Published: 25 Jul 2023
Aidan Moesby & Pum Dunbar's 'Fragmenting The Code(x)'. Photo Mairi Taylor
As the world’s largest disabled arts commissioner, Unlimited have been supporting disabled artists since 2013. Our mission is to commission extraordinary work from disabled artists that will change and challenge the world, until the whole of the cultural sector does.
Today’s awards announcement will give disabled artists the chance to develop and present work across the country and/or internationally. They are open to any disabled artists based in the UK to bring their ideas to life. Projects can be at any stage of development and across a wide range of artforms.
Cat Sheridan, Senior Producer, Unlimited: “We’re incredibly excited to be able to award £600,000 for this round of commissions. It comes with an open invitation for disabled artists to apply with their truly radical, ambitious, and original ideas across a whole range of artforms, sizes, and scales. We can't wait to discover what wonderful work this investment will support.”
Made possible with the support of Arts Council England, Arts Council of Wales, and Creative Scotland, we’re delighted to offer nine UK awards ranging from £15,000 - £80,000 to artists based in England, Scotland, or Wales. These awards will support the creation of extraordinary new work in the following artforms: drama, dance, music, visual arts, literature, and combined arts.
Pete Massey, Director North, Arts Council England: “Unlimited are changing the perception of disability and challenging the cultural sector by commissioning disabled artists, while also supporting people in all communities to express themselves creatively and experience arts and culture. I’m delighted that we are funding them as a National Portfolio Organisation and look forward to seeing the extraordinary work these awards will support.”
Amanda Loosemore, Portfolio Manager, Arts Council of Wales “Unlimited’s commissioning programme is crucial in providing dedicated support, raising the profile of disabled artists, and shining a spotlight on the huge range of exciting work created across the UK. We’re thrilled to be part of this here in Wales, and over several years the impact the programme has had for Wales-based disabled artists continues to strengthen and grow and plays a key part in supporting our commitment to promoting equality and inclusion across the arts sector.”
Stuart Cameron, Equalities & Diversity Officer, Creative Scotland “The Unlimited commissioning programme is once again providing an exciting opportunity for disabled artists across the UK and driving real change within the cultural sector. The platform they provide can catapult awardees into a successful career in the Arts and demonstrates to the rest of the sector how to challenge discriminatory practices and exclusionary attitudes, which sadly continue to be a barrier for disabled practitioners.
Thanks to National Lottery players, Creative Scotland is thrilled to be able to support the development of extraordinary commissions and open up this incredible opportunity for artists living and working in Scotland. We’d urge any Scottish disabled artist looking at the programme to seize the moment to bring ideas to life, to challenge perceptions, and change ways of working.”
In partnership with British Council, we’re offering five international awards for artists to form collaborations with a number of countries across the world. We will offer up to £50,000 per commission for artists to create new, exciting work across all artforms.
Neil Webb, Director Theatre & Dance, British Council: "The world needs to shift to create greater access and inclusion for disabled people and by supporting these awards through Unlimited, British Council can be part of that narrative of change. By focusing on countries that have historically had less access to exchange and support, we are delighted to find out what we can learn as well as what we can share from the practice of disabled artists.”
Unlimited commission extraordinary work by disabled artists that is rebellious, adventurous, inspiring, and playful. We believe in the power of this work to change and challenge the world. Previous commissions have varied in artform and scale, ranging from a theatre project exploring disabled LGBTQ+ experience in the Highlands of Scotland, a one-woman dance show inspired by Black hair culture, an immersive forest experience created in Brazil and the UK, and a circus performance devised by artists in the UK and Zimbabwe. We are excited to see what innovative creations disabled artists will bring to life this year.
Find out more about the award announcement plus details on how to prepare an application.
The application portal will open on Thursday 31 August 2023 and close on Monday 2 October 2023.
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 505 artists with over £5.8 million reaching audiences of over 5 million making it the largest supporter of disabled artists world-wide.
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. From 2023 to 2026 we will invest over £440 million of public money from Government and an estimated £93 million from The National Lottery each year to help support the sector and to deliver this vision. www.artscouncil.org.uk.
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.
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.
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.
Emily Simmons, Communications Officer
E: emily@weareunlimited.org.uk.
Mar an coimiseanair as motha ealain chiorramach, tha Unlimited air a bhith a’ toirt taic do luchd-ealain ciorramach o 2013. Tha e na mhisean dhuinn coimiseanan a thoirt seachad airson obraichean-ealain le luchd-ealain ciorramach a bheir atharrachadh air an t-saoghal agus a bheir dùbhlan dha gus an dèan an roinn chultarach air fad a leithid.
Bheir brath nan duaisean an-diugh cothrom do luchd-ealain ciorramach obraichean a dhealbhadh agus a thaisbeanadh air feadh na dùthcha agus/no air feadh an t-saoghail. Tha iad fosgailte do neach-ealain ciorramach sam bith san RA airson cothrom a thoirt dhaibh na beachd-smuaintean aca a thoirt am bith. Faodaidh pròiseactan a bhith aig ìre sam bith dhen dealbhadh aca agus air feadh raon farsaing de chruthan-ealain.
Cat Sheridan, Àrd-riochdaire aig Unlimited: Tha sinn air ar bioran gun urrainn dhuinn £600,000 a thoirt seachad sa chiad chuairt de choimiseanan. Tha cuireadh fosgailte do luchd-ealain ciorramach na lùib na beachd-smuaintean radaigeach, dian-thograch is tùsail aca ann am pailteas de chruthan-ealain, meudan is sgèilean a chur a-steach. Tha sùil mhòr againn ris na sàr obraichean a chuireas an t-airgead seo taic riutha.”
Le taic Comhairle nan Ealan ann an Sasainn is sa Chuimrigh agus Alba Chruthachail, tha sinn ro-thoilichte naoi duaisean a thoirt seachad san RA eadar £15,000 agus £80,000 do luchd-ealain a tha stèidhichte ann an Alba, sa Chuimrigh no ann an Sasainn. Cumaidh na duaisean seo taic ri obraichean iongantach ùra sna cruthan-ealain a leanas: dràma, dannsa, ceòl, na h-ealain lèirsinneach, litreachas agus na h-ealain cho-mheasgaichte.
Pete Massey, Stiùiriche na Roinn a Tuath, Comhairle nan Ealan ann an Sasainn: “Tha an dà latha a’ tighinn air mar a bheir daoine fa-near dhan chiorram an cois na nì Unlimited agus iad a’ toirt dùbhlan dhan roinn chultarach le bhith a’ toirt coimiseanan do luchd-ealain ciorramach agus, aig an aon àm, a’ toirt taic do dhaoine ann an coimhearsnachd sam bith iad fhèin a chur an cèill air dòigh chruthachail agus mothachadh fhaighinn air na h-ealain is cultar. Tha mi air leth toilichte gu bheil sinn a’ toirt maoineachadh dhaibh mar Bhuidheann le Cùram-roinne Nàiseanta agus tha mi a’ dèanamh fiughair ris na h-obraichean mìorbhaileach a bheir na duaisean seo taic dhaibh."
Amanda Loosemore, Manaidsear Cùraim-roinne, Comhairle nan Ealan sa Chuimrigh “Tha am prògram coimiseanaidh aig Unlimited air leth cudromach is e a’ toirt seachad taic shònraichte, a’ togail pròifil luchd-ealain ciorramach agus a’ cur na rainse anabarrach mòr de dh’obraichean a thathar a’ cruthachadh san RA fon phrosbaig. Tha sinn cho toilichte gun bheil sinne an seo sa Chuimrigh a’ gabhail pàirt ann agus tha a’ bhuaidh a th’ air a bhith aig a’ phrògram air luchd-ealain ciorramach a tha stèidhichte sa Chuimrigh a’ sìor neartachadh is a’ sìor fhàs agus tha e na phàirt ro-chudromach is sinne an dealas co-ionannachd is ion-ghabhaltas a bhrosnachadh air feadh roinn nan ealan.”
Stiùbhart Camron, Oifigear Co-ionannachd is Iomadachd, Alba Chruthachail “Tha am prògram coimiseanaidh aig Unlimited a-rithist a’ toirt cothrom togarrach do luchd-ealain ciorramach air feadh na RA agus a’ brosnachadh fìor atharrachadh san roinn chultarach. Tha iad nan àrd-ùrlar a chuireas na daoine a bhuannaicheas duais air cùrsa-obrach soirbheachail sna h-ealain agus a sheallas dhan chòrr dhen roinn mar a bheirear dùbhlan air dòighean-obrach leth-bhreitheach agus beachdan às-dùnaidh a tha, gu mì-fhortanach, nan cnapan-starra fhathast do luchd-ealain ciorramach.
Taing dha na daoine a chluich an Crannchur Nàiseanta, tha Alba Chruthachail air leth toilichte gun urrainn dhuinn taic a chur ri leasachadh de choimiseanan iongantach agus an cothrom do-chreidsinneach seo fhosgladh do luchd-ealain a tha a’ fuireach agus ag obair ann an Alba. Mholamaid gu mòr do neach-ealain ciorramach sam bith ann an Alba a tha a’ coimhead air a’ phrògram seo feum a dhèanamh de latha a’ chothruim is beachd-smuaintean a thoirt am bith, dùbhlan a thoirt air mar a tha cuid gar toirt fa-near agus na dòighean-obrach againn atharrachadh.”
Ann an com-pàirteachas le Comhairle Bhreatainn, tha sinn a’ tairgsinn còig duaisean eadar-nàiseanta do luchd-ealain airson co-obrachadh a dhèanamh le grunn dhùthchannan air feadh an t-saoghail. Bheir sinn seachad suas ri £50,000 an coimisean do luchd-ealain a tha airson obraichean ùra togarrach a chruthachadh ann an cruth-ealain sam bith.
Neil Webb, Stiùiriche Tèatair is Dannsa, Comhairle Bhreatainn: “Feumaidh sinn uile piseach a thoirt air so-ruigsinneachd is ion-ghabhaltas dhaoine ciorramach agus le bhith a’ toirt taic ris na duaisean seo tro Unlimited, is urrainn do Chomhairle Bhreatainn pàirt a ghabhail san iomairt atharrachaidh seo. Le bhith a’ cur cudrom air dùthchannan aig nach robh uiread a chothrom air eadar-mhalairt is taic gu h-eachdraidheil, tha sinn air leth toilichte nach bi dìreach cothrom againn fios a sgaoileadh mu phractas luchd-ealain ciorramach ach cuideachd gum bi cothrom ionnsachaidh na lùib dhuinn fhìn.”
Tha Unlimited a’ coimiseanadh obraichean mìorbhaileach le luchd-ealain ciorramach a tha reubalach, dàna, brosnachail agus sùgrach. Tha sinn a’ creidsinn gu bheil de chumhachd san obair seo a bheir dùbhlan dhan t-saoghal is a bheir atharrachadh air. Bha caochladh choimiseanan a thaobh meud is cruth-ealain againn roimhe, eadar pròiseact tèatair a thug sùil air mar a dh’èirich do dhaoine LGBTQ+ air a’ Ghàidhealtachd, taisbeantas dannsa aon bhoireannaich air a bhrosnachadh le cultar falt dhaoine dubha, coille làn-tumaidh ann am Braisil agus san RA agus taisbeantas siorcais a chaidh a dhealbhadh le luchd-ealain san RA agus san t-Sìombab. Tha sùil mhòr againn ris na rudan ùr-ghnàthach a chruthaicheas luchd-ealain ciorramach am bliadhna.
Thèid portal nan tagraidhean fhosgladh Diardaoin an 31mh latha dhen Lùnastal agus a dhùnadh Diluain an 2na latha dhen Dàmhair 2023.
Tha Unlimited na bhuidheann coimiseanadh nan ealan a bheir taic is maoineachadh do dh’obraichean ùra le luchd-ealain ciorramach agus a bhrosnaicheas iad san RA agus thall thairis. Tha e na mhisean dhuinn coimiseanan a thoirt seachad airson obraichean-ealain le luchd-ealain ciorramach a bheir atharrachadh air an t-saoghal agus a bheir dùbhlan dha. Le maoineachadh o Chomhairle nan Ealan ann an Sasainn, Alba Chruthachail, Comhairle nan Ealan sa Chuimrigh, Fonndas Paul Hamlyn agus Comhairle Bhreatainn, tha Unlimited air a bhith a’ cur taic ri còrr is 505 neach-ealain o 2013, barrachd air £5.8 millean agus a chunnaic barrachd air 5 millean de dhaoine, am buidheann-taice as mothe de luchd-ealain ciorramach àite sam bith san t-saoghal.
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An Luchd-Maoineachaidh Againn
’S e Comhairle nan Ealan ann an Sasainn am buidheann-gnìomha dealbhaidh nàiseanta airson cruthachalachd is cultar. Mar a mhìnich sinn san lèirsinn ro-innleachdail againn, “Let’s Create”, tha sinn airson ’s gum bi Sasainn na dùthaich far a bheil meas air a’ chomas chruthachaidh againn uile ro 2030, a’ toirt cothrom soirbheis dhan a h-uile duine agus comas inntrigidh againn uile do raon farsaing de dh’àrainneachdan cultarach aig ìre àrd. Eadar 2023 agus 2026, cuiridh sinn an seilbh barrachd air £440 millean de dh’airgead poblach on Riaghaltas agus mu thuaiream £93 millean on Chrannchur Nàiseanta gach bliadhna mar thaic dhan roinn seo agus a thoirt na lèirsinn seo am bith. www.artscouncil.org.uk.
'S e Comhairle nan Ealan sa Chuimrigh am buidheann poblach oifigeach aig an dùthaich airson maoineachadh is leasachadh nan ealan. Bidh daoine air feadh na Cuimrigh a’ gabhail tlachd agus pàirt sna h-ealain. Cumaidh sinn taic ris a’ ghnìomhachd seo agus bheir sinn fàs air. Nì sinn seo leis a’ mhaoin phoblach a bheir Riaghaltas na Cuimrigh dhuinn is sinne a’ sgaoileadh an airgid a gheibh sinn on Chrannchur Nàiseanta mar dheagh adhbhar.
Le bhith a’ stiùireadh is a’ cur an seilbh na maoine seo ann an gnìomhachd chruthachail, bidh Comhairle nan Ealan a’ leasachadh càileachd beatha nan daoine agus deagh shunnd cultarach, sòisealta agus eaconamach na Cuimrigh.
’S e Comhairle Bhreatainn am buidheann eadar-nàiseanta aig an RA airson dàimhean cultarach is cothroman foghlaim. Cuiridh sinn taic ri sìth is soirbheachas le bhith a’ brosnachadh cheanglaichean, tuigse agus earbsa eadar daoine san RA agus ann an dùthchannan eile air feadh an t-saoghail. Nì sinn seo leis an obair a nì sinn sna h-ealain agus sa chultar, ann am foghlam agus airson na Beurla. Bidh sinn ag obair le daoine ann an còrr is 200 dùthaich is ranntair agus tha oifisean againn ann an còrr is 100 dùthaich. Bha buaidh againn air barrachd air 650 millean duine eadar 2021 is 2022.
’S e Alba Chruthachail am buidheann poblach a chuireas taic ris na h-ealain is gnìomhachas nam film is na h-obrach chruthachail air feadh na h-Alba, a’ sgaoileadh maoineachadh a gheibh iad o Riaghaltas na h-Alba agus on Chruthachail Nàiseanta. Gheibhear barrachd fiosrachaidh aig creativescotland.com. Lean rinn air Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Gheibh thu barrachd fiosrachaidh mu luach nan ealan is na cruthachalachd ann an Alba agus is urrainn dhut pàirt a ghabhail aig www.ourcreativevoice.scot.
Airson barrachd fiosrachaidh no ma tha thu ag iarradh a’ bhrath-naidheachd seo an cruth so-ruigsinneach eile, cuir fios gu Emily Simmons, an t-oifigear conaltraidh air emily@weareunlimited.org.uk.
