Unlimited opportunity

The Unlimited Micro Awards, created by Unlimited and the British Council, help disabled UK artists develop new relationships with disabled artists in low - to middle — income countries. Carole Edrich explains.

Lack of access, stereotypical assumptions, ableism and increased susceptibility to Covid-19 were some of the many unique and unprecedented additional challenges faced by disabled people worldwide at the start of the pandemic.

Anticipating the emergence of effective vaccines and ‘new normals’, the British Council and Unlimited, an art collective, launched the first Micro Awards in 2020. Their objective was to ensure that disabled artists were able to respond confidently with alternative options and models, doing what they always do: help us imagine the world differently.

Since physical travel was at a standstill, the new fund was designed to respond to the times, providing space and opportunity for 20 pairs of artists or collectives to be supported in the development of small, online collaborations through the pandemic. In keeping with Unlimited focus and principles, they worked with the British Council to strengthen links between UK artists and those from low - to middle — income countries.

It is testament both to Unlimited’s vision and the creativity and tenacity of the winners of the first two rounds that they were able to make their £1,000 grants go so far:

Nye Russell-Thompson used the grant to develop his producing skills and continue the group’s creative development for his Unlimited R&D project about intrusive thoughts whilst Laura Djao used the award to develop her spoken-word project Queen Bitch, the words of which synthesise the nine points of intersectionality with which she identifies. The poem was interpreted by 13 women of different backgrounds, ethnicities, abilities, disabilities and dance styles and a video was compiled. Byron Vincent used his micro grant to launch the podcast ‘Bangers and Mash’, this lead to a commission by Community Justice Scotland to produce, present and edit a podcast entitled Justice Disrupted.

artists,” Rachel Walker, Unlimited’s Programme Manager commented “They recognise

The micro-awards have clearly grown into a significant ongoing partnership between Unlimited and the British Council. To date, each round has offered twenty UK based disabled artists funding. The fund is to enable UK based disabled artists or collectives to collaborate with one or more international artists from countries in receipt of Official Development Assistance.

As you would expect from Unlimited, its leading-edge inclusive practices mean that you

can apply online through a form or in alternative formats including video and voice. Access support is also available.

Unlimited and British Council aim to hear from a full diversity of disabled artists, working in any discipline across the UK. These could be Theatre, Poetry, Circus, Dance or any other art form. The use of the term ‘disabled artist’ includes any artist who identify as being disabled, D/ deaf, neurodivergent and those experiencing chronic illness, mental health conditions and more.

When applying for one of these awards, artists can submit projects that centre around disability/ impairment, or the project can be about something else entirely. Projects must be led by a disabled artist/collective based in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales and International collaborators must be a disabled artist / collective based in one of the countries in receipt of ODA (Official Development Assistance):

AUTHOR: Carole Edrich, photographer and journalist,and board member for Unlimited WEBSITE:

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