Organizer Information
Shape Arts is a high-profile, disability-led arts organization based in the UK that works to improve access to culture for disabled people. For over 40 years, Shape has been at the forefront of the Disability Arts Movement, providing opportunities for disabled artists, training cultural institutions to be more inclusive, and advocating for the "Social Model of Disability." This specific project is a collaboration with the National Centre for Accessible Transport (NCAT) and University College London (UCL), combining academic research with creative practice to influence national policy and public perception.
Title & Description
Open Call: Commissioning Disabled Artists to Respond to Urban Accessibility
This commission invites a UK-based disabled artist to create a central, tactile, and spatial installation that brings recent research into "streetscape barriers" to life. The goal is to make the invisible struggles of navigating urban environments tangible and visible to the public and policymakers. The selected artwork will serve as the focal point of a major exhibition at UCL East, sparking dialogue about the emotional and social impacts of inaccessibility. Artists are invited to respond to themes such as "feeling invisible," the "burden of adjusting," "exhaustion," and "unpredictability."
Categories
The call is open to artists working in any medium, including but not limited to:
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Visual Art & Sculpture
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Spatial & Tactile Installation
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Film & Moving Image
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Mixed Media (particularly those using found textures/materials from the streetscape)
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Participatory Art
Eligibility
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Disabled Artists: Applicants must self-identify as disabled (which includes D/deat, neurodivergent, or having long-term health conditions).
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Location: Must be based in the United Kingdom.
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Experience: Artists should have an interest in engaging with academic research and a commitment to making their work accessible to diverse audiences.
Program Benefits & Awards
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Artist Fee: A total commission of £3,000 (inclusive of all materials, travel, and access expenses).
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Exhibition: The work will be showcased at the prestigious UCL East Atrium in London.
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Legacy: The artwork will be moved to a permanent display at the National Centre for Accessible Transport (NCAT) headquarters at Coventry University.
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Profile Raising: Inclusion in an official exhibit report and strategic vision document circulated to policymakers. Digital documentation and promotion through Shape Arts and university networks.
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
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Statement (Max 100 words): Outlining your artistic practice and interest in this specific commission.
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Proposal (Max 500 words): Describing how you would respond to the themes, including details on scale, media, and how the public will interact with the piece.
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Sketches: One or two optional sketches to support the written proposal.
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Portfolio: Up to 5 images or links to previous work (preferably work that interacts with its environment).
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Access Statement: A short note on how the organizers can best support your needs during the process.
How to Apply?
Submissions should be sent via email to Dr. Arun Ulahannan (Assistant Professor at Coventry University and NCAT) at: Arun.Ulahannan@coventry.ac.uk
Key Dates
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Application Deadline: 16 February 2026
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Exhibition Date: June 2026
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Residency/Production Period: Spring 2026 (following selection)
Location
London, United Kingdom
Additional Details
The organizers emphasize that they do not require a "completely worked through" final submission at the application stage—an outline of ideas is sufficient. The artist will maintain creative control but is expected to engage with the lived-experience data and research findings provided by NCAT. This project is intended to be the start of a long-term network between artists and researchers.