Unlimited

As an organisation, we’re committed to being open and transparent. That’s why we’re excited to launch a new section of our website, dedicated to demonstrating our impact through data. Dive into our key achievements, stats, and stories from 2023-2024, and explore how Unlimited is impacting the cultural sector, to break down barriers and create opportunities for disabled artists. Thank you for being part of our journey! 🔗 bit.ly/3AgvE7y Our work is supported by Arts Council England, Cyngor Celfyddydau Cymru | Arts Council of Wales, British Council, Creative Scotland and Paul Hamlyn Foundation. Image descriptions: 1. Two dancers. One, a wheelchair user, supports the other in a lift by holding them up by their arm. A title next to them reads, 'Our impact 2023-2024.' 2. A person wheeling down a catwalk looking out at the audience, bursting of a blue cloud graphic. Text reads, '43 commissions awarded to 60 disabled artists.' 3. Four performers re-enacting The Full Monty in front of a yellow cloud graphic. Text reads 'We awarded 36 bursaries of £1,500 each.' 4. Two artists talk to each other at an Unlimited event in front of a yellow cloud graphic. Text reads 'We worked with 161 Allies.' 5. An artist in performance holds their head high in front of a blue cloud graphic. They wear what looks like cables, wrapped around their body and head. Their arms bend while they hold the cables at the back of their head. Text reads 'Total engagement across our resources: 32,852.' 6. A performer sits on the floor looking over their shoulder and pulling a rope in front of a pink cloud graphic. A quote reads, "The support for the artists and the scope and ambition of Unlimited is unlimited!" #WeAreUnlimited #DisabledArtists #DisabilityArts #Impact #DataLed #ArtsAccessibility

We have another session tomorrow and there's still tickets left ⬇️ Join us at 6pm on 23 October!

We're thrilled to partner with Immersive Arts UK on this innovative project, offering £3.6 million for 200+ artists to develop their art through immersive tech! Apply now 👇

♿️ Work in West Yorkshire's cultural sector? Looking to make your work more accessible and inclusive? Join our free online advice session tomorrow - Tuesday 15 October at 2pm. Learn more and book your spot: https://lnkd.in/eYuTrA4E Image description: Text reads: Access guidance. Drop-in sessions. The logo for West Yorkshire Combined Authority is underneath. On the right is a photo of three people wearing masks stand around a table full of paper, pens and craft.

🤔 Why are we still exploiting disabled creatives and arts workers by asking them to do something for nothing? Well, it's complicated. But the anti-exploitation academy is here to help. A free online session led by our Director Jo Verrent will cover how to spot it and - most importantly - how to stop it in your organisation. Work in an arts organisation or cultural service and want things to change? Come along. 🎟️ Booking required: bit.ly/4eBkjy2 #NothingForNothing 🖼 Graphic by Asma Istwani. Image description: Poster for the Unlimited anti-exploitation academy. A black and white cut-out of a hand holding a pen appears to write ‘anti-exploitation academy’ in black and yellow bubble writing. Below: “with Unlimited Director, Jo Verrent.” A white strip of text with a little blue star reads “let’s rest practices for inclusive working.” At the bottom is the practical info. “Free, Online. Booking required. Tue 12 Nov, 2-4pm. Thu 21 Nov, 11am-1pm. weareunlimited.org.uk”

🐿️ In a nutshell, #NothingForNothing is about action. If you agree that disabled artists deserve more than peanuts, join us and get the organisation you work for to pledge towards a more inclusive arts sector. We’re not asking for an overnight transformation, just three concrete steps in the right direction. 🔗 bit.ly/43xrD8q 🖼 Graphic by Asma Istwani. Image description: Black text on a lime green background reads: "Far too many people are being asked to work for free. We're asking organisations to pledge to stop the exploitation of disabled creatives and arts workers (and all other creatives too)." It's designed to look like it's coming out of a cracked open nutshell with googly eyes (geddit? our campaign in a nutshell?).

Are you working in an org in the arts and culture sector and feel uncomfortable about creative freelancers often being exploited to do something for free? Do you think it’s OK that 86 % of disabled creatives have been asked to work for free?   Would you like to improve the practice of your own organisation, learn with others and find out stuff like how to navigate payments when someone is receiving benefits and all the other things we might find difficult to approach?   if you answered yes no yes, Unlimited have just the free and friendly session to support you, see below! 

We’re delighted to share our new report: Imagine it Different: Interventions for Change – the culmination of a year-long, ground-breaking exploration into the evolving landscape of the cultural sector as part of our World of Work series. Over the past year, we engaged with sector leaders through assemblies and an extensive online survey. Our research uncovered complex challenges stemming from external pressures such as the legacy of COVID-19, financial constraints, technological advancements, and shifting workforce dynamics. Here Jo Verrent, Director of Unlimited, shares an honest and thought-provoking letter titled "Dear Work…" addressing the pressing challenges facing leaders in the cultural sector today. For the full video head to our website. Imagine it Different brings together the wealth of insights gathered, offering actionable priorities that can disrupt entrenched practices, enhance leadership experiences, and drive meaningful change across the sector. We're thrilled Arts Council England has pledged support for cultural leaders with subsidised coaching, peer networks, and streamlined funding processes. They're focusing on diversity, innovation, and flexibility in a challenging environment. You can read their full pledge on our website. We invite cultural leaders to dive into these reports, engage with the insights, and join us in a unified effort to reshape the cultural workforce. Together, we can create the conditions for meaningful change - Let’s imagine it different. Want to get involved? Head to our website to find out more and read current pledges from arts and culture organisations in support of our initiative to drive further change. We’ll also be sharing more at What Next? Culture tomorrow - join us at 8.30am! https://lnkd.in/eW4JKyP4 Huge thank you to our partners Arts Council England, Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and Paul Hamlyn Foundation

🐴 They Promised Us Ponies: Available online for World Mental Health Day Made as part of Two Destination Language's exploration of hope over the past year, They Promised Us Ponies is a film reflecting on what nourishes hope. Spanning timescales from the immediate to the evolutionary, it follows four artists as they make work in an effort to generate hope despite the challenges of climate crisis, war and mental health. 🎬 The 38 minute film (which usually accompanies an exhibition) is available online for 48 hours to mark World Mental Health Day. Midday 10 October to Midday 12 October. 💌 If you wish to be first to see it - sign up to Two Destination Language's newsletter or email hope@twodestinationlanguage.com 🇺🇦 Find out more about the wider Hope & Ponies project, created with Ukrainian artist Nadia Sokolenko at: https://lnkd.in/enFTwK4D ℹ️ Initial concept development supported by Scottish Sculpture Workshop and Theatre in the Mill, Bradford. Development supported by Creative Scotland with BIRCA. A location-based iteration of this project, Hope in Wakefield, is an Unlimited commission in partnership with The Art House and British Council - it will be seen across the Wakefield District as part of Our Year 2024 supported by Experience Wakefield. [Image: Overlays of film title, They Promised Us Ponies, on an orange and white haired pony grazing.] Photo: Beth Chalmers. #WorldMentalHealthDay

I am not sure where the other 96.76% of NPOs are - but we would love to welcome you to this campaign. ✨ This session is not a telling off - there's some really important knowledge to be shared about how to properly engage disabled creatives without causing a disruption to any of the state support they might be receiving. If you don't know about that yet - come along and let us help ⬇️