Funding Opportunities

What is it?  

The Athenaeum Research Award offers up to £3,000 for academic staff to develop and broaden their research, arts practice, and networks, and encourage groundwork in early-stage ideas for ambitious and scalable research projects. The awards can be for a small single project or form part of a co-funded larger project. 

Am I eligible? 

To be eligible you must be an academic member of staff at the Conservatoire. You may have Significant Responsibility for Research and be an experienced researcher, or you may be in the early stages of your research career. Full-time and part-time staff can apply (though full-time staff members cannot apply for time-related costs). 

How do I apply? 

Please read through the Guidelines and Assessment Criteria and download the application and budget forms. You can then apply online via SurveyMonkey. You will need to upload your forms, along with a letter of support from your line manager. Incomplete applications cannot be assessed by the panel. Estimates and quotes must be provided alongside the budget. 

How is my application assessed? 

The Athenaeum Research Award will be assessed by the Research Committee which meets 3 times during the academic year. Proposal outputs and objectives of the project must meet high standards of research significance, originality and academic rigor. Click here to see the Assessment Criteria. 

You will be notified of the outcome within 10 days of the Research Committee meeting. 

What is it? 

The Athenaeum Engagement Award offers up to £5,000 and is intended to support staff projects with external partners. These awards can initiate early-stage work with new or existing partners, support work in new contexts and contribute to arts advocacy and policy development. The awards can be for a small single project or form part of a co-funded larger project. 

The Athenaeum Engagement Award will offer up to £5,000 in AY 24-25 given the present circumstances for independent artists in Scotland and due to an increase in internal funding for Knowledge Exchange this year. This is a new award replacing the Athenaeum Knowledge Exchange Award. 

Am I eligible? 

This award is for academic and professional services staff developing a partnership, or a project with an external partner. Both full-time and part-time staff can apply (though full-time staff members cannot apply for time-related costs).  

Partnerships eligibility: External partners can be new or existing collaborators, individuals or organizations. Please see the Guidelines for eligibility criteria.  

The Athenaeum Engagement Award aims to enable our staff to kickstart projects with their external partners and add value to the creative arts ecosystem. As such, we’re looking for our Athenaeum Engagement Awards to demonstrate some aspect of match funding from partners; this can be in cash or in kind and can include things like venues, recording studio time, or the time of your external partner (if they are an independent artist). As a guide we would expect to see at least 25% match funding towards our project costs. 

How do I apply? 

Please read through the Guidelines and Assessment Criteria, and download the application and budget forms. You can then apply online via SurveyMonkey. You will need to upload your forms, along with a letter of support from your line manager and a letter of support from your external partners. Incomplete applications cannot be assessed by the panel. Estimates and quotes must be provided alongside the budget. 

How is my application assessed? 

The Athenaeum Engagement Award will be assessed by a sub-group of the Engagement Committee. The decisions will then be ratified by the Engagement Committee, which will meet 3 times annually this academic year. Click here to see the Assessment Criteria. 

You will be notified of the outcome within 10 days of the Engagement Committee meeting. 

What is it? 

The Athenaeum Creative Health Award is a new specialist strand of Athenaeum Award which aims to support both research and engagement projects centered around Creative Health. Athenaeum Creative Health Awards are up to £3,000. 

Creative Health can be defined as a belief that art and creative expression have a profound influence on people’s wellbeing. It can also help to address health inequality and make for a better society. Creative Health can be understood as working creatively towards a healthier community, sustainable practices as a creative artist/practitioner, and raising the profile of Creative Health at the Conservatoire. 

Am I eligible? 

This award is for academic and professional services staff to develop a project. Both full-time and part-time staff can apply (though full-time staff members cannot apply for time-related costs).  

This award can be for either solo projects or collaborative projects with internal or external partners. The award does not require any match funding. Creative Health awards can support either early-stage, or more advanced, research and engagement projects.  

How do I apply? 

Please read through the Guidelines and Assessment Criteria and download the application and budget forms. You can then apply online via SurveyMonkey. You will need to upload your forms, along with a letter of support from your line manager. Incomplete applications cannot be assessed by the panel. Estimates and quotes must be provided alongside the budget. 

How is my application assessed? 

The Athenaeum Creative Health Awards will be assessed by a sub-committee, consisting of Professor Celia Duffy, Professor Laura González and Deborah Keogh, as the team leading on the Creative Health initiative in this academic year. The decisions will then be ratified by the Research Committee. Click here to see the Assessment Criteria. 

You will be notified of the outcome within 10 days of the Research Committee meeting. 

What is it? 

The Athenaeum Conference Presentation Award offers contributions of £500 towards your conference costs. If your conference costs are significantly higher and you feel your proposition will fit within the research award, you are welcome to apply for a research award instead. 

Am I eligible? 

For academic and professional services staff presenting a paper, chairing or participating in a panel, leading a discussion or a workshop at a conference. If none of the above apply you are not normally eligible. 

How do I apply? 

Please read through the Guidelines and Assessment Criteria and download the application and budget forms. You can then apply by emailing your forms to Gallia Young at keadmin@rcs.ac.uk. You will need to attach your forms, along with a letter of support from your line manager. Incomplete applications cannot be assessed by the panel. You do not need to provide a budget for the Athenaeum Conference Presentation Awards.

How is my application assessed? 

The Athenaeum Conference Presentation Award is a rolling fund which will be assessed by the chair of the Research Committee and will be ratified at the Research Committee, which meets 3 times annually. Click here to see the Assessment Criteria.

You will be notified of the outcome within 30 days of your application receipt.

What is it? 

The Athenaeum Sabbatical Award offers staff the opportunity to pursue professional development outside of their regular employment at RCS. The award can cover your time while you are on Sabbatical for up to 3 months.  

Am I eligible? 

To be eligible you must be an academic member of staff at the Conservatoire. You may have Significant Responsibility for Research and be an experienced researcher, or you may be in the early stages of your research career. Full-time and part-time staff can apply. 

How do I apply? 

We encourage applications at least 6 months in advance, to allow for planning. If you would like to apply for an Athenaeum Sabbatical Award, please contact the Research and Engagement Team (keadmin@rcs.ac.uk) ahead of application. 

Please read through the Guidelines and Assessment Criteria and download the application and budget forms. You can then apply online via SurveyMonkey. You will need to upload your forms, along with a letter of support from your line manager. Incomplete applications cannot be assessed by the panel. Estimates and quotes must be provided alongside the budget. 

How is it assessed? 

The Athenaeum Sabbatical Award will be assessed by the Research Committee which meets 3-4 times annually. Click here to see the Assessment Criteria. 

You will be notified of the outcome within 10 days of the Research Committee meeting. 

Applications are reviewed by the Research Committee, Engagement Committee, and the Creative Health sub-committee. The deadline for each round of awards is two weeks before the Committee Meetings. 

Applications are now open. Upcoming deadlines for AY 24-25 are: 

• Wednesday 5 February 2025 at 17:00 

• Wednesday 7 May 2025 at 17:00 

Please ensure you have read all Guidelines and included ALL of the information before applying. 

Application forms and specific criteria are below: 

• Athenaeum Award Guidance and Assessment Criteria
• Athenaeum Award Application Form
• Athenaeum Conference Presentation Application Form
• Athenaeum Award Budget Form
• RCS Employee Business Expenses Claims Policy and Procedures
• Athenaeum Award report template
• Athenaeum Conference Presentation Award report template

If you need any advice on your Award Application, the Research Team can provide mentoring and guidance. 

Please contact Gallia Young, the KE Development Assistant (g.young@rcs.ac.uk) if you would like to set up a meeting or a call 

Alternatively, you can attend the Research Clinics with Professor Laura González before the award deadline – details are circulated to staff in advance.