FAQs

If you are completing the Expression of Interest application form for the Unlimited commissions please read the FAQs relevant to the strand you are applying for below. If you have further questions contact info@weareunlimited.org.uk.

 

Versions for download:

General

How do I apply?

Artsadmin has an online portal for all the applications.

To start completing your application go to weareunlimited.org.uk/apply-to-unlimited/

If this is inaccessible to you then you can apply in alternative ways. Please contact Sara sara@shapearts.org.uk or call Shape on 020 7424 7336 to find out more or you have any other access related questions in relation to applying.

When can I apply?

The application portal for all Expressions of Interest will open on Thursday 13 September 2018, and deadline for submissions is Monday 29 October 2018 at 12 noon.

Shortlisted applicants will be notified by Monday 3 December 2018, and invited to submit a full application by Monday 11 February 2019.

 

Is there any support available to help with submitting an application?

Yes. If you need any assistance with the language and terminology in our application form, or want to discuss your eligibility for an Award, contact Clara Giraud clara@artsadmin.co.uk at Artsadmin or call 020 7247 5102.

If you require access support in completing your application, please contact Sara Dziadik sara@shapearts.org.uk or call Shape on 020 7424 7336.

 

 

Why is there a two-stage application process?

Unlimited asks applicants to submit an Expression of Interest, and then invites shortlisted applicants only to fill out a more detailed application form.

This two-stage process saves time for artists, producers and selection panel members by only asking shortlisted applicants to develop a detailed project plan and budget. Shortlisted applicants will also have direct contact with a named Unlimited Team member to support their application.

How competitive are these opportunities?

Unlimited expects to receive a large number of high quality applications, and we will not be able to fund all of the good applications we receive. In 2016, for example, we received many Expressions of Interest application: 51 were for the Main Commissions and 48 were for the Main Research & Development. We shortlisted 14-15 and awarded support to 6-7 projects in each strand.

Do I need to be registered disabled to apply?

No. There is no longer a register of disabled people.

We base our work on the Social Model of Disability. If you self-define or view yourself as a disabled person, then you are eligible to apply. You do not need to disclose details of your disability or supply any medical evidence. For a definition of the Social Model of Disability visit the Shape website: www.shapearts.org.uk/audiencesandtraining/social-model-of-disability

My artistic practice is not related to disability. Can I still apply?

Yes. Applications are welcome from artists who work within a disability arts context, and from those disabled artists whose practice is unrelated to the experience of being disabled. Unlimited is about art, not about disability; some work may reference disability, some may not.

Can individuals / organisations apply?

  • Individual artists:

Individual artists are encouraged to apply. Please think about how the reporting, finances, administration and production of your project will be supported. We expect that individual artists apply with an individual producer or producing organisation already in place from the point of submission.

  • Organisations and companies:

The aim of the Unlimited commissions is to support work by disabled artists, not work for disabled people. Organisations and companies are welcome to apply and must clearly demonstrate how the creative elements are led by disabled people.

What artforms are eligible?

We welcome application proposals from all artforms, this includes visual arts, music, performing arts and literature. Film is only suitable if it is video for a gallery or art context, as opposed to cinema. If your work is related to cinema, you may want to check Arts Council England’s recommendations for film funding: www.artscouncil.org.uk/funding/other-sources-funding#section-7

What do you mean by ‘disability led’?

At Unlimited we take a flexible view on the term ‘disability led’ – we expect applicants to clearly demonstrate how the creative elements of the project they are applying for are led by disabled people. The key is in your articulation – you need to explain how ‘disability-led’ applies to your situation.

Will I be eligible for Access to Work* funding and support during the programme?

It is the selected applicant’s responsibility to apply for Access to Work funding, if the support is necessary and relevant to their situation. It is anticipated that for most artists costs for support workers and/or access equipment/technology will be funded via Access to Work.

*Access to Work is a government scheme that is designed to meet the additional costs of employing a disabled person where they are directly a result of that person’s impairments. For more information go to: www.gov.uk/access-to-work/overview

Will my access costs be covered?

Any access costs you incur as an artist or practitioner should be covered by Access to Work if you have self-employed artist status or work as part of an organisation or company. You should include these costs in your budget, both as expenditure and expected income. If you do not draw an income from your work, we will work with you to meet your access costs if you are selected, please still include these figures within your project budget.

 

 

 

Can I submit a portfolio, reviews, publications or slides?

No. Please only submit the support material as outlined in the application form. You may consult the Word versions of each application form by downloading it from here: weareunlimited.org.uk/apply-to-unlimited/

These forms show what can be submitted with your application.

Will audience members’ access costs be covered?

It is the responsibility of the applicant to consider how their work will be accessible for audiences and participants in their full application proposal. These costs should be covered within your project budget.

The Unlimited team can provide further advice on how audience members’ access requirements can be met if required.

Can I apply with one or more collaborators?

Yes, but the proposed work must be led by disabled artist(s).

Why are different awards only open to artists and companies based in specific countries?

Each award is supported by different funders therefore the funds can only be used to benefit of artists of those countries.

When and how will the decisions be made?

The Expression of Interest Applications will be shortlisted by a panel of industry professionals using the criteria mentioned in the brief and the FAQs. The panel includes representatives from key partners and five members who will have been selected through an open application process. Unlimited staff support the application process but do not vote in the final selection process. The panel will be disability-led.

You can find more information on the Selection Panel on our website: weareunlimited.org.uk/apply-to-unlimited/selection-panel/.

All applicants will be told if they have been shortlisted or not by Monday 3 December 2018. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to submit full applications, providing more detailed information about their project, by Monday 11 February 2019.

The panels for all the commissions and awards will meet in March 2019 and awards will be announced end of March 2019.

 

Expression of Interest Forms: what kind of information should the ‘Project Description’ contain?

This is the section of the form where you tell us about the project you would like Unlimited to support. Tell us about your idea, and what context you aim to deliver it in. Remember that Unlimited works across all art forms at all scales, so be clear as to what type of work you want to create and what setting the ‘final product’ will be suitable for. This short section should give the selection panel a clear sense of what you are looking to do or create, without going into too much detail. If your

application is shortlisted, you will be invited to provide much more detail about your project and how you will deliver it.

Is there any advice on fees for collaborators and artists?

We recommend checking industry-specific websites for rates: a-n The Artists Information Company, Artists’ Union England, Equity, Independent Theatre Council, Musicians’ Union, UK Theatre and Writers’ Guild.

Will the artwork be for sale, and will Unlimited take a commission?

Artwork does not have to be up for sale, and we will work with individuals on a case by case basis to determine any commission fees. These will be determined by negotiation between the Unlimited partners and the selected commissioned artists. Any print material you produce as part of your work (i.e. catalogues) would be for you to sell and gain income – Unlimited would not expect commission (presenting venues/partners may have different conditions).

Where can I find a Producer?

We recommend you contact people you already know and tap into your networks to see if anyone familiar with your practice might be interested in supporting your project. Alternatively, we will have contacts of some producers happy to be contacted about potential Unlimited projects (please email sonny@artsadmin.co.uk for this information), or you could advertise through a platform such as the Artsadmin e-digest: www.artsadmin.co.uk/resources/e-digest.

Can Unlimited give me advice about writing a good application?

The Unlimited Team is available to support you and answer any questions you have regarding the application process. They cannot advise you regarding the content of your application at this stage or read any draft applications. However, we have a range of resources on our blog about what makes a strong funding application:

Main Commission

What are the criteria for the selection process?

The Key Criteria for Main Commissions Awards are:

  • disability-led
  • quality, innovation and ambition
  • strong track record of creating work and reaching audiences
  • strong artist/producer relationship evidenced
  • strong collaborations and partnerships (these can include those with non-disabled led companies/artists/producers)
  • flexibility/adaptability to ensure works engage with a range of venue sizes/scales
  • lead artist or company is resident in England or Wales

We will be looking to support a range of work ­– in relation to artform, scale, and location – across the commissions.

What are Partnership Awards and how to I apply for them?

For this round, Unlimited has partnered with a number of organisations who are providing funding for additional awards called Partnership Awards. There are Partnership Awards available in Main R&D Awards and Main Commissions. Applying for a Partnership Award is optional – applicants can choose to be considered for one or more of these on their application form if they wish.

To apply for one or more of these Partnership Awards, your project must meet their criteria. The criteria are published on the ‘Applying For Main Commission 2019’ and ‘Applying for Main R&D 2019’ documents. On the application form, you can select the relevant Partnership Award(s) you wish your project to be considered for. If you apply for a Partnership Award, you will still be considered for a standard Unlimited award, this does not limit your chances in receiving funding.

The Partnership Awards available for the Main Commissions fund are:

 

Farnham Maltings Partnership Commission

The commission by Farnham Maltings and Unlimited is for a project that give innovative and exciting responses to the context of rural touring and village halls, and that place audiences at the heart of their artistic process.

Farnham Maltings can provide expert advice and resources to those who are invited to submit a Full Application to the Farnham Maltings partner award

Projects wishing to be considered for this award will also need to meet the following criteria:

  • to be in the form of an event and/or performance
  • suitable for touring in village halls and rural contexts
  • and that have audience response and engagement at the heart of their creative process
  • are applying for up to £25,000

 

Wellcome Collection Partnership Commission
The commission supported by Wellcome Collection and Unlimited is for a project that challenges how we think and feel about health. The award will support a creative process that brings together any combination of lived experience of health, historical research and contemporary biomedical science, in line with Wellcome Collection’s mission to connect science, medicine, life and art.

Wellcome Collection will offer additional support to access its archives and broker relationships with health researchers. Artists might use the award to explore perspectives on their own health or disability, or take an entirely different approach.

Projects wishing to be considered for this award will also need to meet the following criteria:

  • Demonstrate an interest in exploring health-based science and research and/or collections & archives relating to health
  • Creatively explore varied, perhaps challenging, perspectives on health
  • are applying for up to £80,000

Do I have to apply to a Partnership Award if my project meets the criteria?

No. You can select the Partnership Awards whose criteria your project fit on your application, only if you wish to be considered for them. If you do select one or more Partnership Award, you will still be considered for the standard Unlimited funding.

 

Can I apply with more than one idea?

In the past, established artists have only been able to be the lead applicant for one application per round of Unlimited awards, and be mentioned as delivering within up to 2 other applications (across all the awards available).

This time, artists can be lead applicant for up to two applications (and be mentioned as delivering in two others) but only if at least one of those applications is linked to at least one of the Partnership Awards.

This means at least one of the applications must meet the criteria for either the awards linked to Forest of Dean, Forma, GOSH or Wellcome (for R&D) or Farnham Maltings or Wellcome (for Commission).

Both applications can be linked to Partnership Awards if you wish, and a single application can be linked to more than one Partnership Award if it meets all the criteria.

The application portal however will only allow a single account to work on a single application type at a time. So if submitting more than one application, you may need to submit one through our portal before you can get started on a second on our portal. You can always work on your application on our word document application forms, and transfer across the content to our online portal when you are ready. Any queries, get in touch with us.

 

 

Can I apply if I have received an Unlimited commission before?

If you have previously received a Main Award, you can apply for a new and different project under the Main Awards strands. If you received an R&D Award you may apply to continue that project or you can apply for something completely different.

What are we looking for in Research & Development?

We’re interested in Research & Development that looks both inward and outward. This might mean considering an artistic idea and the form it might take, and also developing relationships with organisations that can help you take the project further. As part of an application for a commission, if you choose to apply for a Research and Development period, this should clearly inform the production and creation stages.

I don’t have any documentation of my work – can I still apply?

No. You need to be able to show examples of your work to the selection panel using either still images, audio, video documentation and/or written documents.

Will I be penalised for submitting just one instance of past work/document?

No, the work will be judged on quality and relevance, not the number of supporting documents submitted. It is advisable to submit your best work(s).

 

I don’t have my own website – can I still apply?

Yes. But you must have an established profile evidenced by other relevant links, the letter of recommendation or media coverage.

How do I calculate how much money I am applying for from Unlimited?

You will need to create an estimated budget for each of the stages of your project, making sure you include professional fees for everyone involved, equipment and materials, access costs, access for audiences, marketing, contingency and more. Note that fees should be aligned with industry standards following guidance from artists’ unions and industry agencies. Please do not underpay yourself if you draw an income from your work.

Then, consider all potential income sources, including other funding partners (confirmed or expected), in-kind support, grants from other organisations, and fees for the presentation of the work if relevant.

The balance between your income and expenditure is the amount you are requesting from Unlimited. Read a blog we’ve written about balancing a budget weareunlimited.org.uk/budget-tells-story-2/.

 

What do you mean by match-funding and do I need this in place to apply?

Match-funds are funds that you contribute to the project from other sources. This may include money from other funders, income generation (through ticket sales) or ‘in-kind’ support. In-kind support includes any non-cash donations made to the project. This could include someone offering their time, services or use of rehearsal/studio space free of charge.

All applicants are required to have a minimum of 10% match funding whether that is in kind or in cash, or a combination of the two. The grants available are limited and so higher percentages of match funding – confirmed, applied for or anticipated – may strengthen your application, whether in cash or in kind. Arts Council National Lottery Project Grants (formerly Grants for the Arts) or other project-based funding from Arts Council England and Arts Council Wales, cannot be used as match funding.

Is there going to be a representative spread of commissions across UK?

Yes. The funding from Arts Council England and Arts Council of Wales is dedicated for artists/companies based in those locations.

What do we mean by disabled artists and companies having a strong track record in their artistic field?

We are looking for artists and companies who have shown work widely in public, with strong critical reception. Artists and companies who are at an early stage of their artistic career can apply for Unlimited Emerging Artist Award.

How do I know if I need to include Research & Development in my commission application?

If you know the exact requirements of production because you have undergone some research and development already, then you need only apply for the two stages – Creation & Production and Showcasing & Presentation. If you need more time to clarify your idea, the needs of the project, its form and outputs, then we recommend you also undertake Research and Development and include all three stages in your application.

For projects applying for the Main Commission that include an R&D stage, Unlimited will initially award funding for this first phase of activity only, reassessing the project before committing funds to the remaining stages – Creation & Production and Showcasing & Presentation.

Will commissioned work be shown at Southbank Centre’s Unlimited Festival?

All commissions will be put forward for consideration for Southbank Centre’s Unlimited Festival and other festival opportunities celebrating Unlimited (within the UK and possibly internationally) in late August/September 2020. Southbank Centre make the final decisions on which work is included in their programme.

Where else should commissioned work tour?

It is anticipated that the work will be shown at a variety of locations throughout the UK (subject to the responsibility and intention of the commissions). Main Commissions are expected to tour to at least 3 locations within the UK, beyond any specific Unlimited Festivals. Unlimited will help create connections where possible and relevant, but commissions are expected to develop their own touring/showcasing schedules. We are working with funders and allies to get the work seen across the UK and can help introduce you to venues, organisations and festivals. Your application should detail any conversations with potential receiving partners, as well as include touring costs in the expenditure, and touring fees or in-kind support in income.

Please think flexibly about how your piece might be staged or presented and the different range of spaces and places that might be appropriate.

Will work be able to tour beyond October 2020?

It is hoped that some of the commissions may be shown further beyond 2020 in the UK and internationally, through additional support from other organisations.

How long are you expecting live shows to be?

We don’t have a set length or expectation – it’s for you to determine the nature of your piece, not us. It might be useful to look around at similar pieces or talking to venues to see what kind of lengths of work they like. Often shows at Edinburgh Fringe Festival are 50 mins to allow an hour turn around. So think about how what works for your work and also the kind of places you want it seen and what they might need.

How can I budget without knowing specifically where the piece will go?

We appreciate this makes it hard to budget and suggest you work out a ‘unit cost’ for showing your work in different spaces and then indicate how many spaces you ideally would like to see it at in the timescale of the project – we want people to be ambitious but also realistic. It would also really help us to know the kinds of venues you have in mind and the circumstances you prefer. We want artists to be flexible and adaptable but also to be clear about the needs of the work. Your vision for the work is key.

We’ve published a blog post about budgeting: weareunlimited.org.uk/budget-tells-story/.

Why do I need a Producer?

Unlimited is looking for artists to apply with projects that are ambitious for them – either covering new ground or new scales in their practice. Even if the scale of your work is small, we expect there will be some logistical and administrative work required, and project management in bringing the work to an audience. We want to know how you will engage with a producer to manage these aspects of the project, or for you to evidence how you will manage both the management and artistic sides of the project. You can also tell us in your application how you will use the R&D period to identify a producer for the project if you do not already have one in place.

Read more about what a producer might mean for your project, through these blogs: What’s all this producers’ talk about?, What do we mean by producer?, This thing called producing, and Working with a Producer.

 

 

 

In order to qualify for a Wellcome Collection Partnership Commission, does my project proposal need to include specific collaborators or archives relating to lived experience of health, historical research and contemporary biomedical science?

No, not at this point. Proposals for the Wellcome Collection Partnership Commission will need to demonstrate the potential for some form of partnership and collaboration in these areas. Examples of this could be initial conversations, or details of an organisation, researcher, or clinician you are intending to approach, and how these partners might be involved in the development of the idea. Wellcome is particularly interested in proposals that value the input and perspectives of all partners.

Do I have to apply for the Wellcome Collection Partnership Commission if my project tackles health-related themes?

No. Your project may tackle health-related themes but not fulfill other criteria of the Wellcome Collection Partnership Commission, or you may choose not to apply to the Wellcome Collection Partnership Commission even if you have such themes within your project. This will not impact on your project being considered for the Main Commission supported by Arts Council England or Arts Council Wales.

If I receive a Wellcome Collection Partnership Commission, will Wellcome Collection programme my work?

Wellcome Collection in London is not planning to programme the work you create as a part of your Award in the first instance – they are looking for work that can reach into different areas and audiences. The Wellcome Collection Partnership Awards are open to artists working and presenting work anywhere in the UK, so you should plan to develop relationships with other venues as part of your funding application. You do not have to have confirmed relationships with other venues at Expression of Interest stage.

In relation to a Farnham Maltings Partnership Commission, what do you mean by rural touring and village halls?

Gavin Stride, Director of Farnham Maltings, explains: “For me, there are extraordinary opportunities in making work for village halls and we want to encourage artists to explore what happens when you make work with small places outside of purpose built buildings rather than for a ‘theatre’ audience.  We are certain that some of the most contemporary and playful performance work is happening in rural communities. (We just don’t tell the audience the work is challenging or experimental because they just won’t come!) Much of the work, and certainly the work that we are involved in, doesn’t feel like theatre. It can feel like a wedding or a meal with friends.  Village halls are places in which the artist is the visitor and the audience are the hosts. Spaces in which everyone enters and leaves through the same door. Time and time again artists feed back that these are some of the most rewarding experiences they have had. It is almost always true that the audiences for village hall touring includes everyone. Certainly we only make work suitable for 10 – 80 year olds and the raffle and the tea and the chatting to friends is an essential part of the evening.”

If I receive a Farnham Maltings Partnership Commission, will Farnham Maltings produce the project and help book the rural tour?

Farnham Maltings will offer advice and talk through the ‘fit’ of an idea for rural touring. They will also book the work into three to five venues who understand that the aim is for them to act as testers for the finished piece. Farnham Maltings would also expect to present the finished idea in some way to the National Rural Touring Forum as a means of considering a future national tour.

Main Research and Development Award

What are the criteria for the selection process?

The Key Criteria for Main Research and Development Awards are:

  • disability-led
  • quality, innovation and ambition
  • strong track record of creating work and reaching audiences
  • existing collaborations and partnerships (these can include those with non-disabled led companies/artists/producers) – or plans to develop these through the R&D
  • lead artist or company is resident in England or Wales

 

We will be looking to support a range of work ­– in relation to artform, scale and location – across the commissions.

What are Partnership Awards and how do I apply for them?

For this round, Unlimited has partnered with a number of organisations who are providing funding for additional awards called Partnership Awards. There are Partnership Awards available in Main R&D Awards and Main Commissions. Applying for a Partnership Award is optional – applicants can choose to be considered for one or more of these on their application form if they wish.

To apply for one or more of these Partnership Awards, your project must meet their criteria. The criteria are published on the ‘Applying For Main Commission 2019’ and ‘Applying for Main R&D 2019’ documents. On the application form, you can select the relevant Partnership Award(s) you wish your project to be considered for. If you apply for a Partnership Award, you will still be considered for a standard Unlimited award, this does not limit your chances in receiving funding.

The Partnership Awards available for Main Research and Development Awards are:

 

GOSH Arts Partnership R&D Award
The award supported by GOSH Arts, the arts programme at Great Ormond Street Hospital, and Unlimited is for a research and development project that will engage with hospital patients, their families and medical professionals. GOSH Arts will offer access to a range of facilities and support the engagement of the hospital population and the wider community in the project.

Projects wishing to be considered for this award will also need to meet the following criteria:

  • to engage clinicians and patients from the ophthalmology and audiology departments at GOSH
  • to address one or more of the themes of Music, Festival and Community
  • to share the outcomes of the work publicly and in a way that the hospital population can engage with them

 

Forest of Dean Sculpture Trust R&D Award

The award supported by the Forest of Dean Sculpture Trust and Unlimited is for a research and development project that explores the potential of the forest as a host for contemporary art, with a particular focus on sculpture. The Forest of Dean Sculpture Trail is situated in Gloucestershire and is a 4.5 mile-long, free of charge site to experience contemporary art in a forest environment. One of the key ambitions within our program is to develop learning opportunities for audiences likely to experience exclusion from the arts and natural environment.

Projects wishing to be considered for this award will also need to meet the following criteria:

  • relate to the natural environment and the Forest of Dean’s unique location, and is suitable for sharing in an outdoor context.
  • outcomes will be aimed at a wide ranging audience.
  • demonstrate a willingness to work with a range of forest-related organisations (i.e Forestry Commission England) and other local partners to help shape the work.
  • engage with the audience of the Sculpture Trust and enable their learning about contemporary art.

 

Forma Partnership R&D Award 

The award supported by Forma and Unlimited is for research and development projects that blur boundaries of artform, and challenge audiences both through form and content. Artists are asked to consider the experiential quality of their work, and its exploration through cross disciplinary techniques and display methods.

Forma will provide curatorial and production support for the research and development of the chosen project. This work will build on Forma’s nearly 20 years experience generating ambitious artworks which bring together approaches and expertise from the worlds of art, music, film and theatre. This could extend to identifying creative or technical collaborators who will allow the project to reach its full potential in consultation with the artist.

Projects wishing to be considered for this award will also need to meet the following criteria:

  • to develop an installation or immersive artwork
  • to include interactive, live, or moving image elements

 

Wellcome Collection Partnership R&D Award
The award supported by Wellcome Collection and Unlimited is for a research and development project that challenges how we think and feel about health. The award will support an R&D process that brings together any combination of lived experience of health, historical research and contemporary biomedical science, in line with Wellcome Collection’s mission to connect science, medicine, life and art.

Wellcome Collection will offer additional support to access its archives and broker relationships with health researchers. Artists might use the award to explore perspectives on their own health or disability, or take an entirely different approach.

Projects wishing to be considered for this award will also need to meet the following criteria:

  • Demonstrate an interest in exploring health-based science and research and/or collections & archives relating to health
  • Creatively explore varied, perhaps challenging, perspectives on health

Do I have to apply to a Partnership Award if my project meets the criteria?

No. You can select the Partnership Awards whose criteria your project fit on your application, only if you wish to be considered for them.

If you do select one or more Partnership Award, you will still be considered for the standard Unlimited funding.

Can I apply with more than one idea?

In the past, established artists have only been able to be the lead applicant for one application per round of Unlimited awards, and be mentioned as delivering within up to 2 other applications (across all the awards available).

This time, artists can be lead applicant for up to two applications (and be mentioned as delivering in two others) but only if at least one of those applications is linked to at least one of the Partnership Awards.

This means at least one of the applications must meet the criteria for either the awards linked to Forest of Dean, Forma, GOSH or Wellcome (for R&D) or Farnham Maltings or Wellcome (for Commission).

Both applications can be linked to Partnership Awards if you wish, and a single application can be linked to more than one Partnership Award if it meets all the criteria.

The application portal however will only allow a single account to work on a single application type at a time. So if submitting more than one application, you may need to submit one through our portal before you can get started on a second on our portal. You can always work on your application on our word document application forms, and transfer across the content to our online portal when you are ready. Any queries, get in touch with us.

What are we looking for in Research & Development?

We’re interested in Research & Development that looks both inward and outward. This might mean considering an artistic idea and the form it might take, and also developing relationships with organisations that can help you take the project further.

How many Main R&D Awards will Unlimited be funding this round?

Unlimited is aiming to fund 5-8 Main R&D awards from artists based in England and 2-3 from artists based in Wales.

Can I apply if I have received an Unlimited commission before?

If you have previously received a Main Award, you can apply for a new and different project under the Main Awards strands. If you received an R&D Award you may apply to continue that project or you can apply for something completely different.

What do we mean by disabled artists and companies having a strong track record in their artistic field?

We are looking for artists and companies who have shown work widely in public, with strong critical reception. Artists and companies who are at an early stage of their artistic career can apply for Unlimited Emerging Artist Award.

I don’t have any documentation of my work – can I still apply?

No. You need to be able to show examples of your work to the selection panel using either still images, audio, video documentation and/or written documents.

 

Will I be penalised for submitting just one instance of past work/document?

No, the work will be judged on quality and relevance, not the number of supporting documents submitted. It is advisable to submit your best work(s).

I don’t have my own website – can I still apply?

Yes. But you must have an established profile evidenced by other relevant links, the letter of recommendation or media coverage.

How do I calculate how much money I am applying for from Unlimited?

You will need to create an estimated budget for each of the stages of your project, making sure you include professional fees for everyone involved, equipment and materials, access costs, access for audiences, marketing, contingency and more. Note that fees should be aligned with industry standards following guidance from artists unions and industry agencies. Please do not underpay yourself if you draw an income from your work.

Then, consider all potential income sources, including other funding partners (confirmed or expected), in-kind support, grants from other organisations, and fees for the presentation of the work if relevant.

The balance between your income and expenditure is the amount you are requesting from Unlimited. Read a blog we’ve written about balancing a budget on: weareunlimited.org.uk/budget-tells-story-2/.

 

What do you mean by match-funding and do I need this in place to apply?

Match-funds are funds that you contribute to the project from other sources. This may include money from other funders, income generation (through ticket sales) or ‘in-kind’ support. In-kind support includes any non-cash donations made to the project. This could include someone offering their time, services or use of rehearsal/studio space free of charge.

 

All applicants are required to have a minimum of 10% match funding whether that is in kind or in cash, or a combination of the two. The grants available are limited and so higher percentages of match funding – confirmed, applied for or anticipated – may strengthen your application, whether in cash or in kind. Arts Council National Lottery Project Grants (formerly Grants for the Arts) or other project-based funding Arts Council England and Arts Council Wales, cannot be used as match funding.

Is there going to be a representative spread of commissions across UK?

Yes. The funding from Arts Council England and Arts Council of Wales is dedicated for artists/companies based in those locations.

Why do I need a Producer?

In the R&D strand, Unlimited is looking for artists to apply with projects that are ambitious for them – either covering new ground or new scales in their practice. Even if the scale of your work is small, we expect there will be some logistical and administrative work required for the R&D, as well as planning for the project’s future development. We want to know how you will engage with a producer to manage these aspects of the project, or for you to evidence how you will manage both the management and artistic sides of the project. You can also tell us in your application how you will use the R&D period to identify a producer for the project if you do not already have one in place.

Read more about what a producer might mean for your project, through these blogs: What’s all this producers’ talk about?, What do we mean by producer?, This thing called producing, and Working with a Producer.

What does the Forest of Dean Sculpture Trust define as sculpture? How wide is the definition ?

The Forest of Dean Sculpture Trust are looking for work which is site specific to their history and forest environment as the main criteria for this research and development grant. Although traditionally commissioning three-dimensional works to their trail they are also open to hearing from artists/companies whose work is cross-discipline, this could encompass digital art, audio visual time based works, or participatory/performance based works.

If I receive a Forest of Dean Sculpture Trust Partnership R&D Award, will the Trust project manage my project and help seek out further presentation opportunities?

The Forest of Dean Sculpture Trust will be actively committed to working with the selected artist/company and enabling them to use their time within the forest as productively as possible. Although the Forest of Dean Sculpture Trust is a small charity, their main partner is Forestry Commission England who will also be able to assist with allowing access to certain resources relating to the site and history.

If I receive a Forma Partnership R&D Award, how involved will Forma be in supporting the project development?

Forma will be as involved as the recipient requires. Forma producers have several years experience working closely with artists and understand that every project requires a tailored approach to support. They will work with successful artist(s)/company to design an approach to working together that best fits their ambitions. Planning and problem solving, consulting with experts and stakeholders, or just chats over cups of tea will be available to assist with the selected project’s development process.

I don’t have previous experience in using interactive, live, or moving image in my work, can I still apply to the Forma Partnership R&D Award?

Forma has a long history of supporting artists to take their practice to new levels of production and engagement. Although having existing experience working with particular media is useful, first and foremost, they want ideas to take priority. If you have a strong concept and justification for expanding your practice in one or all of these new directions, they will be happy to consider your project for this Partnership award.

If I receive a GOSH Partnership R&D Award, how involved will GOSH Arts be in supporting the project development?

GOSH Arts hope to be involved every step of the way in supporting project development. As an established hospital art programme GOSH aArts want to support the highest quality arts and cultural engagement for  our patients and staff. GOSH Arts will help the selected artist(s)/company shape and develop their project idea, and making it a reality in the hospital.

I don’t have previous experience in working in medical contexts, or closely with communities, can I still apply to the GOSH Arts Partnership R&D Award?

Yes. They are more interested in artists/companies with an exciting and developed practice, than previous experience working in health settings. A willingness to be flexible, put patients’ needs first, and work with GOSH Arts to understand the context and ways of working in the hospital is essential, but previous experience isn’t. GOSH Arts are looking for an exciting idea that involves their patients, families and staff.

In order to qualify for a Wellcome Collection Partnership R&D Award, does my project proposal need to include specific collaborators or archives relating to lived experience of health, historical research and contemporary biomedical science?

No, not at this point. Proposals for the Wellcome Collection Partnership R&D Award will need to demonstrate the potential for some form of partnership and collaboration in these areas. Examples of this could be initial conversations, or details of an organisation, researcher, or clinician you are intending to approach, and how these partners might be involved in the development of the idea. Wellcome is particularly interested in proposals that value the input and perspectives of all partners.

Do I have to apply for the Wellcome Collection Partnership R&D Award if my project tackles health-related themes?

No. Your project may tackle health-related themes but not fulfill other criteria of the Wellcome Collection Partnership R&D Award, or you may choose not to apply to the Wellcome Collection Partnership R&D Award even if you have such themes within your project. This will not impact on your project being considered for the Main Commission supported by Arts Council England or Arts Council Wales.

Emerging Artist Award

What are the criteria for the selection process?

The Key Criteria for Emerging Artist Awards are:

  • disability-led
  • quality, innovation and ambition
  • artist/producer relationship planned or developed
  • collaborations and partnerships (including with non-disability led companies/ artists/producers) planned or developed

We will be looking to support a range of work ­– in relation to artform, scale, and location across the commissions.

Can I submit several applications?

If you are applying to Emerging Artist Awards, you can apply as lead artist on one project. For all strands, you can also be mentioned as delivering in up to two other Unlimited applications.

Can I apply if I have received an Unlimited commission before?

If you have been awarded an Emerging Artist Award before, the hope would be that you are not an emerging artist anymore as your work/ name has likely gained profile and exposure already. Therefore, you are eligible to apply for a Main Award (R&D or Commission) but would not meet the criteria for an Emerging Award.

How many Emerging Awards will Unlimited be funding this round?

It is expected that between four and six projects will be commissioned for the Emerging Artist Awards, across both the Create & Participate strands.

What are we looking for in Research and Development?

We’re interested in Research & Development that looks both inward and outward. This might mean considering an artistic idea and the form it might take, and also developing relationships with organisations that can help you take the project further.

How do I calculate how much money I am applying for from Unlimited?

You are not required to submit a detailed budget with the Expression of Interest forms. However, it is recommended that you create a budget breakdown based on what will be required to deliver your project.

You must consider all the expenditure that might be involved: industry standard fees for all contributing artists and professionals, materials, space rental, access-related costs, administrative and project management costs, travel, insurance, contingency etc.

You should also think about the other sources of income for the project, such as other funders, other delivery partners, Access to Work, presentation fees or ticket sales, both in cash and in kind. For reference, you may want to read a blog post about budgets here: weareunlimited.org.uk/budget-tells-story.

Is there going to be a representative spread of commissions across UK?

The Emerging Artist Awards may fund work across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, depending on the locations of the successful applications; location is not a selection criteria for these awards.

Should I apply for a ‘Create’ or ‘Participate’ award?

A ‘Create’ Award is for emerging artists to ‘Research and Develop’ (R&D) an idea and create a new piece of work. If you have already undergone a period of R&D for this project you can apply for funds to create, produce and showcase the work.

A ‘Participate’ award is for emerging artists to run a series of events or participatory workshops. These projects are focused on the process of working collaboratively rather than the final outcome and may not result in a final performance / exhibition or sharing. They may take the form of a series of workshops, discussion groups or creative sessions across any artform for disabled or disabled and non-disabled people.

What do you mean by ‘emerging artist’?

We define an emerging artist as someone who has yet to receive major exhibition or showcasing opportunities. They will not have obtained extensive media coverage for their work. We recognise that some artists, due to disability may have barriers to education and training opportunities which their non-disabled peers do not face. We do not have an age limit for this opportunity but applicants must be 18+ and not in full-time education.

We’ve published a blog about emerging artists, which might be useful for you to read weareunlimited.org.uk/explaining-emerging/

 

I don’t have any documentation of my work – can I still apply?

Yes. But we do encourage you to show examples of any previous work to the selection panel using either still images, audio, video documentation and/or written documents.

Will I be penalised for submitting just one instance of past work/document?

No, the work will be judged on quality and relevance, not the number of supporting documents submitted. It is advisable to submit your best work(s), and most relevant to your project proposal.

I don’t have my own website – can I still apply?

Yes.

What do you mean by Producer and why do I need one?

A Producer will support you, as lead artist or company, to turn your creative ideas into reality. They may undertake a number of activities from managing your budget, tour booking and assisting with the marketing and communications of your work.

Even if the scale of your work is small, we expect the applicant will require support which certain aspects of their proposal. We’ve published some blog posts about producing, which might be useful for you to read:

weareunlimited.org.uk/whats-producers-talk/

weareunlimited.org.uk/mean-producer/

What do you mean by Research and Development (R&D) and how do I know if I need to include this in my application?

R&D is an opportunity for artists to test out, experiment and explore new ideas and methods of working, to help develop their projects further. If you do not know any of the details of your project (for example what format it might be best presented in, where it will be showcased, what materials it will utilise, how long it will take to create, how much it will cost) you may need to undertake a period of R&D.

If you need more time to explore your idea and the requirements of the project, then we recommend you include an element of research and development within your proposal.

When and where will the Unlimited commissions be programmed?

For artists/companies applying for a ‘Create’ Award, we encourage at least one scratch performance, or sharing/exhibition platform to showcase the work. The arrangement of this will be the responsibility of the lead artist(s) or arts organisation. Unlimited can assist in making connections with our Unlimited partners, venues and programmers, wherever appropriate, but we cannot guarantee placement of work within Southbank Centre’s Unlimited Festival or any other linked events.

 

What do you mean by match-funding and do I need this in place to apply?

Match-funds are funds that you contribute to the project from other sources. This may include money from other funders, income generation (through ticket sales) or ‘in-kind’ support. In-kind support includes any non-cash donations made to the project. This could include someone offering their time, services or use of rehearsal/studio space free of charge. 

All applicants are required to have a minimum of 10% match funding whether that is in kind or in cash, or a combination of the two. The grants available are limited and so higher percentages of match funding – confirmed, applied for or anticipated – may strengthen your application, whether in cash or in kind.

 

 

 

 

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