We Are Unlimited Arts

Charity Number: 1196665

Annual Expenditure: £1.9M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £1,914,116 (expenditure on charitable activities)
  • Total Awarded Since 2013: £7.1 million to 538 artists
  • Decision Time: Approximately 5-6 months (EOI to final decision)
  • Grant Range: £15,000 - £80,000
  • Geographic Focus: England, Scotland, Wales (UK focus with international programs)

Contact Details

Website: https://weareunlimited.org.uk/

Email: info@weareunlimited.org.uk

Phone: 07506 679968

Pre-Application Support: Access support funding available for application assistance, including support workers, BSL translation, and scribes. Contact via email or phone for accessibility needs.

Overview

WE ARE UNLIMITED ARTS (Charity Number 1196665) was established as an independent charity in 2022, evolving from a commissioning programme that began in 2013. Previously delivered by Shape Arts and Artsadmin, Unlimited now operates independently as the world's largest disabled arts commissioner. With total income of £1.99 million (2023/24), the organization has supported 538 commissioned artists with £7.1 million in funding, reaching audiences of over 9 million globally. Their mission is distinctive: “to commission extraordinary work from disabled artists until the whole of the cultural sector does.” Led by Director Jo Verrent OBE, Unlimited employs 16 staff and operates with 15 trustees. The organization is funded primarily by Arts Council England, Creative Scotland, Arts Council of Wales, British Council, and Paul Hamlyn Foundation, receiving £1.77 million in government grants annually.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

UK Open Awards (£413,000 total for 2025/26 round):

  • Small Awards: Under £25,000 (4 awards available)
  • Large Awards: Over £25,000 (6 awards available)
  • Awards range from £15,000 to £80,000
  • Two-stage application process (Expression of Interest, then full application for shortlisted)
  • Expression of Interest deadline: September (annual cycle)
  • Final decisions: March (following year)

British Council Unlimited Micro Awards:

  • £2,500 micro grants
  • For international collaborations between disabled artists in UK and overseas
  • Pairs of disabled artists work collaboratively across two countries
  • Partner must be based in country receiving Official Development Assistance

Partner Awards:

  • Developed in collaboration with festivals, venues, and cultural organizations
  • Amounts vary by partnership
  • Recent rounds awarded £660,000-£715,000 across 17-20 commissions

Priority Areas

  • Drama, dance, music, visual arts, literature, and combined arts
  • Disability-led creative projects that “push boundaries”
  • Work demonstrating “quality, innovation, and ambition”
  • Original work that challenges perceptions and shifts cultural narratives
  • Projects led by artists identifying as disabled, D/deaf, neurodivergent, chronically ill, experiencing mental health conditions, or with access needs
  • International collaborations and cultural exchange

What They Don't Fund

  • Fashion
  • Architecture
  • Film
  • Projects not clearly disability-led in their creative elements
  • Artists based outside England, Scotland, or Wales (except for International Awards which include Northern Ireland)
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Governance and Leadership

Director: Jo Verrent OBE has led Unlimited since its inception in 2013, first as Senior Producer and now as Director of the independent organization. In 2025, she received an OBE for services to disabled artists.

Trustees: 15 board members oversee governance

Staff: 16 employees deliver the commissioning programme

Organizational Structure: Community Interest Company (CIC) registered as charity 1196665

Leadership Vision

Jo Verrent has articulated Unlimited's radical approach: "We don't want to be here. We would much rather the cultural sector truly valued disabled artists and stopped putting barriers in their way. Our aim is to support the sector to change to such an extent that we can close up and place our energies elsewhere."

The organization's core value of being “Radical” means: “We will adopt radical approaches which are inspired by future possibility rather than being shaped by past precedent. We want to be at the forefront of removing barriers for disabled artists to share their work, voice, and vision to the widest possible global audience.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Two-Stage Process:

  • Strict word count limits enforced
  • Must include examples of previous work (1 example for awards £15,000 or less; multiple for larger awards)
  • Documentation can include images, audio, video, written documents, or social media profiles
  • Shortlist announced approximately 2 months after EOI deadline
  • Full application deadline approximately 3-4 months after shortlist announcement

Application Support Available:

  • Applicants can request access support funding to help with applications
  • Support available for: support workers, BSL translation, scribes, and other access needs
  • Alternative formats available on request
  • Encouraged to prepare answers offline before submitting

Decision Timeline

Annual Cycle (Example from 2025/26 round):

  • Summer: Full information about awards released
  • September: Expression of Interest deadline (typically end of month at midday)
  • November: Shortlist announced
  • February: Full application deadline for shortlisted applicants
  • March: Final commission decisions announced

Total Timeline: Approximately 6-7 months from EOI submission to final decision

Success Rates

While specific percentage success rates are not published, Unlimited's data shows:

  • 2024 Open Awards: 15 commissions from competitive field
  • 2022/23 Partner Awards: 19 commissions awarded
  • Since 2013: 538 artists commissioned from thousands of applications

The organization has noted that “many rejected applications are subsequently resubmitted and then successfully funded,” indicating a competitive but accessible process.

Reapplication Policy

Highly Encouraged: Unsuccessful applicants are explicitly encouraged to reapply.

No Waiting Period: Applicants can submit to every funding round.

Multiple Applications Per Round: You can apply twice in one round if one application is linked to a Partner Award. You can also apply both as an individual and as part of a collective.

Support for Reapplicants: Unlimited provides feedback to all applicants and has seen many previously unsuccessful applicants go on to receive funding in subsequent rounds.

Application Success Factors

Advice from the Funder

Demonstrate Disability-Led Approach: Applications must clearly show how disabled people lead the creative elements of the project. Use the social model of disability in your application.

Show Quality, Innovation, and Ambition: These three criteria are central to selection. Your work should push boundaries and demonstrate originality.

Provide Strong Documentation: Include compelling examples of previous work that give a clear sense of your artistic vision and practice.

Access Support is Strength: Applying for access support is viewed positively, not as a weakness. The organization actively encourages artists to request what they need.

Get Fresh Perspective: Unlimited recommends having collaborators, mentors, or advisors review your application before submission.

Language and Terminology

Unlimited uses inclusive disability language based on the social model:

  • Disabled artist (preferred)
  • D/deaf or deaf
  • Neurodivergent
  • Energy impaired
  • Experiencing chronic illness
  • Mental health conditions
  • Long-term health conditions

Recent Funded Projects (2024 Winners)

Diverse Project Types:

  • Aisha Mirza (performance/visual arts)
  • Taking Flight Theatre Company (theatre)
  • Farrell Cox (interdisciplinary)
  • Birds of Paradise Theatre Company and Diverse Patterns (international collaboration)
  • Extraordinary Bodies and Pamoja Dance Group (international dance collaboration)

2022 Partner Awards Examples:

  • “The Boy Who Thought He Could Swim” - Play exploring selkie mythology and family dynamics
  • “The Triangle” - Visual art installation examining disabled artists' experiences with physical space
  • “Lesbian Pirates!” - Musical theatre with disabled, queer performers
  • “Noise” - Youth chamber opera based on Scottish mythology

Tips for Standing Out

  1. Be Ambitious: Don't scale back your vision. Unlimited wants “extraordinary” work that challenges and changes perspectives.
  1. Show Your Voice: Provide a clear artistic vision that reflects your unique perspective as a disabled artist.
  1. Demonstrate Impact: Explain how your work will “change and challenge the world” - this aligns with their mission.
  1. Build Support Early: Contact them before applying if you need access support or have questions about format.
  1. Use All Application Space: Attach supporting documents that give a strong sense of your artistic approach and previous work.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Disability-led is non-negotiable: The creative leadership must come from disabled artists, clearly demonstrated in the application.
  • Think big, not safe: Unlimited actively seeks work that pushes boundaries and challenges the status quo - ambitious projects are favored over conventional ones.
  • Access support is encouraged: Requesting funding for access needs to complete the application is viewed as understanding your needs, not a limitation.
  • Reapplication is expected: Many successful artists were previously unsuccessful - persistence and incorporating feedback is part of the process.
  • Mission alignment matters: Understanding and articulating how your work contributes to changing cultural perceptions of disabled artists strengthens applications.
  • Two-stage means strategic EOI: The Expression of Interest is competitive - make every word count within strict limits to reach the shortlist.
  • Documentation quality counts: Visual, audio, or written examples of previous work significantly inform panel decisions - invest time in selecting compelling examples.

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