‘Support from the British Council has been instrumental in taking ‘relaxed performances’ from a UK-based pilot project in 2012 to being embraced by organisations in the Americas, Europe, Russia and Japan.’ - Jess Thom, Co-Artistic Director of Touretteshero
Life cycle
2012 to the present
Country/Region
Global
Client/Partner
Unlimited
Vision
Our shared vision is to strengthen the presence of high-quality disability-led work in cultural sectors worldwide, ensuring that disabled artists have equitable access to platforms, resources, and international collaboration. We aim to continue building networks, expanding opportunities, and supporting cultural systems that recognise disabled artists as creative leaders. Through this work, we hope to contribute to a more inclusive and diverse global arts landscape.
Situation
Disabled people make up around one seventh of the global population yet continue to face systemic discrimination and are underrepresented in the arts, particularly in mainstream cultural sectors. The Cultural Olympiad and Paralympic movement in 2012 created a high-visibility moment to amplify disability arts and shift public perception. Since then, the British Council has used its global networks to connect deaf and disabled UK artists with international partners, facilitating dialogue across organisations, festivals, and policymakers to encourage more inclusive and innovative practice worldwide.
Implementation
Our long-term disability arts programme, delivered in partnership with Unlimited, supports UK-international collaboration through small grants, new commissions, sector visits, and professional networking across a range of artforms. The aim is to embed high-quality work led by disabled artists into cultural sectors both in the UK and internationally, while increasing access for disabled practitioners, professionals, and audiences. This approach encourages open exchange, experimentation, and learning, and seeks to challenge assumptions about disability in the arts while expanding opportunities for artists and audiences around the world.
Impact
Through the British Council’s partnership with Unlimited, the Unlimited festivals have grown into a respected global platform that enables disabled professionals to collaborate internationally and present work at key festivals in the UK. Since the first Unlimited Showcase in 2012, the British Council has supported disability arts projects in 54 countries through performances, workshops, training, and sector development initiatives. This collaboration has contributed to the establishment of new inclusive performing arts companies in Bangladesh and Indonesia and has helped shift perceptions of disability both within the UK and internationally. We continue to work with Unlimited on a multi-year partnership that includes running the Unlimited Showcase every two years, funding UK-international commissions, and supporting micro-funding awards for artists.
Mutual benefit
The partnership benefits both organisations by combining Unlimited’s leadership in disability arts commissioning with the British Council’s international networks and strategic convening role. For the British Council, the partnership demonstrates a commitment to inclusive practice and strengthens the UK’s position as a leader in disability arts and socially engaged cultural programming. For Unlimited and the artists it supports, the partnership provides access to international partners, platforms, and funding opportunities that expand the reach and sustainability of disability-led artistic practice. Together, the collaboration supports shared learning, sector growth, and long-term cultural exchange.