What access support is available if I need help completing my application?
Without Walls is committed to making the application process as accessible as possible. We can support up to two days of an access worker’s time per application for a finite number of applicants. We can also provide guidance documents in alternative formats and accept proposals submitted via video or audio. To request access support, please complete the Access Support Form. 

Can I submit my application in an alternative format?
Yes. You can submit your proposal via video or audio if you prefer. Please provide a link to your file in the relevant section of the submission form or email it to [email protected], including your name, company name and project title in the subject line.

Can I discuss my proposal with someone before submitting?
Yes. We offer one-to-one conversations with the Programme team. Please email [email protected] to book a slot.

What support does the Creation and Touring Programme include?
Financial support towards the creation and development of your project. This comes from Without Walls and the Artistic Directorate. Bookings to present the work across several of the Artistic Directorate festivals. Training opportunities around accessibility and environmental sustainability in outdoor arts. Bespoke support from the Without Walls programme team.

What artforms do you support?
Without Walls supports work across the full range of outdoor arts, including circus, street theatre, dance, theatre, puppetry, installation and beyond. We are looking for shows that are innovative and ambitious and that challenge the idea of what outdoor arts can be. If you are unsure whether your work fits our programme, please contact us at [email protected] before submitting.

Do I need to have made outdoor work before?
No. Without Walls supports both experienced and emerging artists, including those creating work for the outdoors for the first time.

Can I apply for a show that requires night-time or low-light conditions?
We are not able to support performances that require low-light or darkness conditions. The majority of our programme takes place in hours of daylight. Work with a dusk element that can also be performed in daylight may still be eligible. If you are unsure whether your work falls into this category, please contact us before submitting.

Does my project need to have undergone research and development (R&D) before I apply?
No, but we strongly encourage it. The creation period between award and first performance is short (November to May), so proposals that can demonstrate an existing foundation of development are likely to be stronger. Prior R&D is not a requirement for eligibility.

Can I apply if my show has already toured?
Yes, provided it has not already toured to more than three or four festivals. If your show is already fully funded and you are only seeking tour dates, you may be eligible for touring only support.

Can I include international collaborators in my project?
Yes, but the lead partner must be based in the UK. For international collaborators, please consider travel costs, practicality and environmental impact carefully.

How much funding can I request?
You can request up to £60,000 to support the creation of your work. Most awards are in the region of £15,000 to £40,000, reflecting the scale of the work and the audiences it is likely to reach. The average grant awarded in 2026 was £30,000.

Can I request additional funding for access costs?
Yes. Funding to cover personal access costs for you and your collaborators, and costs associated with integrating access provisions for audiences, sits outside the £60,000 limit and can be requested in addition to your creation budget.

Do I need match funding to apply?
No. You do not need to have match funding in place to be eligible for Creation and Touring support. If you do have other funders or supporters involved in your project, please include them in your budget and indicate whether their contribution is confirmed or pending.

What do you mean when you say a project is ‘led by’ a particular group?
We consider a project to be diverse-led based on who has genuine creative control. The criteria vary depending on whether you are an individual artist, a collaborative team or a company. Full details are set out in Appendix 1 of the Completing Your Proposal document.

Who makes the decisions about the programme?
The Without Walls Artistic Directorate, made up of nine festival partners, selects the programme. They are joined by a number of independent assessors at the selection meeting. Full details of the selection process, including the scoring criteria, are set out in section 15 of the guidance notes.

Do I need to know a member of the Artistic Directorate to be selected?
No. The open call exists precisely so that our partners can discover new artists. Every year the programme features artists who are new to the outdoor arts sector or to working with Without Walls.

What happens after I submit?
We will contact you as soon as possible after the selection meeting in late October to let you know the outcome. If your proposal is unsuccessful and you would like feedback, please contact us at [email protected] and we will provide constructive written feedback.