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Before you apply, make sure you have read our Guidance for Applicants.

The first time you start an application, you'll be asked to create an account. Once your account is set up, you can log in and return to your application as often as you like, including after you've submitted it, up until the application deadline on 9 September. Your progress is automatically saved whenever you leave the site.

The Sky Foundation is responsible for how your personal data is used for this programme. We’ll collect information such as your contact details, details about your dance practice and creative project, any video footage you choose to include, and any diversity and access information you choose to share. We use this information to manage the programme and assess applications.

Providing diversity and access information is entirely optional. If you choose to share information such as your ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity, we will only use it with your consent. You can withdraw that consent at any time by emailing skyfoundation@sky.uk. Withdrawing your consent will not affect any processing already carried out or the assessment of your application.

To help deliver the programme, the Sky Foundation works with Sky UK Limited and TheSpace CIC, who process personal data on our behalf. For more information, including on your rights, please see Sky’s Privacy Notice.

If you need to submit your application in a different format because of an access requirement, please get in touch with us. We’re happy to discuss the best way to support you. You can use the Contact Form.

Personal and contact information

Applicant Details

First name *
Surname *
Preferred Pronouns
If “Other” please describe *
Email address *
Mobile number *
Alternative phone number
Country *
Postcode *
What is the main dance genre your work focuses on? *
If “Other” please describe

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply to this programme you must meet all these criteria:
I will be aged 18 or over on 25th January 2027 *
I am a UK citizen or have been ordinarily resident in the UK since 1st January 2022 *
I am currently working or recently working professionally as a dance artist or dance maker *
This means that, since 1st January 2022, you have received some income for this type of work, either as an employee, freelancer or recipient of grant funding and that you consider your arts practice to be your main career or profession.
I am not already an established dance maker *
This means that you do not already have a high professional profile and you do not already have experience staging funded work for large audiences.
I am available to participate in the programme and the selection process *
This means that:

If shortlisted, you:
- Are available to participate in an online meeting with Sky Arts between 9th–20th November 2026
- Can create a short video about your project to be supplied by 7th December 2026
If your application is successful, you:
- Plan to be resident in the UK from January 2027 to January 2028
- Do not plan to be in full-time employment or education between January 2027 and January 2028
- Can commit the required time to your project and participate fully in the 12-month programme
- Are available to take part in the end-of-year showcase in London in January 2028

About you

Artistic Practice

Your dance experience *
Please tell us about your experience creating dance projects. What kind of dance practice do you have and how have you developed it so far? What interests, ideas, styles or themes do you explore in your work?
Example of your work *
Please provide examples that illustrate your experience creating dance projects. You can upload one of the following:
- A video file (max. 3 minutes and 500MB in one of these file formats: .mp4, .mov)
- A document (max. 5 pages and 10MB in one of these file formats: .docx, .pdf)
- A link to a website or social media account
Link to example (if applicable)
Please provide any password, username or other instructions needed to access your example. (50 words max)
What was your role in this example? *
Please tell us about your role in creating the example piece of work you’ve shared, and what you learned or gained from the experience.

Your project

Project

What is the working title of your project? (This can change as your project develops) *
Tell us about the dance project you would like to develop through this bursary. What is the creative idea at its heart? *
We’re not looking for a fully developed project proposal at this stage. Instead, tell us about the creative idea behind your project. This might be a story, theme, question, character, approach, or anything else that inspires you.

What makes the idea exciting or distinctive? Why is it important to you? What do you hope audiences might take away from it?

The idea should be your own original work and still at an early stage of development. It should not be a project that has already been publicly performed, presented or screened for a significant audience.

Please see the Guidance for Applicants section for more information.
Supporting information and materials *
You may upload or share up to two supporting items that help bring your project idea to life.

You can upload the following:
- A video file (max. 3 minutes and 500MB in one of these file formats: .mp4, .mov)
- A document (max. 5 pages and 10MB in one of these file formats: .docx, .pdf)
- A link to a website or social media account
Supporting material link (if applicable)
Please provide any password, username or other instructions needed to access your supporting item(s)
How would you use this bursary to develop your project over the bursary year (January 2027–January 2028)? *
We do not need a project plan or budget at this stage. We’re interested in your broad thinking about how you might develop your idea. This might include:
- Ideas for research, experimentation, development and collaboration
- The resources you might need, such as space, rehearsal time, collaborators, equipment/materials or a project producer
- Any ambitions for staging or sharing the work beyond our showcase event
- Other uses of our funding to support the development of your project
Each successful applicant will showcase their work at an event at the end of the bursary year in January 2028. For more information about the showcase, please see the Guidance for Applicants.
Has your project idea already received any funding, investment, in-kind support or other resources to help develop or produce it? *
Don't worry if you haven't secured any other funding or support for your project. The bursary is intended to give you the resources, time and support needed to develop and realise your idea.
If your project has already received funding or other support, please tell us who has provided it, what was offered—for example, funding, rehearsal space, mentoring or equipment—and any conditions attached. *
This might include things such as ownership or credit arrangements for the finished work, or whether the support depends on other funding or approvals being secured.

Why is this the right opportunity for you?

Bursary Statement

Why would you benefit from this bursary at this point in your dance career? *
Please tell us how this bursary could support your development as an artist and help you progress your career as a dance-maker.
What kind of support would help you develop your project and also support you to take the next step in your dance career? *
This could include things like:
- Mentoring support from a choreographer, dramaturg or musician
- Production advice around areas like budgeting, contracting or copyright
- Design, staging or technology advice
- Industry networking opportunities
Are there any barriers that make it more difficult for you to develop your career in dance?
If you would like to, you can tell us about any personal circumstances that affect your ability to progress your career.

This might include disability or long-term health conditions, caring responsibilities, financial challenges or other factors that impact your opportunities or development.

Sharing this information is optional, but it can help us better understand your circumstances and the support that may be most beneficial to you.

Declarations and submission

Declarations

I confirm that the information provided in my application is true to the best of my knowledge *
I confirm that my project proposal is my own original work *
I accept the terms and conditions of the programme *
The diversity and access information you provide in section 6 may include information about your racial or ethnic origin, disability or health conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity, and/or religion or belief. We need your consent to use this information for the purposes below. Please tick each box separately. You may consent to one, both, or neither.
You can withdraw either or both consents at any time by emailing dp.department@sky.uk or using the Contact Form on the programme website. Withdrawing consent will not affect the lawfulness of processing carried out before withdrawal, nor will it affect the assessment of your application. *
I consent to Sky Foundation using my diversity and access information at the longlisting, shortlisting, and final selection stages to support the creation of a balanced cohort of artists. *
I consent to Sky Foundation using my diversity and access information (in anonymised and aggregated form where possible) for monitoring, reporting on, and improving the accessibility and reach of the programme. *

The deadline for applications to be submitted is Wednesday, 9 September 2026 at 9am