Over the next 3 years Immersive Arts will be awarding £3.6 million in grant funding to artists based in the UK, the first of three rounds of funding will open in October 2024. This series of free Funding Information Webinars and Inspiration Days, which will be presented both online and in person across the UK, aim to help potential artists and creatives to decide which of the available funds they might apply for, to meet the team, and to ask any questions.  

What is Immersive Arts?

This term ‘Immersive Art’ has many meanings to different people across various sectors. For this programme, we simply mean art that uses technology to actively involve the audience. 

This new programme is particularly interested in the use of how virtual, augmented and extended reality can be used to create artwork that bridges physical and digital spaces, engages multiple senses, and connects people with each other and their environment.

Verity McIntosh, Director of Immersive Arts, Associate Professor at UWE Bristol says:

Immersive Arts is a new and exciting programme that will provide research, training, mentoring, and vital funds to artists from all across the UK. I’m looking forward to meeting some of the potential applicants at our events in September and October and sharing more about our plans to support a diverse community of artists over the next three years.

Immersive Arts is led by the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol), with the lead hub at Pervasive Media Studio in Bristol, and Watershed as Executive Producer. 

Working in close partnership with University of Bristol and cultural organisations in Belfast and Derry (Nerve Centre), Cardiff (Wales Millennium Centre) and Glasgow (Cryptic), Immersive Arts will generate a rich programme of inclusive and accessible opportunities, breaking down the barriers for artists of all backgrounds to engage with immersive tools. 

The training and showcasing programme will be led by Crossover Labs, with strategic input from Unlimited, Innovate UK Immersive Tech Network and XR Diversity Initiative and an international Advisory Board. 

What funding is available?

Immersive Arts will be awarding £3.6 million in grant funding to artists based in the UK between 2024 and 2027, with the first of three rounds of funding opening in October 2024.

You can read more about the funds here.

You can either sign up for updates on the funding calls by joining the mailing list here and / or you sign up for one of the Inspiration Days and Funding Webinars. 

We are hosting this series of  Information Webinars and Inspiration Days, both online and across the UK. The aim is to help potential applicants decide which of their funds they might apply for, to meet the team, and to ask any questions. 

Funding Information Webinars

At these short online sessions you can meet the team and find out about the three types of funding that will shortly be open.  

Wed  9 Oct 1pm-2pm, register here (this webinar will feature BSL translation)
Tue 15 Oct 5pm-6pm, register here (this session will be Audio described)
Wed 30 Oct  11am-12pm, register here (this is an 'Ask about access drop-in session')

Can’t attend live? Recordings of the first two sessions will be available on our website shortly after each event. We will not be recording the 'ask about access drop-in session.

Inspiration Days

For artists with little or no experience working with immersive technology, these day-long workshops led by Crossover Labs, have been designed to help demystify immersive art and offer some inspiration for your creative practice. The sessions are free and open to all but are particularly aimed at those considering applying for the Explore grant funding.

The Inspiration Days are happening at the following locations: 

• Glasgow: Wed 25 Sept, 10am-5pm – Register here

• Belfast: Fri 27 Sept, 10am-5pm – Register here

• Cardiff: Wed 2 Oct, 10am-5pm – Register here

• Sheffield: Wed 16 Oct, 10am-5pm – Register here

• Bristol: Fri 18 Oct, 10am-5pm – Register here

Not able to join in person, or prefer to connect online? Join us on Tue 22 Oct, 10am-12.pm – Register here

For more information on Immersive Arts sign up to the mailing list.

Funding Information 

Funding for Immersive Arts is provided through a collaboration between the UKRI Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Arts Council England, the Arts Council of Wales (ACW), Creative Scotland and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland (ACNI). Funding from Creative Scotland, ACW and ACNI is provided by The National Lottery.

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