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Manifesto

Visual Arts Scotland is now a leading platform for national and international contemporary fine and applied artists. Originally an organisation for women artists, the society since the 1980s has championed craft makers, designers and applied arts practitioners, as well as contemporary fine art practice.

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Recent Highlights

Visual Arts Scotland Biennial Exhibition

The Thread That Pulls

The Thread That Pulls - “Happiness is temporary but interest is continuous.” – Georgia O’Keeffe Certain things tug at us over time. The thread is not a fixed object but a force: a line of curiosity, connection, or compulsion that loops...

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Why should I become a VAS Member?

BECOME A VAS MEMBER VAS Membership is available to all artists across Scotland and beyond (we have membership in Scotland, UK and internationally. We champion a wide range of visual and applied arts disciplines. You can be early in your career or a well established...

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Inches Carr Craft Development Award Shortlisted Artists

VAS is delighted to announce the shortlisted artists for our Inches Carr Craft Development Award. This award enables artists to develop their practice to a higher level, consider innovation and introduce new materials or techniques to their existing practice. We...

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VAS Artist & Maker Market at Dalkeith Palace & County Park

Scotland’s biggest contemporary art and craft market is set to debut in August 2025 at Dalkeith Palace and Country Park. With over 90 stalls spanning both the exterior and interior of Dalkeith Place, this artist and maker market will showcase the work of artsits...

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Open Submissions Closing soon for VAS Biennial at National Galleries Scotland, Edinburgh

Visual Arts Scotland are delighted to be returning to the Upper Galleries of the RSA building in Edinburgh from December 2025 to January 2026. The VAS Biennial is a continuation of over 100 years of exhibiting the work of both members and...

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Visual Arts Scotland Members - Holding Conversations Part Two - Open Call

Holding Conversations is an ongoing project that takes the form of an evolving touring exhibition. The project explores the intersection of visual art and contemporary craft, the two pillars of Visual Art Scotland's disciplines. Exhibition Dates: 10–21...

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Open Call for Artists & Makers: Future Folklore; The Art and Craft of Storytelling

Open Call for Artists & Makers: Future Folklore; The Art and Craft of Storytelling Maclaurin Art Gallery, Ayr | Presented by Visual Arts Scotland Deadline for submissions: 28th October 5pm | Submissions via...

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Open Call for Artists & Makers: Common Ground; the living landscape

Visual Arts Scotland - Common Ground; The living landscape - Kirkcudbright 2026 Open Submissions for Visual Arts Scotland's 2026 Kirkcudbright Art Gallery & Museum Exhibition   Exhibition Dates: Exhibition Dates:  Saturday 31st January 2026...

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Visual Arts Scotland (VAS) Graduate Showcase and Hidden Door Emerging Artists

EDGE OF MATTER Emerging Artist Showcase The Paper Factory, 1 Turnhouse Road, Edinburgh, EH12 8NP Exhibition dates: 26th - 28th September Gallery hours: Friday - Sunday 11:00 – 16:00 Private View: 25th September 17:00 – 19:00 - All welcome FREE...

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News

Visual Arts Scotland (VAS) Graduate Showcase and Hidden Door Emerging Artists

Visual Arts Scotland (VAS) Graduate Showcase and Hidden Door Emerging Artists

Sep 24th 2025
EDGE OF MATTER Emerging Artist Showcase The Paper Factory, 1 Turnhouse Road, Edinburgh, EH12 8NP Exhibition dates: 26th - 28th September Gallery hours: Friday - Sunday 11:00 – 16:00 Private View: 25th September 17:00 – 19:00 - All welcome FREE entry Nearest Tram and...

@VisualArtsScot on January 01st 1970 12:00am


about

Visual Arts Scotland is committed as a society to supporting and exhibiting a diverse range of contemporary Scottish art, in a wide variety of media.

About Visual Arts Scotland Council

Visual Arts Scotland is one of the few organisations that actively promotes and exhibits the work of contemporary visual and applied artists.

Support Us

Visual Arts Scotland is a charity registered in Scotland No. SCO 006715. We are not in receipt of any public or core funding and as such are entirely reliant on the support of the artistic community

Become a Member

We are committed as a society to supporting and exhibiting a diverse range of contemporary Scottish art, in a wide variety of media. Learn more about membership