The initiative is the largest programme of its kind in the UK and encourages collaborations and partnerships with mainstream organisations to celebrate the inspiration of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The £3 million ($5 million/€3.5 million) scheme is principally funded by the National Lottery through the Olympic Lottery Distributor, and is delivered in by a collaboration of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad, Arts Council England, the UK Arts Councils and the British Council.

"As we announce the final Unlimited commissions, I'm struck by the enormous diversity and scale of ambition of these artists," said Moira Sinclair, executive director London, for Arts Council England.

"The work of deaf and disabled artists has been going from strength to strength, and we are thrilled that these extraordinary projects will help form the centrepiece of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad.

"It promises a truly long lasting legacy of increased profile for this groundbreaking art."

These latest commissions include a children's theatre show taking families on an adventure inside a beehive, an animated film about a group of misshapen toys who escape from their factory, and a comedy show about a "demotivational" speaker.


Four of the commissions are international collaborations, which will be supported by the British Council, and include partnerships between groups of disabled performers in the North East and Brazil, and a digital musical collaboration between artists in seven countries.

London 2012 Cultural Olympiad director Ruth Mackenzie said: "Unlimited is about commissioning world-class artists to create brilliant work which will change perceptions of the work of disabled and deaf artists.

"Through the Cultural Olympiad this is the largest commissioning fund for disabled and deaf artists the UK has ever seen."

The previous commissions were announced in March 2010 and January 2011, and saw 23 artists awarded funds totalling £1.2 million ($1.9 million/€1.4 million).

Commissions supported include a dance work exploring the fusion of classical ballet and contemporary dance, a circus show exploring the ups and downs of bipolar disorder and thousands of handmade ceramic flowers that will appear in historic gardens around Britain in 2012.

"The artists being recognised through the Unlimited programme truly represent the Olympic and Paralympic spirit," said Ed Vaizey, minister for the Cultural Olympiad.

"Their talent and commitment are inspirational and these awards will mean that excellent, innovative works can be enjoyed throughout the country."

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