Small Grants Fund 2026 – an update from recipient Stuart Delves 

Stuart Delves is a playwright, poet and copywriter. He is currently events programmer and curator at Cornucopia Bookshop and Arts Venue in Hawick.  

Stuart wanted to develop characters for a new work based on Italo Calvino’s novellas Castle and Tavern of Crossed Destinies. He worked with director, Clare Prenton, and her Actors Studio group at Eastgate Theatre, Peebles. 

“The Small Grants Fund benefited my practice because I had not worked this way before. It enabled me to try a different approach to character development. It has given me confidence to apply for further funding, for example Creative Scotland’s Individual Open Fund. The support was more than financial, the assistance from Clare Prenton was extremely helpful and practical, just talking to a practioner who cared.  

I loved the collaboration of working with non-professionals, it gave me a freedom to observe a mixture of empowerment and suggestions. One member of the group helped develop a Spanish character, it has helped me explore the ethnic diversity of the piece.  

I already have the backing from Jason Moyes to stage the work at Heart of Hawick. I feel as if I have made connections, plugged into ‘the network’.”