SPAN Arts are a proud partner in Unlimited’s UK & International Partner Awards for Disabled Artists.
Unlimited is partnering with 12 UK organisations to offer 17 awards to disabled artists. These awards will offer a grand total of £628,000 to commission artists on a national and international level.
Unlimited’s mission is to commission extraordinary work from disabled artists until the whole of the cultural sector does. This work will change and challenge the world. As the world’s largest commissioner of disabled artists, we’ve been dedicated to this work since 2013.
This year, we’re focusing on artworks that engage communities in meaningful ways, challenge audience perceptions, and enhance visibility for disabled artists. We’re looking for projects that are designed to be seen, offering dynamic and interactive experiences to broad audiences.
Working in partnership with organisations across the cultural sector is key to our long-term mission of not existing. Together we aim to support disabled artists in creating new work that captivates, inspires, and fosters deeper understanding and appreciation.
In partnership with British Council, we’re offering five International Awards of up to £50,000 for artists to form collaborations across the world.
Partners based in England are Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture and Bradford Metropolitan District Council, Liverpool Biennial, Norfolk and Norwich Festival, Oxford University Cultural Programme, Sadler’s Wells, Southbank Centre, and Wellcome Collection. In Scotland: Imaginate and Summerhall Arts. In Wales: Span Arts and Tŷ Pawb.
Bethan Touhig Gamble, Director of SPAN Arts: “As a charity that aims to use the arts as a vehicle for social change in rural West Wales, partnering with Unlimited for the second time allows us to invest in diverse artists, expand the platform for disabled and neurodiverse voices, and commission exceptional socially engaged work.”
The SPAN Arts Unlimited commission has been awarded to actor, writer and founder of Popty Ping Productions theatre company, Ceri Ashe to create Farmers Townie and Grockles, a new 90 minute bilingual verbatim play that explores what it means to be a resident of Pembrokeshire. A show that tells the broad tapestry of narratives of the Pembrokeshire people. From farmers, teachers, and council workers to young people living in social housing – a West Walkman mix of voices that asks, what does being a part of this rural community mean?
The new play is in development with the community through 2022 and will premier in north and south Pembrokeshire in March 2024.
Sign up to the mailing list to keep up to date.
Unlimited commission extraordinary work by disabled artists that is rebellious, radical, adventurous, inspiring, and playful. They 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.
All the information on the award can be found here.
