The ‘Inspire’ fund will enable a wide range of organisations to apply for Lottery funding to support the Scottish Arts Council’s aims of providing more, wider and better engagement with the arts.

There is no minimum or maximum funding level set but the projects must be for the public benefit and demonstrate lasting outcomes to inspire arts, practice and people.

Jim Tough, acting chief executive at the Scottish Arts Council said: “The launch of the Inspire fund is an exciting opportunity for organisations to unleash their creativity and develop projects which will inspire and encourage the people of Scotland to take part in the arts.

“The flexibility of the new fund will allow us to support the new and innovative and we hope to encourage collaborative creative exchanges and new partnerships to ensure more, wider and better participation. I look forward to seeing some of the exciting project proposals that we receive.”

Culture Minister Linda Fabiani also welcomed the announcement saying,: “Culture has the intrinsic power to evoke joy, inspiration and fulfilment. That is why the Scottish Government is committed to widening access and participation to culture for everyone in Scotland, and has a manifesto commitment to do just that.

“I am particularly excited about the flexibility of this new Inspire fund, which will cultivate the best of Scottish arts, allowing creativity to flourish and reaching out to those not normally engaged in the arts. I would encourage all those with an interest in culture to come forward with imaginative proposals which will inspire and add colour to our culturally cosmopolitan landscape.”