Unlimited is partnering with 17 UK organisations to offer 20 awards to disabled artists. These awards will offer a grand total of £584,000 to commission artists on a national and international level.

As the world’s largest disabled arts commissioner, Unlimited have been supporting disabled artists since 2013. In April 2022, Unlimited became an independent organisation with a mission to commission extraordinary work from disabled artists until the whole of the cultural sector does. In its first year of becoming an independent organisation, Unlimited are doing things differently to dismantle barriers disabled artists face and to support systemic and sustainable change.

Today’s awards announcement will give disabled artists the chance to develop and present work across the country and/or internationally across rural and city locations, with a partner organisation for digital or in person, collective or individual experiences.

Cat Sheridan, Senior Producer, Unlimited: “It is incredibly exciting to be announcing over half a million pounds of commissioning money for disabled artists with a host of world-class partners this year. Our mission as a newly independent organisation is to challenge the cultural sector, change perceptions of disability and back disabled artists.  We cannot do that without working in partnership, and this year’s round of awards demonstrates not only national but international ambition and appetite for that change to happen. Disabled artists from right across the UK are invited to apply and I cannot wait to see the extraordinary work that is created.”

Partners based in England are Polka Theatre; Sage Gateshead; Wellcome Collection; Homotopia and Marlborough Productions; The Art House, Wakefield and LEVEL Centre; Barbican Theatre, Plymouth and Real Ideas; Southbank Centre and Bristol Ideas. In Wales: National Theatre Wales, National Dance Company Wales and Span Arts; and in Scotland: Eden Court, Inverness and An Tobar and Mull Theatre.

Mark Illes, Producer, An Tobar and Mull Theatre: “We are delighted to be partnering with Unlimited to offer disabled artists in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland the opportunity to create an outstanding piece of work inspired and informed by the remoteness of our Hebridean home. The unique experience of living and working in remote regions as a disabled artist is too often overlooked in our city-focussed cultural narrative and we hope that with this commission we’ll find a rare opportunity to centre artistic voices with intersectional experiences that will enrich the wider culture.”

The total commission pot of £584,000 sees generous funding from Arts Council England, Arts Council Wales, Creative Scotland and our 17 partners. This funding will then be split into 20 awards across those partners. This includes £280,000 directly from the British Council which will go towards international awards for artists. Award amounts range from £15,000 – £60,000 with the opportunity for artists to apply for awards that suit them, their art form, and what stage of development their work is currently in.

Neil Webb, Director, Theatre and Dance, British Council: “The world needs more collaboration now – I’m delighted the British Council’s long-standing relationship with Unlimited continues, which means we can fund more disabled artists to collaborate internationally with larger scale awards, building on the British Council Unlimited micro commissions we have supported over the pandemic. The UK has a global reputation for the quality, range and innovation of disability-led art – with these awards, we can harness that exceptional work and help it impact globally.”

Unlimited commission extraordinary work by disabled artists that is rebellious, radical, adventurous, inspiring, and playful. We believe in the power of disabled artists’ work to spark radical and positive change. Previous commissions have varied in artform and scale, ranging from debut albums, cookbooks, art installations, an interactive multimedia comic book, art set in swimming pools, dance, forest symphonies, theatre and much more. Together we are Unlimited, changing perceptions of disability, challenging the cultural sector to make more space for disabled artists through commissioning extraordinary artwork.

All the information on today’s award announcement and details on how to apply can be found here. Applications will open on Tuesday 4 October and close on Monday 31 October 2022.

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For more information or if you would like this press release in an alternative accessible format, please contact Maisie Burn, Communications Officer on maisie@weareunlimited.org.uk

NOTES TO EDITORS

ABOUT US

Unlimited is an arts commissioning body that supports, funds and promotes new work by disabled artists for UK and international audiences. Our mission is to commission extraordinary work from disabled artists that will change and challenge the world. Funded by Arts Council England, Creative Scotland, Arts Council of Wales, Paul Hamlyn Foundation and British Council, since 2013, Unlimited has supported over 460 artists with over £4.9 million reaching audiences of over 5 million making it the largest supporter of disabled artists world-wide.

OUR PARTNERS

An Tobar and Mull Theatre is a multi-artform creative hub on the Hebridean island of Mull. We commission, create and tour theatre, music and visual arts across Scotland and internationally. The work we make is shaped by the unique context of our island location and we prioritise projects that speak to the lived experience of our local audiences.

The Art House, Wakefield and LEVEL Centre

The Art House was founded and grounded in breaking barriers for those that need it. It supports the development of residencies, exhibitions, and projects with a strong focus on artists at the early-mid stages, or following career breaks, that often face barriers in life, with lived experiences of living in the margins or have been traditionally underrepresented.

LEVEL Centre celebrates the art that ‘difference’ makes, producing and promoting high quality contemporary work that is powerful and relevant. Pioneers in accessible digital practice and work with inspiring disabled creatives in visual, digital and performing arts from across the UK to support the creation of ground-breaking work.

Barbican Theatre, Plymouth and Real Ideas

Barbican Theatre is an NPO that has been a centre of excellence for emerging talent for 40 years Barbican is developing a new generation of digital and cross art form artists, movement specialists and international collaborations- Building Plymouth’s Creative Voice: Giving it a Platform.

Real Ideas run The Market Hall a world-class space for digital innovation and learning situated in the heart of Devonport, Plymouth, UK. It is home to a 15m diameter immersive dome, the first of its kind in Europe – the Market Hall offers experiences at the cutting edge of immersive tech. Open to everyone, the dome invites audiences to explore immersive realities without the need for a VR headset.

Bristol Ideas is a leading organisation for public debate and learning, bringing together arts and sciences to explore the key issues of our time.

British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide. We do this through our work in arts and culture, education and the English language. We work with people in over 200 countries and territories and are on the ground in more than 100 countries. In 2021-22 we reached 650 million people.

Eden Court is proud to be Scotland’s largest combined arts organisation. Eden Court present and make work with, by and for the people of the Highlands and Islands and those who visit.

Homotopia and Marlborough Productions with support from Attenborough Centre for Creative Arts and Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse

Homotopia is a Liverpool based arts & social justice organisation making a cultural impact through art and activism. Our aim is to support and platform local, national, and international LGBTQIA socially engaged artists and creatives.

Marlborough Productions is a catalyst for queer culture and community. Marlborough Productions are a leading UK producer of queer-led, intersectional performance, parties, heritage and radical community gatherings.

National Dance Company Wales creates ambitious, engaging dance work, taking Wales to the world and reflecting the world in Wales. We dream of a Wales celebrated as a nation passionate about dance and dancing, where dance is part of everyone’s life.

National Theatre Wales collaborate with people and places to make powerful, brave theatre inspired by the experiences and stories of Wales.  Since their inception as Wales’ English language theatre company, they have been bringing people together to reimagine and push the boundaries of what theatre can and should be.

Polka Theatre empower children to navigate their world through inspirational theatre and creative experiences. Polka theatre have re-imagined what a dedicated children’s theatre could and should be for young audiences and their families.

Sage Gateshead is an international music centre, deeply rooted in the North-East of England. We integrate classical and contemporary performance programmes, creative learning, and artist development with world-class facilities. We bring high-quality music to people’s doorstep, inspiring local talent. Through music we improve lives – socially, economically, educationally and in terms of health and wellbeing. We are for artists, for audiences, for the North-East and for the long term.

SPAN is a vibrant community arts charity based in Narberth, with a 30 year history of bringing the arts to rural Pembrokeshire. SPAN is driven by the core belief that the arts have the power to improve people’s lives and acts as an agent for Arts as Social Change in West Wales. SPAN are ambitious for the arts in Pembrokeshire to inspire & connect rural people, places and communities creatively.

Southbank Centre are the largest arts centre in the UK and one of the nation’s top visitor attractions. They seek out the world’s most exciting artists, from household names to fresh new talent, and give them space to showcase their best work.

Wellcome Collection is a free museum and library that aims to challenge how we all think and feel about health.  Through exhibitions, collections, live programming, digital, broadcast and publishing, we create opportunities for people to think deeply about the connections between science, medicine, life and art.  We are part of Wellcome, which supports science to solve the urgent health challenges facing everyone. Wellcome supports discovery research into life, health and wellbeing, and is taking on three worldwide health challenges: mental health, infectious disease and climate.

OUR FUNDERS

Arts Council England is the national development agency for creativity and culture. We have set out our strategic vision in Let’s Create that by 2030 we want England to be a country in which the creativity of each of us is valued and given the chance to flourish and where everyone of us has access to a remarkable range of high-quality cultural experiences. We invest public money from Government and The National Lottery to help support the sector and to deliver this vision. www.artscouncil.org.uk
Following the Covid-19 crisis, the Arts Council developed a £160 million Emergency Response Package, with nearly 90% coming from the National Lottery, for organisations and individuals needing support. We are also one of the bodies responsible for administering the Government’s unprecedented Culture Recovery Fund. Find out more at www.artscouncil.org.uk/covid19

The Arts Council of Wales is the country’s official public body for funding and developing the arts. Every day, people across Wales are enjoying and taking part in the arts. We help to support and grow this activity. We do this by using the public funds that are made available to us by the Welsh Government and by distributing the money we receive as a good cause from the National Lottery.

By managing and investing these funds in creative activity, the Arts Council contributes to people’s quality of life and to the cultural, social and economic well-being of Wales.

Creative Scotland is the public body that supports the arts, screen and creative industries across all parts of Scotland distributing funding provided by the Scottish Government and The National Lottery. Further information at creativescotland.com. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Learn more about the value of art and creativity in Scotland and join in at
www.ourcreativevoice.scot