New Ground – Access in Process is a development opportunity and future sharing event (November 2026) featuring work-in-progress performances. This opportunity is designed to create space for disabled artists to explore new ways of making work with Creatively Embedded Access and in summary provides:

• development time and budget for two new works in progress to be shared 
• 4 artist opportunities supporting collaborative practice
• A longer lead in time to application (deadline of 13th September)
• Application support including open training and information sessions on August 12th 2-3.30pm and September 3rd 6-7.30pm 

Please see full information below and check out our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS) section. If you have any other questions email all@boptheatre.co.uk.

The Opportunity

BOP are looking to support two new pieces of performance work which explore creatively embedding access into production from the development stage.

The selected artists/creatives will be given paid time to develop their idea and then present a work-in-progress to a peer and industry audience in Glasgow in late November 2026 with an opportunity for feedback on the piece including on the Creatively Embedded Access elements.  

What are we looking for?

We are looking to present two works-in-progress which explore using Creatively Embedded Access to tell the story of the piece. Each proposal should be developed through collaboration between two artists/practitioners – at least one of whom must identify as D/deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent. 

The performances can take any form- theatre, live art, dance, interdisciplinary etc. and the content does not need to be about disability, although it can be if that is what you want to explore. The work-in-progress presented should be between 10 and 20 minutes in length.

Proposals must consider how you will explore creatively embedding access into the work. This can include captions, sign language interpretation, audio description and relaxed principles and can include script, design, staging etc. You will not be expected to embed all areas of accessibility into the work-in-progress presentation. You may instead choose to focus on developing ideas around a few of these areas during your working week, and showcase only one when presenting your work-in-progress.

For example- your proposal may be for a director and a performer looking to engage a visually impaired creative and/or audio description specialist to explore embedding audio description with clowning; or a writer and a performer looking to explore sign language interpretation for solo performance.

The aim of this offer is to give space to disabled artists who have ideas about making performance work with Creatively Embedded Access but haven’t had access to the funds and support to realise it yet.  We are encouraging experimentation and development time in this area to explore the potential of access itself as an artform.

What is the offer?

Artist fees and production budgets reflect the scale of this opportunity as development time to present a work-in-progress performance as part of a scratch style sharing.

Each artist within the pair will be paid £1,000 for their time (1 week including event). Each pair will also have a £1,000 production budget for embedding access in the work. 

BOP can advise and connect you with sign language interpreters, D/deaf performers, audio description specialists, creative captioning specialists, and other creative access specialists you wish to collaborate with.

BOP will provide in-kind consultation on the process of creatively embedding access within the work and other mentoring support as/if required.

The week of development time can be split across as many days/hours as works best for you, and whatever location works best for you. Space will be provided by BOP for the event day only. If you require space and need help with this we are happy to look at how we can support sourcing this.

If you have specific access requirements that you will require BOPs support with, please do let us know (e.g. support sourcing a personal assistant, direct costs for sign language interpreters etc.). This allows us to proactively plan to support access requirements, remove barriers for participating artists and ensure that practicalities or costs related to access are supported effectively by BOP.  

How to apply

Applications open: July 2026

Deadline: midnight, Sunday 13th September 2026

You can download the application guidance below which details the application questions, and also guidance for video applications.

Once you have completed your application, please also complete our Equality Monitoring form here (this is anonymous and has no bearing on your application- it is a requirement of us reporting to our funders so we appreciate you filling it in to support us with this).

If these application processes are not accessible to you, please email us and we will work with you to find an accessible way for you to apply. Email us at all@boptheatre.co.uk

The Selection Process

The proposals will be selected by a panel consisting of BOPs Artistic Director Robert Softley Gale, BOPs Executive Director Mairi Taylor, BOPs Development Officer Morna McGeoch and a member of the BOP Board.

Shortlisted applicants may be invited to have a conversation with BOP about their proposal week beginning September 21st. We will be in contact with all applicants by 28th September. 

Selection criteria

Selected applicants must:

• Identify as being D/deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent (at least one applicant)
• Can demonstrate experience of creating live performance
• Live in Scotland (do not need to be a UK citizen)
• Be aged 18 or over

Selected proposals will:

• Have a compelling creative idea/story
• Include clear ideas for exploring embedding access creatively

Support for your application

Come along to one of our online information sessions. Here we will answer questions about the opportunity, give some guidance on Creatively Embedded Access, and provide space for people to connect creatively if they want to apply but don’t have a collaborator yet!

There will be two sessions: August 12th 2-3.30pm and September 3rd 6-7.30pm (both sessions will cover the same content, so there is no need to attend both).

If you have an idea but don’t have a collaborator yet, you can email us a 50-100 word summary of your idea which we can put on our social media and website. People interested in collaborating can then get in touch with BOP and we can connect you!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: If I were to write a play, do I have to do the acting?  

A: Collaboration is key for this opportunity. If you are a writer, you may want to collaborate with a performer as your partner on the project, or you might choose to collaborate with someone else and pay an actor using your production budget. 

Q: What if a large cast is needed for my proposed piece?

A: It is a fixed budget, so you need to consider the scale you can work to for this work-in-progress. 

Q: What if other people are happy to volunteer to be involved in my work-in-progress?

A: BOP are committed to ensuring that everyone involved in the work we support is treated fairly, so we ask you to consider this in planning your project. People should be paid fairly for their time – how you choose to use your production budget and individual artist budgets is at the artists’ discretion.

Q: Is this opportunity open to people based outside of Scotland?

A: This opportunity is primarily for people based in Scotland. 

Q: Can BOP help to find accommodation locally?

A: If accessible accommodation is required, we may be able to offer support with finding this. Let us know in the application form about any access requirements you may need BOPs support with.

Q: What’s the best way to get in touch with BOP about this opportunity?

A: Contact our Development Officer Morna: morna@boptheatre.co.uk

Q: What counts as creatively embedded access?

A: Many things. You could be considering how you embed sign language interpretation, captions, audio description or relaxed principles. However, you could also explore access for performers who need to be remote, access for deafblind performers, access for Neurodivergent audiences etc.

Q: Do I need to embed all areas of access?

A: No. The fixed budget of £1k production costs should give an indication of what is possible for this scale of work-in-progress. Whatever areas of access are not embedded in your work-in-progress will be covered by BOP for the event.

Q: Does the work-in-progress need to be about being disabled?

A: No, it can be about anything, but the access needs to be integral to what the piece is.

Q: I don’t have a collaborator yet. Can BOP put me in contact with people?

A: We encourage you to send us a description of your idea and what kind of collaborator you are looking for. We can then share this on social media, potential collaborators will get in touch with BOP, and then we can connect you with each other.