
Full information about the programme, maker profile, eligibility, fees and fully funded places information is available in the Application Pack and Guidance.
>>> Download the Application Pack and Guidance (Opens PDF)
Alternative formats: Application Pack and Guidance
Who should apply?
We are looking for professional, practicing makers who have been in business between one and five years. You may be:
- A self-taught maker or one who has come to the profession via informal educational routes (community education, online learning, evening classes etc.).
- A graduate (of any subject/discipline).
- A maker moving into a craft profession later in life, or as a second career.
- A maker returning to a craft practice after a career break who wants to develop their business.
We are looking for makers living and working in Scotland who:
- Produce works of contemporary craft.
- Demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of materials, excellence in making (process and skill), and an artistic vision.
- Work within the materials/disciplines that Craft Scotland supports.
We are particularly interested in makers who would like to take their business to the next level and can demonstrate they have the potential, drive and ambition to do so.
How to apply
For guidance and further information on how to fill out your application check out our A Maker’s Guide to Applications article.
Applicants should apply through the Craft Scotland online application form.
Deadline for applications is 5pm, Tue 28 Jan 2025. Interviews will be w/c of Mon 17 Feb 2025.
Inclusion and Access for All
Craft Scotland believes craft is culturally significant, essential to our economy and meaningful to our communities. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to see, enjoy, learn about and participate in craft. We are committed to equality and opposed to all forms of unfair discrimination.
We welcome applications from those who are under-represented in the craft sector; including those who may be:
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Black, Asian, Mixed Heritage and/or a Person of Colour
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Have experience of displacement, such as refugees and asylum seekers
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Come from a disadvantaged socio-economic background
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identify as d/Deaf or living with a disability
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Identify as neurodivergent
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Identify as LGBTQIA+
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Have grown up in the care system
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Are currently a carer. A carer is defined as a person who provides unpaid care and support to a family member, friend or neighbour who is disabled, has an illness or long-term condition, or who needs extra help as they grow older.
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Are Gaelic or Scots speakers, or do not speak English as a primary language
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Live in geographic locations which may inhibit opportunities for engagement
We have a number of initiatives in place including the Guaranteed Interview Scheme, Dedicated Places (a small number of fully funded places) and Access Support to enable more people to take part in the COMPASS: Emerging Maker Programme.
See Application Pack and Guidance for more information.
Participant Costs
Successful applicants will be expected to pay a £350 participation fee (this includes contribution towards residential accommodation and programme delivery).
You may also, by prior agreement, pay the participation fee in three instalments.
We have a small number of fully funded places available for applicants who face financial barriers to participation. In these cases, we will waive the £350 participation fee. Any applicant can apply for a fully funded place on the programme. Priority for these places will be given to makers who also identify as part of the specified under-represented groups.
See Application Pack and Guidance for more information.
Support with your application and participation
Applying: This application pack is available in large print and simplified word formats, and we are happy to accept video submissions in lieu of written submissions. You can upload these in the application form.
Please get in touch if you require any assistance (such as Scribing) to complete your application or to attend an interview.
We can offer Scribing, which is when you talk through your answers with a member of the team, and they fill out the form on your behalf.
Please contact us before Fri 17 Jan 2025 to allow us time to assist you in advance of the closing date.
Participating: If you are interested in this opportunity but feel there are some barriers to participation, we have a small Access Support budget. Please get in touch before the application deadline.
See Application Pack and Guidance for more information.
You can contact Craft Scotland Programme Team via email at programmes@craftscotland.org.
About COMPASS
Craft Scotland’s dynamic learning and development programme, COMPASS, delivers tailored support for the craft sector. We want to support craft talent and equip individuals with the necessary skills to create a thriving creative and business practice. COMPASS approaches learning and development holistically exploring values and self-development topics alongside business subjects such as finance and marketing.
Originally launched in 2018 with a focus on makers, COMPASS has since expanded to also provide support for curators and craft professionals. It is a continuously evolving programme of support responding to the unique needs of the community, informed by industry experts and feedback from the sector. Current activity includes our year-long flagship Emerging Maker programme, free-to-access COMPASS: Online and pilot project supporting emerging craft curators.
Funders
COMPASS: Emerging Maker Programme 2025 is supported by the William Grant Foundation and Creative Scotland.
