34 UK disabled artists and companies receive over £715K in funding from Unlimited

Artists who will receive funding this year work in the artforms of music, theatre, combined arts, dance visual and live art, with this round, also supporting opera, literature, zines, technology and work for young audiences and in rural locations. The selection criteria requires that projects are disability-led and show quality, innovation and ambition to develop new artistic work. Artists funded live throughout the UK, resident in Scotland, Wales and England.

Unlimited's main aim is to commission disabled artists and companies to make exceptional work. In this round, 468 artists applied and 77 artists were shortlisted.

The awards in statistics:

●          34 awards with 17 of these awards in collaboration with partners.

●          11 Emerging awards, 13 Research and Development awards, 8 Main Commission awards and two strategic commissions have been awarded.

●          £717,490 awarded

●          67% of artists have never been funded by Unlimited before

●          32% of awards are going to artists of colour

●          24% of funds awarded are going to Midlands-based artists, 21% to those based in London, 18% South West England, 12% North of England, 10% Wales, 9% Scotland and 6% South East England.

●          46% of funds are going to combined arts, 15% theatre, 11% visual arts, 7% literature, 5% music, 3% dance, 13% other (including music theatre, environmental sound art)

One of Unlimited’s core aims is to embed disabled artists within the cultural sector, and we do this through our partnerships. Unlimited is funded by Arts Council England, Arts Council of Wales and Creative Scotland and, for this commissions round, we have partnered with Artsadmin, Bagri Foundation, Coventry City of Culture Trust, Farnham Maltings, Museum of the Home, Sage Gateshead, Southbank Centre, Pentabus, Polka Theatre, The Art House and Wellcome Collection. Unlimited also partnered with the David Toole OBE Bursary to support a project by an emerging dancer, received this round by Laura Fisher.

Explore all the supported commissions on Unlimited’s website.

Jo Verrent Senior Producer at Unlimited said: “It feels important at this time, when many artists and companies have been stopped from touring and sharing work, to keep commissioning artists, even if we are unsure of what shape the cultural sector might be in when these works will be due to bloom. We’ve done our bit. Now it’s up to the cultural sector of the world to help support, develop and share these artists and their ideas. And not just those we have awarded, but all those we have shortlisted too – there is a lot of great work here ready to be picked up, funded and experienced.”

Diane Hebb, Director of Arts Engagement at Arts Council of Wales said: “The Unlimited Commissions programme is central to our work in Wales, in providing dedicated support to and raising the profile of disabled artists as well as shining a spotlight on the huge range of exciting work created across the UK. We’re thrilled to be a part of this hugely successful programme and have seen the impact the programme has had for Wales-based disabled artists continue to strengthen and grow over a number of years. The Unlimited Commissions play an important part in supporting our commitment to promoting equality and inclusion across the arts sector.”