Because we need you here.
Running your own theatre company is hard enough without the bureaucracy, cost, and uncertainty of dealing with the UK's hostile immigration system. Migrant artists are crucial to our stages and our sector, which is why we're doing what we can to help alleviate the barriers you're facing.
Throughout this season, we will be distributing grants of £500 to migrant theatre makers within our remit to ease the burden of visa, legal, and other bureaucratic costs affecting migrants navigating UK immigration. The amount is equal to the fee for a priority application service or a solicitor application review, easing the mental and emotional pressure of waiting months for a decision or compiling your materials on your own.
Eligibility
To be eligible to receive this grant, you must:
- Be a migrant theatre maker living and working in the UK
- Be an artist within our remit (engaged in the creation of your own work, particularly through devised and collaborative making processes)
- Be in the midst of or preparing to undertake a UKVI application process over the next 12 months
- Have a UK bank account with which you can receive the funds
It is our hope that these grants will go to those who are handling their own applications and are otherwise unable to hire a full-time solicitor to compile their application.
We will not be asking any questions or doing any screening about your level of financial need, but ask that you please consider whether this is a resource that you already have access to before submitting.
Selection Process
Grants will be allocated through a monthly lottery selection between November 2025 and June 2026. There will be two submission periods, one running until the end of October 2025 and the other running throughout February 2026.
The draw will take place in the middle of each month, with one successful applicant receiving the funds on receipt of invoice. If you are unsuccessful, you will automatically be rolled forward into the next month's lottery for another chance to be selected (no need to reapply).
Apply Now
Applications for the autumn lottery selections are now open. The deadline for submissions is 10:00am on Monday 27th October. All applicants will be updated by the 15th of each following month as to whether they've been successful.
Apply Now
If you would like to view the application questions in advance of filling out the form, you can download them below:
Application Questions (Large Print PDF)
If you have any questions, get in touch with us at [email protected] and we would be happy to help.