Mind the Gap remains an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation

Mind the Gap is pleased to announce that the company will continue to be funded for the next three years (2023 – 26) as an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation.

The funding, totalling £310,864 each year (£932,592 in total), will enable Mind the Gap to continue to deliver bold, cutting edge, world class performance and live art experiences, as well as developing the talents of artists with learning disabilities and autism.

Executive Director Julia Skelton said, “We’re absolutely delighted to retain our Arts Council England (ACE) regular investment, especially in the context of competition with so many deserving organisations, not all of which could be funded. In this next period, we’ll continue to develop our national touring impact and partnership work with theatre venues and festivals. To play an active role in delivering ACE’s 10-year Let’s Create strategy Mind the Gap will step up our activity locally and regionally to engage new audiences from different backgrounds and lived experiences. We’ll be building on links and partnerships close to home to play an active, major role in delivering a successful and celebratory Bradford City of Culture 2025.”

The £310,864 of funding for the next three years includes additional investment of £59,940 per year from Arts Council England, which is specifically earmarked to advance how Mind the Gap supports the development of learning disabled and autistic artists, including advancing individuals’ creative ideas, new opportunities and fair pay.

Over the next three years, Mind the Gap will be working towards opportunities as part of Bradford 2025, including the development of a new, large-scale outdoor performance building on the legacy of the successful and acclaimed ZARA (2019) – so watch this space! We will also be continuing our work in developing the arts sector to improve access for people with learning disabilities and autism: as artists, creatives, participants and audiences.