Oct 2009 - London 2012 disability programme

Wednesday, 07 October 2009 - the UK’s largest ever disability programme, has been launched by London 2012 as part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad.

The result of a three year consultation process across the disability, arts and disability sports sectors, provides the disability arts and the cultural sector with unparalleled opportunity to develop new work for the world stage.

The £3 million three-year programme - which is primarily funded by the Olympic Lottery Distributer using National Lottery funds - is a huge celebration of the arts, culture and sport by disabled and deaf people. Unlimited hopes to bring new audiences to disability arts through major pieces of new work that will be showcased in the UK at art festivals, venues and London 2012 events both in the build up to 2012 and during the Games itself.

The programme has four pillars:

Unlimited Commissions: a £1.5million commission fund to support the production of quality work by disabled and Deaf artists, and disabled and Deaf led arts organisations

Unlimited Talent: bespoke training and mentoring programme for successful applicants to support the realisation of their commission

Unlimited Presents: work created through Unlimited Commissions will have the opportunity to be showcased in London and across the UK

Unlimited International: supporting collaboration between artists in the UK and other countries, and showcasing new work around the world. This pillar of the programme is being led by the British Council and is still in development, full details will be announced in 2010

Unlimited Commissions

We welcome proposals from disabled and Deaf artists, and disabled and Deaf-led arts organisations, who wish to develop their work, strengthen their artistic practice, challenge perceptions and forge new partnerships with presenting venues and events.

Applications must meet the standard assessment criteria for Grants for the arts applications.

In addition, Unlimited Commissions is looking for:

high-quality work that could be performance ready from late 2010
work that could forge new partnerships with presenting venues and events
work that responds to the core values of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad



There are three deadlines for the commissions. They are:

Round one
Deadline for applications: 4 January 2010
Successful applicants notified: 12 March 2010

Round two
Deadline for applications: 1 October 2010
Successful applicants notified: 23 December 2010

Round three
Deadline for applications: 18 April 2011
Successful applicants notified: 8 July 2011


If you require further information, please contact unlimited@artscouncil.org.uk






< Back to 'Funding Opportunities'