Between 2024 and 2027, Immersive Arts will be awarding £3.6 million in grant funding to artists based in the UK

Immersive Arts, the 3-year UK-wide programme supporting artists to make and share immersive arts - is launching with free Inspiration Days for anyone interested in finding out more and free Funding Webinars for artists and creatives.

Calling all creatives and artists - find out all about Immersive Arts. An image of a room lit up by red lights being explored by an audience. At the bottom a row of logos from supporting organisations.

Ataraxie Maxime Houot @ Sonica 22 credit Collectif Coin.

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 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. Sign up to the mailing list for updates on the funding calls.

Artists are invited to apply to one of three distinct funding schemes, each designed to support different stages of creative development: 

  • Explore (£5,000): Ideal for individuals, small groups, or organisations (10 employees or fewer) with limited or no experience in immersive arts. Use this grant to explore immersive technologies, develop ideas, experience work, or meet potential collaborators. You will also get support from Immersive Arts Producers to connect with a wider network.
  • Experiment (£20,000): For individuals or micro-entities (10 employees or fewer) to support the creation of experimental immersive art works or prototypes that can be tested with small audiences. You will also join our Development Labs run by Crossover Labs to support you in the development of your ideas. 
  • Extend (£50,000): For individuals, micro-entities, or small organisations (50 employees or fewer) looking to advance existing projects to their next stage for development, testing or presentation. You will receive personalised support and mentoring through Crossover Labs and our wider partnership.

Funding Information Webinars  

These short, online sessions are for anyone who is interested in applying for any of the three levels of Immersive Arts funding, Explore (£5,000), Experiment (£20,000) or Expand (£50,000). Attending one of these sessions will help you decide which of our funds you may apply for, meet our team and ask any questions you may have.

Can’t attend live? Recordings will be available online shortly after each event.

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.

Sign up to one of the following in-person sessions:

Alternatively, you can join us at an online session:

The online session will be recorded and made available online shortly afterwards.

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

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.