Access support is available for:

• Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent people
• those experiencing poor short or long-term physical or mental health. 

We work closely with our partner Unlimited, a leading disability arts organisation.

If you can’t find the access information you need on this page, email us or call/ text 07926 699909. 

Our phone is staffed part-time, if we are not available when you call you can leave us a voicemail and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

Read the Immersive Arts funding guidelines to understand the funding and application process.

Our funding guidelines document is available in:

• Large print
• Easy Read
• Audio
• British Sign Language

You can apply for Immersive Arts fund using our online application portal. By audio, video or text, and in English, Welsh, or British Sign Language.

You can download a preview of the application forms to see the questions and how they’re laid out. This can help you prepare your answers and work out any support you might need before applying on the online application portal:

• Explore
• Experiment
• Expand

The deadline for applications is Monday 29 September 2025 at 14:00.

In some cases, we can help with the costs of access support you need to complete an application. This might include a:

• support worker
• BSL interpreter or note-taker

Read through our Information for Artist and Support Workers document before requesting support.

Fill out this form to request support for access costs. We will aim to respond and confirm your request within two weeks.

If you need the form in another format,  email us or call/ text us on 07926 699 909.

The deadline to ask for this support is Monday 1 September 2025 at 17:00.

This gives us enough time to arrange the help you need before the funding deadline (29 September 2025).

We understand that access requirements vary, below is a guide based on what people needed last year:

• Explore: Up to 8 hours of support
• Experiment: 8–16 hours
• Expand: Up to 8 hours for the Expression of Interest. If shortlisted, you can ask for more support to prepare for your interview.

We have a limited budget for access support. Please ask for support as soon as you can.

If you face barriers to applying, you can book an online call with a member of our Immersive Arts team. These sessions will run in August and September 2025. 

This support is for people who identify as:

• neurodivergent
• having a physical or mental health condition
• from the Global Majority
• minoritised gender identities

In these 30-minute sessions we can:

• guide you through the application process and eligibility
• answer questions about what the programme offers and what access support is available
• point you to useful resources

We won’t be able to:

• give detailed feedback on your draft application
• advise you on which funding strand to choose
• offer a general conversation

Support workers are welcome to join this online call. 

Who you can speak to

You’ll speak to one of the Immersive Arts Producers who are based across the UK. You can choose to speak with the Producer from your nation—or with a different one if that feels more useful for your questions.

You can read more about each Producer on our About Us page.

How to book

You can book a 30-minute call using this link.

We’ll release slots every two weeks, so check back if none are available.

The first slots will be released on Monday 28 July 2025.

We want every artist who receives funding through Immersive Arts to be able to take part in a way that works for them.

If you receive funding, we’ll ask about any access requirements you may have. This helps us understand what reasonable adjustments we can offer to support you.

We aim to be flexible and open. While we can’t guarantee every request can be met, we’ll listen carefully and do our best to find solutions within the resources we have.

Costs for support workers and/or access equipment or technology are usually covered through the Access to Work scheme, run by the UK Government.

We strongly encourage artists to apply to Access to Work – especially now, as the scheme is under threat. It has long provided the most consistent and wide-reaching access support, often extending well beyond individual projects. While Immersive Arts offers reasonable adjustments to meet access requirements, Access to Work has always been the support that has provided more comprehensive assistance – beneficial throughout their project and beyond.

We understand that access isn’t one-size-fits-all. We take a person-centred approach and try to work with each artist to reduce or remove barriers wherever we can.

Once you’re part of the programme, you can:

• Share your requirements in the format that suits you best, including through an Access Rider
• Talk to your Immersive Arts Producer about what would help, including:
  • • • Communication in a format and at times that suit you
  • Adjustments around energy levels, neurodiversity, caring responsibilities, or health

At in-person events, we may be able to offer:

• Reserved seating
• Quiet or rest spaces
• Early access to venues or breaks from long sessions

We also build flexibility into the structure of the programme where we can. For example, the Experiment strand offers a Development Lab as two flexible options:

Residential (March 2026)
One week (five-days) in person

Relaxed online track (March-April 2026)

Ten half days spread over a longer duration in response to the cohort. Designed for artists with access requirements and/ or caring roles for whom a residential model may not be a good fit. 

Our goal is to create a supportive environment – if you receive funding, we’ll work with you to find the best ways for you to take part.

• Information for Artists & Support Workers
• Online versions of application form
• Alternative formats of funding guidelines 
• Ask about Access Drop-In event Mon 28 Jul
• Unlimited’s website
• Unlimited’s blog post about the first cohort
• Creating Your Own Access Rider

If you can’t find the access information you need on this page, email us or call/ text 07926 699909.

Our phone is staffed part-time, if we are not available when you call you can leave us a voicemail and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

We value feedback to help improve our processes. If you have suggestions or wish to share your experience, fill out this short feedback form.