UK Partner Award: BD Is LIT

Deadline for expressions of interest: 30 September 2024

We’re partnering with Unlimited and City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council to offer a £50,000 award to visual and performance artists based in the north of England.

Who can apply?

This award is open to:

• Professional disabled artists or disabled artists leading the creation of work within disabled-led companies
• Applicants must live, work, or have a connection to the north of England
• Aged 18 plus
• Not in full-time education

Criteria

These criteria will be used by our selection panel to assess your application. We’re looking to invest in work that will have a life beyond the initial commission. We expect all the work we fund to reach multiple audiences, as part of our wider work to challenge and change the world.

• High quality
• Disabled-led
• Innovative and ambitious
• Touring or exhibition potential to reach diverse venues and audiences
• Artist and/or company has a track record of creating work and reaching audiences

Partner criteria

• This award is for a final commissioned piece premiering as part of the BD: is LIT festival in November 2025.
• Artists working in visual and/or performance art – defined as mixed arts with a performance element, including theatre, cabaret, live art, dance – are encouraged to apply.
• The commissioned work must be highly visual and participatory, designed to be showcased at BD: is LIT in November 2025.
• Applications are encouraged from artists creating work with and for local communities.
• The work must incorporate light and/or light art as a key stimulus for its development.

What will you get with this partnership?

• Up to three producing support sessions, each up to two hours long, either in person or on Zoom.
• A programmed slot at the BD: is LIT Festival in November 2025.