The Scottish government, through Creative Scotland and the Scottish Futures Trust, has launched a new £400,000 pilot fund to help cultural and creative buildings across Scotland adapt to climate change. Supported by The National Lottery, the programme will provide grants of up to £80,000 per project, targeting 8–10 initiatives that address climate-related risks and ensure these important assets remain resilient, functional, and fit for purpose as environmental conditions evolve.
Designed as a demonstration fund, the programme focuses on practical, pathfinder projects that can be completed quickly while generating valuable insights to inform future investment decisions for Scotland’s cultural and creative estate. The emphasis is on projects that can deliver tangible results and provide transferable lessons for wider application across the sector.
Marc Cairns, associate director at the Scottish Futures Trust, highlighted that the fund aims to strengthen resilience in Scotland’s cultural places while generating actionable learning to protect these treasured assets for future generations. Similarly, Karen Ridgewell, Climate Emergency and Sustainability Lead at Creative Scotland, emphasized that this collaboration will provide a better understanding of the impact of climate change on creative and cultural infrastructure and support proactive adaptation measures.
Successful projects will contribute to a growing evidence base on how cultural and creative buildings can respond to current and anticipated climate risks. Funding will support initiatives completed within the 2026–2027 financial year, offering owner-organisations a unique opportunity to implement practical climate adaptation strategies while shaping a more resilient future for Scotland’s cultural sector.
Applications for the fund are open until Wednesday, 25 March 2026, and interested organisations can access the application form through the Scottish Futures Trust and Creative Scotland. The initiative represents a collaborative effort to safeguard Scotland’s creative heritage and infrastructure in the face of a changing climate.
