Eligible applicants for the Cultural Business Development Programme (CBDP) include individuals working within or on behalf of organisations operating in Scotland’s arts and culture sectors.

This encompasses a wide range of organisations such as arts companies, cultural venues, galleries and creative businesses led by artists and makers who are structured as organisations rather than as sole traders.

All applicants must show how their work contributes to Scotland’s cultural landscape and how participation in the CBDP will enhance their organisation’s resilience, innovation or growth within the sector.

An organisational reference is required in all cases (except business owners).

The programme is open to individuals working in or on behalf of cultural organisations that are:

• Based in Scotland and/or

• Delivering meaningful impact within Scottish communities or the Scottish cultural sector

This programme is not a freelancer development programme. However, freelancers may apply if they can clearly demonstrate that:

• Their work is undertaken for, or in partnership with, an arts or culture organisation

• Their participation will contribute directly to organisational development, sectoral growth or community benefit in Scotland

Applicants submitting as freelancers must include a reference or sponsor statement from the organisation their proposal is connected to.

Participants must commit to attending all sessions within a single cohort. Transfers between cohorts will not be possible.

Each cohort will comprise up to 15 participants and be based around one of the following cities:

• Aberdeen

• Edinburgh

• Glasgow

Each 12-week programme includes:

• Two in-person sessions in the cohort’s city base (week 1 and week 12) to support peer learning and network development

• Ten online sessions, delivered via Zoom, Google Classroom and Miro, scheduled from 10:00 to 16:00 one day per week for 10 consecutive weeks

Support is available for participants who need to travel to in-person sessions.

Download the Call to see a detailed list of training dates.

Please note: Throughout the programme there are a series of expert speakers. Some will be in normal programme time others will be outside of the programme times as drop-in sessions. While attendance at drop-in sessions is not mandatory, it may offer additional benefit.
Further information will be circulated in advance of course commencement.

How to Apply

You will be asked to provide:

• Your name and contact details

• Details of the organisation you are representing

• The name and contact of an organisational sponsor or referee

• A short statement describing your organisation’s current contribution to the cultural sector in Scotland

• A short explanation of how your organisation’s involvement in the CBDP will accelerate its development, resilience or impact

• A brief reflection on how your personal participation will support your own professional growth and contribution

• Your preferred city-based cohort (Aberdeen, Edinburgh or Glasgow)

Applications can be submitted as text, audio or video file using the online form.

Yes.

This is a national programme and everyone working in cultural businesses and organisations is eligible to apply. The only thing the cohort base city defines is the location of the initial and final face to face meet up.

This does not limit participation to those cities. Anchoring to a city hub is intended to make in person networking more accessible and relevant.

The programme is supported by Creative Scotland so we are able to offer support for travel and related costs. Details will be shared with confirmed participants.

We encourage you to choose the cohort closest to you and/or that makes most sense for your work. 

For example, we’d expect participants based in Aberdeenshire and Moray to sign up for the Aberdeen cohort. 

Let us know in your application where you’re based and which cohort is your preference.

There is no fee to take part.

We have made efforts to make attendance cost-neutral 

• There is no fee

• For in person training sessions: reasonable travel costs can be reclaimed, and refreshments and lunch will be provided.

The only “cost” is the time commitment to attend all 12 sessions, as well as engage with preparation tasks. 

Information on travel support will be shared with confirmed participants.

People at all stages of their career have participated in our previous training programmes - from those entering the cultural sector to directors of national institutions.

While aspects of this training are most immediately useful to those in leadership, or in a position to implement operational and cultural changes in their organisation, the frameworks, tools, and techniques are proven to be useful to people at all stages of their careers.

If you have specific questions please get in touch.

The training sessions are led by Curated Place’s team of experienced tutors - producers and creative business leaders who also regularly facilitate creative professional development sessions in the UK and internationally.

Learning is supported by a consortium of industry experts, from across Scotland, the wider UK and internationally. The programme is intentionally international, allowing you to connect with local peers as well as those in places like North East England and the Nordic Region.

The format of each expert session will vary but we will ensure participants will have the opportunity to engage and ask questions. 

More details will be added here as the experts are announced.