Creative Soup returns for second helpings!

An innovative event supporting Fife’s creative community and promoting new business ideas is happening again.

Following the success of OnFife’s Creative Soup event in 2025, it is returning for second helpings early next year – and applications are being accepted now.

Creative Soup is a Dragon’s Den-type event that champions creativity. It invites people to pitch creative business ideas that could benefit from some funding and community support.

The public get involved by being members of the audience who vote for their favourite idea – and also get a bowl of soup in the £10 ticket price.

Creative Soup 2027 takes place in the Beveridge Suite of the Adam Smith Theatre in Kirkcaldy on 20 January, when participants will have four minutes to sell their idea to the audience. This will be followed by a question-and-answer session and voting.

The evening is open to anyone working within the creative field – writers, artists, graphic designers, actors, digital creators, craftspeople, inventors … the list is endless.

The event is organised by Create in Kirkcaldy, which holds open networking sessions held in the venue’s Design Suite when people of all ages and experiences come together to share their creative ideas and knowledge.

The winning idea will receive a cash prize funded from ticket sales from the event as well as support from Business Gateway Fife, with mentoring and guidance to help them develop their idea, while the runner-up will receive a £300 prize and business support and mentoring.

Last year’s winner, Abi Cooper, of Kirkcaldy, said:

"Winning Creative Soup allowed me to start my art vending machine business, something I had wanted to do for years, but had never had the money or support to do. Small Change Gallery is now real and after a successful pilot month in August, will be opening in January with loads of local artists. It feels amazing to be able to bring accessible and affordable art to Fife and I couldn't have done it without Creative Soup.

“I would tell anyone with a great business idea to give it a shot. I was so nervous pitching to the room but it was worth it in the end. Even if I hadn't been awarded the money, I still made loads of great connections."

Lewis Harrower, of Dunfermline, who won the People's Choice last year, said:

"Pitching Life in Fife at the Creative Soup showed me that people cared about my idea for a podcast and archive all about the people of Fife and that it was worth taking forward.

“Since winning the People's Choice award I've crowdfunded additional funds to make the idea a reality and am now in the process of building the website for the archive and recording the first series of the Life in Fife podcast. I'm excited to release the first series early next year."

So, if you think there’s a gap in the market for your idea, then this could be your big breakthrough.

Entrants must live and/or work in Fife, have attended at least one Create in Kirkcaldy event, be pitching a new business idea or direction within an existing business and have their entry in by midnight on 6 December.

Kate Pickering, Creative Instigator with OnFife, said:

“After the incredible success of last year's Creative Soup event, we're thrilled to be bringing it back. Creative Soup is community support at its best, with every ticket sale helping to fund the winning idea.

“It's an event that relies on people coming together to champion creativity, and that's what makes it so powerful. We'd love to build on last year's success and make this year's event a sell-out. I can't wait to hear the exciting ideas from creatives looking for support to turn their vision into reality.”

Find out more about the event and how to apply on the Creative Soup page on www.onfife.com.