Unlimited

Unlimited is a programme of commissions that celebrate arts and culture by disabled and deaf artists in the UK, which will run concurrently with the Paralympic Games and feature in the Festival of the World programme at London Southbank Centre as part of the London 2012 Festival. 

It is our hope that we will be able to identify touring opportunities for the finished work from November/December 2012 as part of the legacy of the Unlimited programme and the London 2012 Games. 

Five international collaborations commissioned:

Breathe
(Diverse City (UK) and APAE (Learning Disabled Dance Company, Forianopolis in Brazil)

Breathe will be an outdoor spectacle for the opening of the London 2012 Olympic Games on Weymouth beach, telling the story of the Olympian god of wind, Aeolis.

The performance will be unleashed upon an audience of 10,000, as our differences, diversity and stories are blown centre stage. A company of 80 professional and amateur performers will realise the creative vision of renowned disabled artists Jamie Beddard, Alex Bulmer, Mat Fraser and David Toole, supported by Diverse City and in collaboration with APAE, Brazil. Collaborating companies will include Double Act, Cirque Bijou, Remix, JAM, State of Emergency, Activate, Desperate Men and APAE from Brazil. 

Follow their blog here. For details about the performance taking place on 28th July at Weymouth Beach, please click here.

Boomba Down the Tyne
(Featuring Lawnmowers (UK), Opaxoro Dance & Percussion Company and Orquestra Sertao/Urucungo Association Point of Culture both from Brazil)

Learning disabled artists are at the heart of this collaboration between Brazil and North East England. The Lawnmowers, together with various Brazilian artists and producers will create an inspirational large-scale performance for venues down the Tyne which explores and celebrates northern culture and spirit during the Blaydon Races, Newcastle in 2012.

For further details on the performances which will take place between 1st - 9th September, please click here.

The Dean Rodney Singers
(Produced by Heart’ n Soul (UK) and featuring various artists from Brazil, China, Croatia, Germany, Japan and South Africa)

Dean Rodney, a young artist with autism, will lead this participatory music project. Using technology to connect with artists from seven countries across the world to create a new kind of music, the audience will become part of the project, seeing the music as it is being created and helping to develop it. Leading creative producing company Heart’ n Soul will produce the work.

Follow their blog at Dean Rodney Singers. For details on the performances between 1st – 9th September at the Southbank Centre, please click here.

The Impending Storm
(David Toole, Lucy Hind and Remix Dance Company from South Africa)

Acclaimed dancer David Toole has collaborated with a team of UK and South African artists, both able-bodied and disabled. The Impending Storm created with Birmingham based artist Mark Storor is personal, particular and political. The work is an explosive and emotional look at the stories that we tell, and the stories that we are. The dancers of Remix Dance Company, South Africa’s only professional integrated dance company, will perform with UK-based David Toole and Lucy Hind. UK musician Dom Coyote in collaboration with South African singer Sandile Gontsana provide a passionate spoken text and sung score, that effortlessly crosses  geographic and cultural continents. Pushing the boundaries of integrated dance the piece will premiere at International Dance Festival Birmingham. See also the artist's blog for latest developments.  

Unlimited Global Alchemy
(Featuring Rachel Gadsden (UK), Nondumiso Hlwele and the Bambanani Women’s Group from South Africa)

Unlimited Global Alchemy is led by visual artist Rachel Gadsden in collaboration with South African artist and activist Nondumiso Hlwele and the Bambanani Women’s Group based in Khayelitsha Township near Cape Town. Together they will explore issues of identity, survival in the face of chronic medical conditions, and the politics of HIV.

The project will culminate in an exhibition of large-scale visual artworks, a performance and a documentary film shown at the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology in Cambridge in July - August 2012, touring to London during the Paralympics and then internationally.

Follow their work at the Unlimited Global Alchemy Blog. For more information about exhibitions between 22nd June and 9th September in South Africa and the UK as well as an exhibition at the Southbank Centre between 1st – 9th September (ticket details to be announced in March), please visit this site.

About the Unlimited Programme

Unlimited is principally funded by the National Lottery through the Olympic Lottery Distributor, and is delivered in partnership between London 2012, Arts Council England, Creative Scotland, Arts Council of Wales, Arts Council of Northern Ireland and the British Council.  Unlimited is delivered through four pillars:

•    Unlimited Commissions:  Over three years artists have been applying for awards as part of a £1.9 million commission fund to support high quality collaborations between disabled and deaf artists and producers. Applications had to respond to a number of criteria including:

o    Celebrating London and the whole of the UK welcoming the world
o    Inspiring and involving young people
o    Increasing opportunities for the public to engage in arts activities
o    Generating a positive legacy

•    Unlimited Talent:  Successful applicants receive support in developing their commission winning ideas through bespoke training and mentoring from experienced practitioners

•    Unlimited Presents:  Work created through Unlimited Commissions will be showcased in London and across the UK up to and including games time.   

•    Unlimited International:  Supporting collaboration between artists in the UK and other countries, and showcasing new work around the world. It will also promote a global debate amongst young people about disability rights.  This pillar of the programme is being led by the British Council.

There have been three rounds of commissions: over £400,000 awarded to 10 commissions in the first round, more than £820,000 to 13 commissions in the second round and £700,000 to 12 commissions in the third and final round.

The British Council global programme inspired by the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games

Big Dance, BT River of Music, English for the Games, International Inspiration, International Showcase, International Voices, Poetry Parnassus, Unlimited, The Changing Room, World Olympic Dreams, World Shakespeare Festival and World Stages