A set of artist bursaries and funds for permanent works of public art are among the new funding schemes unveiled by Creative Scotland.

The national arts body, which distibutes £80 million a year in Government and National Lottery cash, is revamping its funding after a year of controversy in 2012 over its policies.

One of the key criticisms of Creative Scotland was that the language surrounding its funding pots were unclear and artists often did not know which grant they could apply for.

The revisions of funding streams includes a new set of simplified artist bursaries, worth between £5000 and £30,000, for those who "demonstrate a high level of quality, imagination and ambition in their work".

This programme will be formally launched at the end of April and are open to artists of all kinds in any stage of their career, with a total funding pot of £1.45m.

Creative Scotland will also have a new fund for "significant, permanently site public artworks", which will be launched later this year. In other changes, applications for the international fund has been streamlined with two types of funding, rather than four.

Artists applying for professional development funds are no longer required to find 10% of the funds themselves. Also, applicants applying to the professional development fund will be notified of the decision within eight weeks.

The "quality production" fund now has three set deadlines – in July, October and January.

Funding for traditional arts activity has increased to £500,000 from £250,000 in 2012/13 and this could be increased again for 2013/14.

In the meantime, traditional artists – storytellers, traditional musicians, traditional dancers, and crafts people – are being urged to apply for funds from Professional Development or Artists Bursaries.

Creative Scotland is currently seeking a chief executive following Andrew Dixon's decision to step aside after a period of controversy and crisis at the body.

Yesterday, the fourth Open Session of discussion about the future of Creative Scotland was held at the Eden Court Theatre in Inverness.