What you need to know
Background and purpose
The National Events Programme is one of EventScotland's core funds. The fund is designed to help deliver the National Events Strategy, Scotland The Perfect Stage. The fund also supports the strategic development of events. It has been created to support live public facing sporting and cultural events. These must take place outwith the local authority areas of Edinburgh and Glasgow. They must also drive domestic tourism within Scotland.
Positive impact
The National Events Programme is designed to support innovative new projects and activity at events. These elements will need to meet the programme criteria. Awards of between £5,000 and £25,000 are available to events. Events will need to align with the key impact areas outlined in our National Events Strategy. They must also have delivery budgets of more than £20,000 and attract over 1,000 in-person attendees and. Finally, they must showcase Scotland’s key event and tourism assets.
Events are assessed on their merits. The EventScotland team will look at ways the event will create a positive impact for the host region and Scotland as a whole. Events are assessed on their viability and event management experience as well as the five impact areas:
- Economic, tourism and business
- Brand, identity and reputation
- Media and profile
- Social and cultural
- Sustainability
An event's ability to deliver against these impacts will determine any EventScotland offer.
Application information
Round 49 for applications closed at 5pm on Wednesday 30 August.
Please email apply@eventscotland.org with any queries about the National Events Programme.
How to apply
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1
Read the guidance
Applicants to the National Events Programme should download and read the latest guidance and criteria. This was published in July 2023. This includes the embedded links to more guidance. It also includes a link to the National Events Strategy, Scotland The Perfect Stage.
National Events Programme 2023 - guidelines and criteria
Published July 2023
Guidelines and criteria for applying for funding through the National Events Programme 2023
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2
Submit an enquiry
Round 49 for applications closed at 5pm on Wednesday 30 August.
Please submit any other enquiries about this programme via our website. A member of the team will then be in touch.
Visit our funding enquiry page and submit your enquiry.
Please email any questions and queries to apply@eventscotland.org.
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3
Submit your application
Round 49 for applications closed at 5pm on Wednesday 30 August.
We asked applicants to complete step two before submitting an application. The EventScotland team would then be able to provide advice and the relevant application form.
Please note that there are no guarantees that an application will be successful. Each application will be subject to a thorough and competitive assessment process. There is a limited amount of funding available to divide.
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4
Meet the deadline
Round 49 for applications closed at 5pm Wednesday 30 August. This was for events taking place between 1 January to 31 March 2024 (inclusive).
Please email any questions and queries on this fund to apply@eventscotland.org.