The Macrobert Arts Centre in Stirling has received a £33,358 boost from the National Lottery Community Fund to produce a youth-led festival over the next two years.
Grant details and festival timeline
The venue successfully secured a grant of £33,358 delivered over the next two years as part of the National Lottery's Young Start funding. The money will support the creation of FutureMade Fest, which will take place in 2027 and 2028. Planning is set to begin in August, with a day festival in 2027, expanding to a weekend-long event in summer 2028.
Youth-led design and delivery
FutureMade Fest will see young people aged between 13 and 18 from a range of backgrounds design, develop, and deliver the festival. They will organise activities, workshops, and performances for people across the Forth Valley. Participants will learn new skills like project management and marketing while connecting with community organisations, creating a space where voices are heard.
Quotes from key figures
Lisa Robertson, development manager at Macrobert Arts Centre, said: “Being awarded this funding is absolutely fantastic. Receiving this support from the National Lottery’s Young Start fund over the next two years will allow us to focus fully on making FutureMade Fest everything we want it to be. We have a wonderful opportunity to help participants thrive, and I can’t wait to see the ideas and innovations the young people come up with.”
Kate Still, Scottish chair of the National Lottery Community Fund, added: “By supporting children and young people through a range of creative and practical projects, our Young Start grant holders can help them to shape their present and their future for the better.”
How to get involved
Anyone aged between 13 and 18 interested in being part of the Macrobert Festival Development Group can email creativeactivities@macrobertartscentre.org.
