The Edwin Morgan Trust is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation. It was established in 2012 to administer the generous Award which the poet wished to create from the earnings of a long and distinguished writing career. His practical encouragement of young Scottish poets through this legacy is typically forward-looking.

The Open the Doors Fund is a new small grants scheme inspired by the words of Edwin Morgan:

Open the doors!
Light of the day, shine in;
Light of the mind, shine out!

With grants of up to £1,000 available, we hope to open doors for poets and translators looking to develop their practice or requiring time and/or resources to bring a project to life. The fund is designed to cover the costs of activities that contribute to professional or creative development, with applications invited twice a year. Please note that this funding scheme is open to individuals only – we’re unable to accept applications from, or on behalf of, organisations. 

The deadline for applications is Monday 10 November at 5 p.m.

GUIDELINES

Who can apply

You are eligible if:

• You are aged 18 or over
• You are applying as an individual
• You are a poet and/or translator
• You are based in Scotland  

We particularly welcome applicants from those who have faced barriers to accessing funding or creative opportunities. 

What we will fund 

Examples of eligible expenses:

• Travel to attend a residency, festival, event, or research location 
• Accommodation during a writing or creative retreat
• Childcare fees to enable creative time 
• Material or access costs linked to a specific opportunity
• Fees for mentors, collaborators, or advisors 
• Support for your own time to plan, write, or work on a specific creative project 

What we will not fund

• Tuition fees for university or college courses 
• Promotion or marketing activities
• Activities already completed (i.e. retrospective funding)

How to apply

Complete the Open the Doors Fund application form. You will need to provide:

• A brief bio
• A summary of what you plan to do with the funding and how this will support your professional/creative development
• A breakdown of costs
• Optional supporting materials (e.g. CV, samples of work)

Applications will be reviewed by The Edwin Morgan Trust. We aim to notify all applicants within 4 weeks of the deadline. Successful applicants will be asked to sign a short agreement, use the funds within 12 months of receipt, and submit a short reflection to the Trust after completing the funded activity.

If you have any questions about the fund or the application process please contact the EMT Programme Manager, Pip Osmond-Williams: admin@edwinmorgantrust.com