5 December 2012 Last updated at 12:01 ET

Celebration fund for Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games

Grants of between £20,000 and £300,000 will be available

Artists, community-led groups and arts organisations are being invited to apply for grants from a £4m fund to celebrate the Commonwealth Games.

The 2014 cultural programme open fund will make awards ranging from £20,000 up to £300,000.

Successful proposals must demonstrate "a compelling connection to the games" such as the Queen's Baton Relay or to milestones such as "one year to go".

Projects can be new or existing schemes and either one-off events or festivals.

The fund is being backed by games organiser Glasgow 2014, Creative Scotland and Glasgow Life.

David Grevemberg, chief executive of Glasgow 2014, said: "We want passion and drama off the field of play - an exciting, ambitious and accessible programme of cultural events - to become a defining feature of how we host the games.

"Scotland's largest ever sporting and cultural event will be the perfect stage to showcase the creativity of the nation as we take Scotland to the Commonwealth and celebrate Commonwealth cultures on home soil."