Join us for a special screening and Q&A with the incredible shortlisted filmmakers of The Arts Foundation Futures Awards 2026 for Film!

Book your tickets today via the ICA website

Forms of Truth: Rising Non-Fiction Filmmakers
Tuesday 27 January 2026
6:30 pm at ICA, London

Discover the next wave of documentary filmmakers at this gathering of bold, boundary-pushing non-fiction storytelling. Join us for an evening of standout films from four rising artists, followed by an in-depth conversation led by Lindsay Poulton, Editorial Director of Film & TV and Head of Documentaries at The Guardian.

The films from visionary artists introduce sharp contemporary perspectives, illuminating the evolving landscape and compelling future of documentary film.

The featured artists will be announced in January 2026.

The artists have been selected by leading industry figures: Asif Kapadia (Filmmaker), Danny Leigh (Chief Film Critic, Financial Times), and Lindsay Poulton (The Guardian). The recipient of the £20,000 Arts Foundation Film Fellowship will be announced at an awards ceremony in February.

Presented as part of London Short Film Festival.

Each year we invite established professionals, subject experts, artists and creatives from across the UK to form part of the independent Jury that will select this year’s Shortlisted Artists and Fellow.

We are thrilled to share that the Arts Foundation Futures Awards 2026 for Visual Art Jury Members are:

Simeon Barclay

Simeon Barclay (b.1975, Huddersfield, UK) spent his formative years during the 90s employed as a machine operative whilst being devoted to the transformative potential of clubs, music, fashion and youth culture movements across the UK. Channelling those alternative modes of expression, he would later attend night school before taking up a place at art college, graduating in 2014 with an MFA at Goldsmiths College. Barclay is the recipient of the Roberts Institute of Art, Practising Performance Commission, the inaugural Ares Art Award, and was included in the Heywood Gallery Touring exhibition; British Art Show 9. Selected projects and exhibitions have been presented at the ICA, South London Gallery, Somerset House, Tate Britain, London; Fruitmarket Gallery, Edinburgh; Manchester Art Gallery, Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester. Barclay lives and works in West Yorkshire, England.

Eva Langret

Eva Langret is Director, EMEA for Frieze, where she leads on two of the world’s most influential art fairs: Frieze London and Frieze Masters. Passionate about championing emerging artistic talent, she is the Vice Chair of the board of the Camden Art Centre, a place for world-class contemporary art exhibitions and education, a trustee of Fluxus Arts Project, a not-for-profit organisation created by the Institut français du Royaume-Uni, and a trustee of Forma, a London-based non-profit organisation supporting emerging and mid-career British and international artists.

Prof. Sook-Kyung Lee

Prof. Sook-Kyung Lee is Director of the Whitworth and Professor of Curatorial Practices at The University of Manchester. Lee has worked as curator, writer, and lecturer in the UK and internationally, advocating global art histories and transnational curating. She was Artistic Director of the 14th Gwangju Biennale (2023), titled soft and weak like water, which explored themes of resistance, indigeneity, decoloniality and ecology. She also served as the Commissioner and Curator of the Korea Pavilion at the 56th Venice Biennale (2015), presenting Kyungwon Moon and Joonho Jeon. She was Curator of the Japan Pavilion at the 60th Venice Biennale (2024), represented by the artist Yuko Mohri. Lee was previously Senior Curator, International Art at Tate Modern, working in exhibitions and acquisitions, and headed a major multi-year research initiative ‘Hyundai Tate Research Centre: Transnational’, overseeing its strategic vision and associated programming. Exhibitions she curated include Santiago Yahuarcani: The Beginning of Knowledge at the Whitworth (2025-26), Mirroring: Lucio Fontana and Michelangelo Pistoletto at Prada Rongzhai (2025), A Year in Art: Australia 1992 at Tate Modern (2021-23), Nam June Paik at Tate Modern (2019-21), and CAMP: From Gulf to Gulf to Gulf at Tate Modern (2019-20).

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The Arts Foundation Futures Awards support the UK’s most promising artists and creatives at a pivotal moment in their careers with £20,000 unconditional Fellowships.

The Visual Art Award Shortlist will be revealed in January 2026, and the recipient of the £20,000 Fellowship will be announced at a live Award Ceremony in February 2026, with all Shortlisted Artists each awarded £1,000.

The Visual Art Award is supported by The Yoma Sasburg Estate.

Follow the Arts Foundation on Instagram and LinkedIn for all the latest awards news and updates.

If you’d like to discuss press and media opportunities, please contact us: press@artsfoundation.co.uk.

Each year we invite established professionals, subject experts, artists and creatives from across the UK to form part of the independent Jury that will select this year’s Shortlisted Artists and Fellow.

We are thrilled to share that the Arts Foundation Futures Awards 2026 for Theatre Jury Members are:

Tosin Cole

Tosin was born in Florida but moved to London as a child. He is of dual US and UK nationality.

Tosin took up acting at a young age, and regularly attended the Intermission Youth Theatre group which was formative in his desire to become a professional actor.

Tosin’s first professional role was in the BBC series THE CUT, which was one of the first ‘online only’ TV series that the BBC produced. Since then Tosin has gone on to appear in a variety of TV projects including THE SECRETS, a BBC TV series created and directed by Dominic Savage, and was a regular in BBC’S DR WHO.

Tosin has appeared in several feature films including STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS in the role of Lieutenant Bastian, BURNING SANDS, a movie for Netflix directed by Gerard McMurray in which he played the leading role of Frank, UNLOCKED directed by Michael Apted in which he played Amjad and EAR FOR EYE directed by debbie tucker green.

Tosin has worked extensively in theatre. He appeared in THEY DRINK IT IN THE CONGO at The Almedia, STOP at the Trafalgar Studios and EAR FOR EYE at the Royal Court. In 2023 he was the lead in the two-hander romantic work, SHIFTERS, which premiered at The Bush Theatre before transferring to London’s West End in 2024. It received widespread critical acclaim.

In 2022 Tosin was seen in AMC’s limited series, 61ST STREET in which he played Moses. He was also seen in the LeBron James produced reboot of the feature, HOUSE PARTY in the lead role. Finally, TILL, directed by Chinonye Chukwu in which he played Medgar Evers. Tosin can currently be seen playing the lead role of Michael, in SUPACELL for Netflix.

Prior to the release of SUPACELL, Tosin played Tyrone Downie in the feature, BOB MARLEY: ONE LOVE.

In 2024 Tosin shot 3 BAGS FULL (Kyle Balda) in a leading role alongside Emma Thompson, Hugh Jackman, and Nicholas Galatzine. Tosin is currently shooting the feature, CHILDREN OF BLOOD AND BONE for Paramount in which he plays Tzian.

Tosin lives in London. Outside his acting his interests include basketball and trainers.

Francesca Moody MBE

Francesca Moody MBE is an Olivier award-winning Theatre Producer. She is best known as the original producer of the multi-award winning, ‘Fleabag’ by Phoebe Waller-Bridge and ‘Baby Reindeer’ by Richard Gadd.

In 2020, with Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Francesca led and coordinated the Fleabag for Charity campaign, streaming Fleabag NT Live on Amazon and Soho Theatre on Demand, raising over £1,000,000 for charities supporting those affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. With Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Olivia Colman, Francesca later established the Theatre Community Fund, raising a further £1,000,000 to support theatrical artists and professionals whose livelihoods and creative futures have been threatened in the wake of Covid-19.

Francesca is also the former Producer of British new writing theatre company Paines Plough, where she produced and developed plays by leading UK playwrights including Dennis Kelly, Duncan Macmillan, James Graham and Kae Tempest. She was also the Executive Producer at curious directive.

Francesca has received an Olivier Award, ten Fringe First Awards and three Off West End Awards for her productions. She is interim Co-Chair of the Board of Trustees for Theatre Royal Stratford East, a Trustee of the Royal Theatrical Fund and an Honorary Associate of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. In 2022 she was awarded an MBE for services to Charitable Fundraising for the Arts in the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Honours.

Rufus Norris

Rufus Norris was Director and CEO of the National Theatre from 2015-2025. Prior to that he was Associate Director at the National and Young Vic Theatres, and has directed theatre and film in London, New York, across the UK and internationally.

While Director of the National Theatre, Rufus oversaw more than 170 productions at the theatre’s South Bank venue, directing 13 himself. During his tenure he drove forward key commitments to staging new work, increasing representation on and off stage, making theatre more sustainable and increasing the National Theatre’s nationwide and global presence.

He has been the recipient of numerous theatre and film awards, two honorary doctorates, and was Knighted for Services to Theatre in 2025. Since leaving the NT he has taken a step back to rejuvenate and start building projects for the future. He is married to Tanya Ronder, and they have two sons.

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The Arts Foundation Futures Awards support the UK’s most promising artists and creatives at a pivotal moment in their careers with £20,000 unconditional Fellowships.

The Theatre Award Shortlist will be revealed in January 2026, and the recipient of the £20,000 Fellowship will be announced at a live Award Ceremony in February 2026, with all Shortlisted Artists each awarded £1,000.

Follow the Arts Foundation on Instagram and LinkedIn for all the latest awards news and updates.

If you’d like to discuss press and media opportunities, please contact us: press@artsfoundation.co.uk.

Each year we invite established professionals, subject experts, artists and creatives from across the UK to form part of the independent Jury that will select this year’s Shortlisted Artists and Fellow.

We are thrilled to share that the Arts Foundation Futures Awards 2026 for Music Jury Members are:

Suzy Klein

Suzy Klein is responsible for commissioning all arts and classical music content for BBC television channels and iPlayer.

She oversees a wide range of programmes, from returning favourites such as Extraordinary Portraits, Fake or Fortune, Hidden Treasure of the National Trust and the BAFTA Award winning series Rob & Rylan’s Grand Tour to premium series and boxsets including Rise of a Genius and Civilisations.

Classical music makes up a large proportion of Suzy’s brief, including commissioning The Proms for TV and events including Cardiff Singer of the World and BBC Young Musician. Working with the BBC’s performing groups, her team have created a new series on BBC Four – Inside Classical – bringing the orchestras to TV viewers throughout the year. Recent classical music and performance programmes include The Read, Dance Passion and Big Night of Musicals by the National Lottery.

Before joining BBC commissioning, Suzy was a presenter on TV and radio, specialising in music and arts, and previously spent more than a decade working in factual TV production.

Tom Service

Tom Service presents the Saturday Morning programme and the New Music Show for BBC Radio 3, where he wrote and presented 250 editions of The Listening Service, and hosted Music Matters from 2003. His writing about music is at theguardian.com, he was Gresham Professor of Music from 2018-19, and Guest Artistic Director of the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival in 2005. He has made films for the BBC about composers from Mozart to Saariaho, and has been part of the radio and TV coverage of the BBC Proms for more than twenty years. His books include Music as Alchemy: Journeys with Great Conductors and their Orchestras, and Full of Noises, interviews with the composer Thomas Adès.

Rakhi Singh

Rakhi Singh is a violinist, creative director and composer based in Manchester.

As a solo artist she released her 2023 debut solo album ‘Purnima’ on Bang on a Can’s Cantaloupe Music label but has also released a number of records on Bedroom Community, two albums as curator/director of Manchester Collective and her debut composition/production EP ‘Quarry’.

She has performed in many major venues and festivals around Europe, the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg; Concertgebouw Amsterdam; National Concert Hall Dublin; Funkhaus Berlin; Kings Place London; Cheltenham Festival; Supersonic; Bach Thuringen; Ludwigsburg Festival, Kilkenny Festival and Walden Festival. Her artistic life is split into many different roles – performing, recording, collaboration, mentoring and creatively directing.

As a creative director she made a film for the Royal Opera House starring Blackhaine, and has devised large scale works for Manchester Collective and the Southbank Centre, working with Chris Watson and Carlos Casas on an immersive experience of Michael Gordon’s Weather. Designing a light installation for a tour of Rothko Chapel, the iconic piece by Morton Feldman and most recently creating Refractions – a collaboration with British producer Clark and choreographer Melanie Lane for Multitudes Festival 2025 at The Southbank Centre.

As a collaborative composer she has written a number of works with Vessel/Sebastian Gainsborough, NYX Electronic Drone Choir, Laura Cannell, Simmy Singh and Go-go Penguin. She is often heard on film sound tracks, live on Radio 3 and on the records of Clark, Fever Ray, Able Selaocoe, Olivia Chaney, Vessel and Hania Rani.

In 2016 she co-founded Manchester Collective who perform over 50 concerts a year nationally and internationally and work with a huge variety of artists from many different genres. They are resident at the Southbank Centre London.

She thrives on the sharing of artistic languages and creating safe and explorative spaces for artists. This has led her into education and mentoring. After leading a group for 2 years at the RAM she is currently running Manchester Collective Studio at the RNCM and running a residency for Warp Records, working intensively for a week with 3 producers on the space between electronic and acoustic music, culminating in a performance in Unsound and the Southbank.

Through her curating she continues to endeavour to bring important music to the fore and as a soloist and with the Collective she has premiered over 30 new works over the last 10 years.

Born to an English mother and Indian father in rural Wales, Rakhi’s upbringing was influenced by many different cultures and traditions.

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The Arts Foundation Futures Awards support the UK’s most promising artists and creatives at a pivotal moment in their careers with £20,000 unconditional Fellowships.

The Music Award Shortlist will be revealed in January 2026, and the recipient of the £20,000 Fellowship will be announced at a live Award Ceremony in February 2026, with all Shortlisted Artists each awarded £1,000.

The Music Award is supported by The David Collins Foundation.

Follow the Arts Foundation on Instagram and LinkedIn for all the latest awards news and updates.

If you’d like to discuss press and media opportunities, please contact us: press@artsfoundation.co.uk.

Each year we invite established professionals, subject experts, artists and creatives from across the UK to form part of the independent Jury that will select this year’s Shortlisted Artists and Fellow.

We are thrilled to share that the Arts Foundation Futures Awards 2026 for Literature Jury Members are:

Raymond Antrobus

Raymond Antrobus is the author of ‘The Perseverance’, ‘All The Names Given’, ‘Signs, Music’ and ‘The Quiet Ear: An Investigation of Missing Sound’.

Imtiaz Dharker

Imtiaz Dharker is a poet, artist and video film-maker, awarded the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry in 2014, Chancellor of Newcastle University since 2020. Her seven collections, all published by Bloodaxe Books, include Over the Moon and the latest, Shadow Reader. Her poems have featured on BBC radio, television, the London Underground, Glasgow billboards and Mumbai buses. She has had eleven solo exhibitions of drawings and scripts and directs video films, mostly for non- government organisations working in the area of shelter, education and health for women and children in India.

Ted Hodgkinson

Ted Hodgkinson is Head of Literature and Spoken Word at the Southbank Centre, Europe’s largest arts centre. He was formerly online editor at Granta magazine and literature programmer and communications manager at the British Council. He has judged numerous literary awards, including the Orwell Prize for Political Writing and RSL Encore Award. In 2020 he chaired the judging panel of the International Booker Prize. He is a trustee of English PEN and New Writing North.

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The Arts Foundation Futures Awards support the UK’s most promising artists and creatives at a pivotal moment in their careers with £20,000 unconditional Fellowships.

The Literature Award Shortlist will be revealed in January 2026, and the recipient of the £20,000 Fellowship will be announced at a live Award Ceremony in February 2026, with all Shortlisted Artists each awarded £1,000.

The Literature Award is supported by The Adrian Brinkerhoff Poetry Fund of the Sidney E. Frank Foundation.

Follow the Arts Foundation on Instagram and LinkedIn for all the latest awards news and updates.

If you’d like to discuss press and media opportunities, please contact us: press@artsfoundation.co.uk.

Each year we invite established professionals, subject experts, artists and creatives from across the UK to form part of the independent Jury that will select this year’s Shortlisted Artists and Fellow.

We are thrilled to share that the Arts Foundation Futures Awards 2026 for Film Jury Members are:

Asif Kapadia

Asif Kapadia is an Academy Award, BAFTA, Grammy, and European Film Award-winning director, writer, and producer, renowned for pushing the boundaries of cinematic storytelling. Widely regarded as one of the most influential filmmakers of his generation, Kapadia is best known for his groundbreaking trilogy — Senna, Amy, and Diego Maradona — which redefined the documentary genre by crafting emotionally powerful, archive-only narratives that play with the urgency and drama of fiction.

Asif has just released his latest work, Kenny Dalglish in cinemas, an inspiring and emotional documentary capturing the mercurial sports figure.
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Asif is also an Ambassador of the Arts Foundation, having been awarded the Fellowship for Film Directing in 2001.⁠

Danny Leigh

Danny Leigh is the film critic of the Financial Times. As a journalist, he has written for the FT since 2012, and before that, wrote for many years for The Guardian. He has also worked as a documentary-maker and broadcaster, including co-hosting BBC One’s long-running Film show. He is currently finishing his third novel for publisher Faber.

Lindsay Poulton

Lindsay is Editorial Director of Film and TV, shaping strategy and output across the Guardian’s film and TV work. Alongside this global focus, she commissions and curates Documentaries for the Guardian’s digital platforms, including the Oscar-winning Colette and BAFTA-winning The Black Cop. With this multi-platform outlook, Lindsay is committed to finding the most powerful ways to bring stories rooted in the Guardian’s distinctive editorial ethos and purpose to the screen.

Before this, Lindsay worked as a filmmaker and journalist and her work has been recognised with numerous awards and shown at The White House as well as top-tier film festivals around the world including Sundance, Tribeca and Sheffield DocFest. She enjoys regular opportunities to judge industry awards, speak at international conferences, teach at universities, and is a proud member of BAFTA.

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The Arts Foundation Futures Awards support the UK’s most promising artists and creatives at a pivotal moment in their careers with £20,000 unconditional Fellowships.

The Film Award Shortlist will be revealed in January 2026, and the recipient of the £20,000 Fellowship will be announced at a live Award Ceremony in February 2026, with all Shortlisted Artists each awarded £1,000.

Follow the Arts Foundation on Instagram and LinkedIn for all the latest awards news and updates.

If you’d like to discuss press and media opportunities, please contact us: press@artsfoundation.co.uk.

We are thrilled to announce that the fifth and final award category of the Arts Foundation Futures Awards 2026 is Visual Art.⁠

The Visual Art Award supports groundbreaking artists working across a broad range of visual arts and interdisciplinary art form practices, including painting, drawing, sculpture, photography and artist moving image.⁠

Announced at the award ceremony in February 2026, the recipient of the Arts Foundation Futures Awards 2026 for Visual Art will receive an unconditional £20,000 Fellowship, with all three Shortlisted Artists each awarded £1,000.

The Visual Art Award is supported by The Yoma Sasburg Estate.

We’ll be announcing this year’s independent Jury of artists and industry professionals over the coming weeks.

Follow the Arts Foundation on Instagram and LinkedIn for all the latest awards news and updates.

If you’d like to discuss press and media opportunities for the Arts Foundation Futures Awards 2026, please contact us: press@artsfoundation.co.uk

For partnerships and award sponsorship opportunities please contact: info@artsfoundation.co.uk

We are excited to announce that Theatre is the fourth award category of the Arts Foundation Futures Awards 2026.

The Theatre Award champions visionary theatre directors developing extraordinary theatrical productions across any genre.⁠

Announced at the award ceremony in February 2026, the recipient of the Arts Foundation Futures Awards 2026 for Theatre will receive an unconditional £20,000 Fellowship, with all three Shortlisted Artists each awarded £1,000.

We’ll be announcing this year’s independent Jury of artists and industry professionals over the coming weeks.

Follow the Arts Foundation on Instagram and LinkedIn for all the latest awards news and updates.

If you’d like to discuss press and media opportunities for the Arts Foundation Futures Awards 2026, please contact us: press@artsfoundation.co.uk

For partnerships and award sponsorship opportunities please contact: info@artsfoundation.co.uk

We are delighted to announce that the third award category of the Arts Foundation Futures Awards 2026 is Music!⁠

This year’s Music Award support exceptional early-stage career composers scoring contemporary classical works of any genre.⁠

Announced at the award ceremony in February 2026, the recipient of the Arts Foundation Futures Awards 2026 for Music will receive an unconditional £20,000 Fellowship, with all three Shortlisted Artists each awarded £1,000.

The Music Award is supported by The David Collins Foundation.

We’ll be announcing this year’s independent Jury of artists and industry professionals over the coming weeks.

Follow the Arts Foundation on Instagram and LinkedIn for all the latest awards news and updates.

If you’d like to discuss press and media opportunities for the Arts Foundation Futures Awards 2026, please contact us: press@artsfoundation.co.uk

For partnerships and award sponsorship opportunities please contact: info@artsfoundation.co.uk

We are thrilled to announce that Literature is the second award category of the Arts Foundation Futures Awards 2026.

The Literature Award supports inventive independent writers who are pushing the boundaries of the medium of poetry.⁠

Announced at the award ceremony in February 2026, the recipient of the Arts Foundation Futures Awards 2026 for Literature will receive an unconditional £20,000 Fellowship, with all three Shortlisted Artists each awarded £1,000.

The Literature Award is supported by The Adrian Brinkerhoff Poetry Fund of the Sidney E. Frank Foundation.

We’ll be announcing this year’s independent Jury of artists and industry professionals over the coming weeks.

Follow the Arts Foundation on Instagram and LinkedIn for all the latest awards news and updates.

If you’d like to discuss press and media opportunities for the Arts Foundation Futures Awards 2026, please contact us: press@artsfoundation.co.uk

For partnerships and award sponsorship opportunities please contact: info@artsfoundation.co.uk

The Arts Foundation is extremely excited to announce the first award category of the Arts Foundation Futures Awards 2026 is Film.

The Film Award supports exceptional early-stage career filmmakers, and this year we are highlighting emotive and inventive storytellers working in non-fiction.

Announced at the award ceremony in February 2026, the recipient of the Arts Foundation Futures Awards 2026 for Film will receive an unconditional £20,000 Fellowship, with all three Shortlisted Artists each awarded £1,000.

We’ll be announcing this year’s independent Jury of artists and industry professionals over the coming weeks.

Follow the Arts Foundation on Instagram and LinkedIn for all the latest awards news and updates.

If you’d like to discuss press and media opportunities for the Arts Foundation Futures Awards 2026, please contact us: press@artsfoundation.co.uk

For partnerships and award sponsorship opportunities please contact: info@artsfoundation.co.uk

We are thrilled to share that our wonderful long-standing award partner, The David Collins Foundation, will present a special exhibition, Convergence as part of London Design Festival
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The Lavery  4 Cromwell Place, SW7 2JE⁠
11 – 19 September 2025 ⁠
Part of the London Design Festival and Brompton Design District⁠
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Curated by journalist and broadcaster Ellen E Jones, and designed by London-based studio Bibliotheque, the exhibition brings together work by eleven artists and designers who have been supported through our partnership and fellowship programme, the Arts Foundation Futures Awards:⁠
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TK Hay (Theatre Fellow, 2025)⁠
Cherish Oteka (Short Documentary Fellow, 2024)
Louise Skajem (Bio Design Fellow, 2023)⁠
Savinder Bual (Animation Fellow, 2022) ⁠
Ayo Akingbade (Visual Art Shortlist, 2021) ⁠
Onyeka Igwe (Film Fellow, 2020)⁠
Will Harris (Poetry Fellow, 2019)
Ella Frears (Poetry Shortlist, 2019)
Jochen Holz (Craft Fellow, 2018) ⁠
Max Frommeld (Furniture Design Fellow, 2017)
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Taking place in the fortieth year of David Collins Studio, the exhibition also reflects on the enduring influence of the late David Collins’ creative vision and his commitment to nurturing talent.⁠

Read the press release online here.

Full details, dates & times.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Image: Courtesy of the artists and David Collins Foundation ⁠

We’re excited to share a new limited edition print by artist Holly Hendry as part of our Patron Programme.

Labyrinth (2024) by Holly Hendry (Experimental Architecture Fellow, 2019) has been created especially for our generous Director’s Circle Patrons.

A sculptural entanglement between body and building; Labyrinth responds to architectural methods of sectional drawings and the origins of the word as a confusing maze-like structure. The work presents a visualisation of the innermost part of the ear (also known as the labyrinth), which relays sounds to the brain and is responsible for hearing. 

This larger vestibular system, a complex set of fluid-filled channels, contributes to a sense of physical balance. The work has been influenced by research into ancient visualisations of water and nautical maps, where watery fluctuations curl and entwine together, representing water in motion as well as the geographical mapping.

If you would like to support artists and enjoy a range of benefits, including invitations to one-off events and gatherings, our annual award ceremony, and limited edition artworks by Arts Foundation Fellows, we invite you to become a Friend and Patron of the Arts Foundation.

Every donation goes straight to artists as part of our unique Fellowship programme, directly supporting the livelihoods and future generations of artists and creatives in the UK.

Given ongoing precarity across the arts and culture sector, there has never been a more urgent time to support artists and creatives. We feel it is essential to continue to provide financial support without constraints to exceptional but often under-supported, independent practitioners.⁠

Find out more about becoming a Patron.

We are saddened to hear of the passing of Prudence Skene, an incredible champion of the arts.⁠

Prudence, known fondly as Prue, was the Director of the Arts Foundation from its early formation in 1993 until 1998. Her achievements were formidable. Our past trustees have shared that she cloaked her achievements with being one of the most intelligent, humble and gentle people you could ever want to meet and that she was undoubtedly the person who set the course of the shape of what the foundation has become today. ⁠

An obituary and details of her enduring legacy, written by Jane Pritchard, can be read in The Guardian. We send our sincere condolences to her friends and family and remember her fondly on this bright Spring day.⁠

Photo by Brian Wray

We are thrilled to share a special live performance from by Daniel Casimir (Jazz Composition Fellow, 2024) accompanied by his quartet band, which opened the Arts Foundation Futures Awards 2025 Ceremony.

Daniel is an influential figure within the UK Jazz scene, having performed in several countries and with a vast discography. In a significant milestone in his career, Daniel released his debut album “Boxed In” in 2021. The album blends the sound of ‘New UK Jazz’ with classical orchestration, showcasing Daniel’s artistic evolution. “Boxed In” was met with critical acclaim, earning the title of ‘Top albums for 2021’ by Vinyl Factory, an exclusive performance and radio interview on BBC Radio 3, and “Editor’s Choice” in Jazzwise. It also led to Daniel being named “Jazz instrumentalist of the Year” by Jazz FM and “Album of the Year” by the Parliamentary Jazz committee, solidifying his position as a rising star in the jazz world. Continuing his innovative approach, Daniel’s latest project, “Balance” builds on the success of his album “Boxed In”. This venture merges a full big band, comprising leading figures from the UK Jazz scene, with a string section from the esteemed London Contemporary Orchestra.

Daniel played bass with his band: Binker Golding, Saxophone; James Copus, Trumpet; James Beckwith, Keys; and Jamie Murray, Drums.

“…I am not talking about being inspired, but trying to notice and honour how the work of other people is essential to our own growth as makers.”⁠

The esteemed British choreographer Siobhan Davies’welcome address at The Arts Foundation Futures Awards 2025 was such a poignant and fitting start to the awards.

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Siobhan’s poignant address reminded us all of our place in the lineage of art and how we are nourished by the centuries of labour and practice of other artists and makers.

We are honoured to share Siobhan’s words of wisdom with you. The Award Ceremony was held in London on 17 February 2025.

Siobhan Davies is a renowned British choreographer who rose to prominence in the 1970s. Davies was a founding member of London Contemporary Dance Theatre and in 1982 joined forces with Richard Alston and Ian Spink to create independent dance company Second Stride. Founding Siobhan Davies Dance in 1988, she works closely with collaborating artists to ensure that their own artistic enquiry is part of the creative process. By 2002 she moved away from the traditional theatre circuit and started making work for prestigious Art Institutions including ICA, Victoria Miro, Whitechapel, The Barbican, Turner Contemporary.⁠
Davies applies choreography across a wide range of creative disciplines including visual arts and film. ⁠
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In 2006 she commissioned a lottery funded building Siobhan Davies Studios designed by Sarah Wigglesworth which became a home for many dancers and choreographers to work and study in often alongside other artistic disciplines. In 2020 she retired from the studios.⁠
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In 2016 she became Associate Professor at the Centre for Dance Research (CDaRE) at Coventry University. Following her CBE, Davies was awarded a Damehood in the 2020 Queen’s Birthday Honours and is an Ambassador and past trustee of the Arts Foundation.⁠

Find out more about the Arts Foundation and consider becoming a Friend to directly support the livelihoods and future generations of artists and creatives in what continues to be an incredibly precarious time for so many. All donations go straight to artists as part of our Arts Foundation Futures Awards Fellowship Scheme.

Watch the moment the five £20,000 Fellowships for Dance, Design, Film, Theatre and Visual Art are announced, with all artists receiving £1,000 towards their practice.

With a special welcome address from the renowned choreographer Siobhan Davies and a live performance from Daniel Casimir (Jazz Composition Fellow, 2024), the Award Ceremony took place on 17 February 2025 in London.

The ceremony shared the extraordinary and varied practices of the twenty Shortlisted Artists across this year’s categories.

The awards mark over 30 years of the Arts Foundation’s support for independent artists in the UK since it was founded in 1993, and whose alumni include eminent artistic practitioners, such as Wayne McGregor CBE, Asif Kapadia, Ali Smith, Rufus Norris and Lynette Yiadom-Boakye.

Read more about all the artists and the Arts Foundation Futures Awards 2025 on our website.

With thanks to our award supporters for their partnership and belief in the importance of artists and developing creative practice: The David Collins Foundation, the Yoma Sasburg Estate and The Maria Björnson Memorial Fund.

The Arts Foundation Announce the winning Fellow of the 2025 Futures Awards £115,000 prizes awarded at ceremony in London

The Arts Foundation announce the five recipients of the Arts Foundation Futures Awards £20,000 Fellowships as:

Dance: Charlotte Mclean

Design: Kaye Song

Film: Tina Pasotra

Theatre:  TK Hay

Visual Art:  Leo Robinson

The five winning Fellows were revealed at an Award Ceremony on 17 February 2025 at Kings Place, featuring a special welcome address from renowned choreographer, Siobhan Davies and a live jazz performance by Daniel Casimir (Jazz Composition Fellow, 2024)

The annual Arts Foundation Futures Awards support the UK’s most promising artists and creatives at a pivotal moment in their career, providing £115,000 in unconditional grant funding, awarding five transformative £20,000 Fellowships, with all Shortlisted Artists receiving £1,000 towards the development of their practice.

Mary Jane Edwards, Director of The Arts Foundation said:

“From reimagining Highland Dance, politically charged set design, and climate-positive architecture, to sharing layered stories about identity and belonging- the creative ingenuity, determination and focus of the Arts Foundation Futures Awards Fellows always inspire us. We’re really proud to increase our support for independent artists this year and champion the livelihoods of creatives. We have no doubt all the artists and fellows will have a significant impact on our shared cultural life.”

Read the Press Release

Full Press Pack and Images

The Arts Foundation will announce the five recipients of the Arts Foundation Futures Awards £20,000 Fellowships in London on 17 February 2025.

The annual Arts Foundation Futures Awards provide five transformative £20,000 Fellowships, with all Shortlisted Artists receiving £1,000 towards the development of their practice.

The awards mark over 30 years of the Arts Foundation’s support for independent artists in the UK since it was founded in 1993, and whose alumni include eminent practitioners, such as Wayne McGregor, Asif Kapadia, Carol Morely, Ali Smith, Rufus Norris and Lynette Yiadom-Boakye.

Featuring a special welcome address by British choreographer, Siobhan Davies DBE, the Award Ceremony will take place on Monday 17 February in London.

The ceremony will also include a special live performance from last year’s winning fellow for Jazz Composition Daniel Casimir with his quartet band, a DJ set by Oli Keens, and continued celebrations!

You can explore the work of all the Shortlisted Artists on the Arts Foundation website, and watch the award announcements via Instagram Live on Monday 17 February 2025, from  7.00 pm.

Read the Award Ceremony Press Release

We are delighted to share that the Arts Foundation Futures Awards 2025 Ceremony will include a special live jazz performance by Daniel Casimir (Jazz Composition Fellow, 2024) from his critically acclaimed new album, ‘Balance, ’ accompanied by his quartet band.

Daniel is an influential figure within the UK Jazz scene, having performed in several countries and with a vast discography. In a significant milestone in his career, Daniel released his debut album “Boxed In” in 2021. The album blends the sound of ‘New UK Jazz’ with classical orchestration, showcasing Daniel’s artistic evolution. “Boxed In” was met with critical acclaim, earning the title of ‘Top albums for 2021’ by Vinyl Factory, an exclusive performance and radio interview on BBC Radio 3, and “Editor’s Choice” in Jazzwise. It also led to Daniel being named “Jazz instrumentalist of the Year” by Jazz FM and “Album of the Year” by the Parliamentary Jazz committee, solidifying his position as a rising star in the jazz world. Continuing his innovative approach, Daniel’s latest project, “Balance” builds on the success of his album “Boxed In”. This venture merges a full big band, comprising leading figures from the UK Jazz scene, with a string section from the esteemed London Contemporary Orchestra.

Daniel will play bass with his band: Binker Golding, Saxophone; James Copus, Trumpet; James Beckwith, Keys; and Jamie Murray, Drums.

The Awards Ceremony will take place on Monday 17 February in London.

Watch the live performance and follow all the award announcements via Instagram Live on the night from 7 pm!⁠

We are thrilled to share that renowned British choreographer, Siobhan Davies DBE will be our Guest of Honour at the Arts Foundation Futures Awards 2025 Ceremony! Siobhan will give a special welcome address before we announce the five recipients of the £20,000 Fellowships.⁠

Siobhan Davies rose to prominence in the 1970s. Davies was a founding member of London Contemporary Dance Theatre and in 1982 joined forces with Richard Alston and Ian Spink to create independent dance company Second Stride. Founding Siobhan Davies Dance in 1988, she works closely with collaborating artists to ensure that their own artistic enquiry is part of the creative process. By 2002 she moved away from the traditional theatre circuit and started making work for prestigious Art Institutions including ICA, Victoria Miro, Whitechapel, The Barbican, Turner Contemporary.

Davies applies choreography across a wide range of creative disciplines including visual arts and film. In 2006 she commissioned a lottery funded building Siobhan Davies Studios designed by Sarah Wigglesworth which became a home for many dancers and choreographers to work and study often alongside other artistic disciplines.

In 2020 she retired from the studios. In 2016 she became Associate Professor at the Centre for Dance Research (CDaRE) at Coventry University. Following her CBE, Davies was awarded a Damehood in the 2020 Queen’s Birthday Honours and is an Ambassador and past trustee of the Arts Foundation.

We are so delighted and honoured to welcome Siobhan!

The Awards Ceremony will take place on Monday 17 February in London. Watch the welcome address and follow all the award announcements via Instagram Live on the night from 7 pm!⁠

Join us for a special screening and Q&A with the extraordinary shortlisted filmmakers of The Arts Foundation Futures Awards 2025 for Film!

Book your tickets today via the ICA

Wednesday 22 January 2025

6.30 pm at the ICA, London

These powerful new contemporary filmmakers will present and discuss their compelling work in conversation with a special guest.

Selected by industry figures and independent award jury members: Claudia Yusef, Commissioning Executive, BBC Film; Peter Suschitzky, Cinematographer and Photographer; and Joanna Hogg, Director and Screenwriter who said:

“What excites me as a creative is an artist that has places to go, and wants to delve into themselves through their art. This is what makes the Arts Foundation Futures Awards so special, it facilitates space for young independent practitioners to experiment and take risks. All the work of the shortlisted filmmakers, Luna Carmoon, Naqqash Khalid, Tina Pasotra and Fridtjof Ryder have a palpable and infectious energy. I am hugely excited to follow their respective journeys in film and see what they do next.” 

Featuring 

Shagbands by Luna Carmoon
In the 2006 summer heatwave, a gang of teenage girls in South London face strange sexual awakenings and a discovery of violence.

In Camera by Naqqash Khalid
An extract from In Camera follows Aden – played by Nabhaan Rizwan – a young actor who is in a cycle of nightmarish auditions. After he receives multiple rejections, Aden takes it upon himself to find a new part to play.

I Choose by Tina Pasotra
A young woman battling inner conflict and cultural heritage sacrifices all that she has ever known to start a new life in Wales with her two young daughters. 

INLAND by Fridtjof Ryder
Starring Mark Rylance, an extract from INLAND depicts a modern fairy tale exploring the fractured identity of a young man after the mysterious disappearance of his mother.

Presented in partnership with the London Short Film Festival. Don’t miss it!

The Arts Foundation announce the four Shortlisted Artists of the Arts Foundation Futures Awards 2025 for Visual Art. 

The Visual Art Award includes artists working in any area of the visual arts including installation, sculpture, photography, sound, painting and cross art-form practice. Meet the Shortlist: 

Exodus Crooks 

Exodus Crooks is a British-Jamaican multidisciplinary artist and educator, interested in self-determination and how it is steered by religion and spirituality.

Mani Kambo 

Mani Kambo is a multidisciplinary artist primarily working in textile, print and moving image, based in Newcastle upon Tyne.

Raheel Khan

Raheel Khan is an artist and musician exploring the interstices of sound, installation and performance. 

Leo Robinson  

Leo Robinson lives and works in Glasgow. In his work, Leo constructs speculative systems of knowledge and ritual through the lenses of religion, psychoanalysis, and diasporic experience.

With thanks to our independent Jury members: Associate Curator of Modern & Contemporary Projects, The National Gallery Priyesh Mistry; Artist Sinta Tantra; and Curator of Liverpool Biennial, Marie-Anne McQuay said:

“The Arts Foundation Futures Awards are an affirmative and confidence-boosting platform for artists, that comes with much-needed financial resources. It’s been an honour to participate with my fellow jurors, Sinta Tantra and Priyesh Mistry and wonderful to encounter practitioners from across the whole breadth of the UK. It’s a huge privilege to immerse in the timely and often poignant work of the four shortlisted artists: Exodus Crooks, Mani Kambo, Raheel Khan and Leo Robinson, all of whom have been recognised for their distinctive contributions to Visual Art. Each is outstanding in their own right; Crooks whose multidisciplinary practice tenderly centres Black disaporic experience, relationships with self and spirituality; Kambo’s textiles, fabric dyeing and printmaking which draws on personal symbolism connected to religious and familial rituals & beliefs; Khan’s interlocking sound, text, installation and performance projects interrogate notions of heritage, society and collective consciousness; Robinson’s world building with mixed media and performance creates & narrates origin stories and  fictional systems of belief and knowledge.”

Priyesh Mistry added:

“It’s been such a pleasure to join the jury of this year’s Arts Foundation Futures Awards for Visual Art. All the shortlisted artists are at such exciting points in their careers. Exodus Crooks has a wonderfully unique and generous way of holding and creating space for audiences while reflecting on themes of received knowledges through the matriarchal lineage. Mani Kambo’s fascinating practice explores and reassesses the layered history of symbols and what they come to represent within our interconnected world. I was also taken by Raheel Khan’s experimentation and how he uses sound and sampling techniques to explore different personal and societal histories. Leo Robinson’s installations are unique in his questioning of heritage, combining disparate cultural traditions and philosophies to create hybrid surreal worlds that are both mythological and magical.”

The Arts Foundation has a long history of supporting visual art, and Mary Jane Edwards, Director of The Arts Foundation says:

“The four shortlisted artists’ are a testament to the strength and calibre of visual arts practice in the UK. Each artist is pursuing highly personal and original ways of thinking and making work that resonates deeply with a wider public. We are delighted to be supporting their artistic development at a critical moment in the early stages of their respective careers.”

The Visual Art Award is supported by The Yoma Sasburg Estate.

Read more about this year’s awards.

The Arts Foundation is a registered charity that supports individual artists and creatives in the UK with unconditional financial Fellowships of £20,000 through the Arts Foundation Futures Awards. Since it was founded in 1993, the Arts Foundation has awarded over £2 million to the most promising artists in the UK at a pivotal moment in their careers to enable them to concentrate on their creative development, experiment, and realise their artistic potential. 

The Arts Foundation announce the four Shortlisted Artists of the Arts Foundation Futures Awards 2025 for  Theatre. 

The Theatre Award champions theatre designers developing innovative sets or production designs for theatrical presentation.Meet the Shortlist: 

Peter Butler 

Peter Butler specialises in set and costume design, devised theatre making, site-specific performance and theatre design for new writing and classic stories.

Ethan Cheek  

Ethan Cheek is a performance designer working across theatre, film, and music. Their collaborative practice is rooted in the concept of total theatre.

TK Hay

TK is a technically inclined theatre designer producing work that simultaneously comforts and disturbs, and the primary impetus for his design work is sociopolitical. 

Khadija Raza

Khadija Raza is a theatre designer based in London. Khadija’s practice is rooted in collaboration and a love for stories, for characters, connecting the forms of art, installations, and sculpture together.

With thanks to our independent Jury members: Anna Fleischle, Production Set and Costume Designer; Production & Technical Director, The National Theatre, Paul Handley; and CEO of Shakespeare’s Globe, Stella Kanu who said:

“It was a joy to be part of the Arts Foundation Futures Awards 2025 for Theatre. As a jury, we are acutely aware of the many challenges creatives face at this time. Awards like this are vital, not only to sustain promising practitioners – but enable them to flourish within the arts and cultural sector. Each of the shortlisted creatives has a unique and thoughtful approach to their work and crucially, a clear sense of their own trajectory. We are incredibly excited to see how all of their stunning work develops and respective careers progress.”

Paul Handley added: 

“This year’s shortlist for the Arts Foundation Futures Awards for Theatre is exemplary. Each of the creatives’ practices holds a robust combination of the personal and political. I was taken by Peter Butler’s ability to convey astute social commentary with intellect without sacrificing art and Ethan Cheek’s extremely mature approach and body of work. TK Hay’s ambitious portfolio is both rigorous and generous, and Khadija Raza has navigated the industry with resilience, determination and artistic precision. All of the designers are generating inventive work under enormously difficult constraints, both from an industry and cost of living perspective. As a jury, we were all enormously impressed by their ingenuity and commitment to the art form.”

The Arts Foundation has a long history of supporting theatre and the performing arts, and Mary Jane Edwards, Director of The Arts Foundation says:

“With many theatre workers encountering barriers to career progression in the current climate, we are so pleased to support the four shortlisted artists whose work demonstrates such energetic originality. Each of the designers has pursued unique, sensitive and diverse approaches to set and production design, from conception through to production.”

The Theatre Award is generously supported in partnership with The David Collins Foundation, with development support from The Maria Björnson Memorial Fund. 

Read more about this year’s awards.

The Arts Foundation is a registered charity that supports individual artists and creatives in the UK with unconditional financial Fellowships of £20,000 through the Arts Foundation Futures Awards. Since it was founded in 1993, the Arts Foundation has awarded over £2 million to the most promising artists in the UK at a pivotal moment in their careers to enable them to concentrate on their creative development, experiment, and realise their artistic potential. 

The Arts Foundation announce the four Shortlisted Artists of the Arts Foundation Futures Awards 2025 for Film. 

The Film Award supports film directors working in any genre of fiction filmmaking, focusing on independent and inventive storytellers. Meet the Shortlist: 

Luna Carmoon

Luna Carmoon is a self-taught writer and director from South East London. Luna’s debut feature film, Hoard was met with critical acclaim, premiering at Venice in 2023.

Naqqash Khalid

Naqqash Khalid is a writer and director from Manchester. His debut feature film, IN CAMERA, was released in cinemas across the UK and Ireland in 2024.

Tina Pasotra

Tina Pasotra is a filmmaker, director and artist based in Cardiff, Wales. Tina’s debut narrative short film, ‘I Choose’ in 2020 was nominated for Best Short Film BAFTA Cymru 2021.

Fridtjof Ryder

Fridtfjof Ryder is a writer and director. His debut feature film, INLAND, premiered at the BFI London Film Festival and was long-listed for 10 BIFA awards.

With thank to our independent Jury members: Claudia Yusef, Commissioning Executive at BBC Film; Peter Suschitzky, Cinematographer and Photographer; and Joanna Hogg, Director and Screenwriter who said: 

“What excites me as a creative is an artist that has places to go, and wants to delve into themselves through their art. This is what makes the Arts Foundation Futures Awards so special, it facilitates space for young independent practitioners to experiment and take risks. All the work of the shortlisted filmmakers, Luna Carmoon, Naqqash Khalid, Tina Pasotra and Fridtjof Ryder have a palpable and infectious energy. I am hugely excited to follow their respective journeys in film and see what they do next.” 

Claudia Yusef added: 

“The legacy of the Arts Foundation Futures Awards is impressive with filmmakers such as Asif Kapadia and Carol Morley among the alumni, so it has been a pleasure to participate in this year’s Film Award jury. From Luna Carmoon’s raw and visceral cinematic work to Naqqash Khalid’s brave experimentalism, Fridtjof Ryder’s radical accomplishments at such a young age, and Tina Pasotra’s eloquent visual language and storytelling – each of the artists already brings a vibrancy and something unique to the wider film industry. As a jury, we are delighted to support their work in this way.”

The Arts Foundation has a long history of supporting film, moving image and new media, Mary Jane Edwards, Director of The Arts Foundation says:

“We are delighted to be supporting this important award, while the UK is fortunate to host many brilliant film festivals, financing and production support for emerging experimental filmmakers remains critically low. We were really moved by the depth of storytelling of the four shortlisted filmmakers, and are thrilled to support their development.”

Read more about this year’s awards.

The Arts Foundation is a registered charity that supports individual artists and creatives in the UK with unconditional financial Fellowships of £20,000 through the Arts Foundation Futures Awards. Since it was founded in 1993, the Arts Foundation has awarded over £2 million to the most promising artists in the UK at a pivotal moment in their careers to enable them to concentrate on their creative development, experiment, and realise their artistic potential. 

The Arts Foundation announce the four Shortlisted Artists of the Arts Foundation Futures Awards 2025 for Design. 

The Design Award champions contemporary designers with a focus on sustainability working across a broad range of disciplines, from product, material or industrial design to architectural practices. Meet the Shortlist: 

Ellie Birkhead 

Ellie Birkhead is a designer, maker and facilitator who uses the power of craft and creativity to bring about social change, with a particular focus on communities and material and ecological transition of the built environment.

Jacob Marks

Jacob Marks is a designer and maker. His work focuses on reimagining natural materials, often using those that are overlooked or disregarded to produce defined and distinctive contemporary works.

Lawrence Parent 

Lawrence Parent is a designer whose varied practice is a blend of art, design, and environmental activism. His work seeks to inspire a cultural shift towards sustainable living.

Kaye Song 

Kaye Song is an architectural designer and co-director of Flimsy Works. Her projects explore both the physical and emotional complexities of human landscapes.

With thanks to our independent Jury members: Sarah Douglas, Design Agent, Consultant & Advisor; Prof. Adrian Lahoud, Dean, School of Architecture and Fellow at the Royal College of Art; and Satoshi Isono, Creative Director, Universal Design Studio who said:

“It has been brilliant to discover such strong and varied creative designers through the Arts Foundation Futures Awards. Each of the shortlisted practitioners, Eleanor Birkhead, Jacob Marks, Lawrence Parent and Kaye Song has developed intricate approaches, methodologies, and a distinct design sensibility. I am excited to see where their careers take them.”

The Arts Foundation has a long history of supporting progressive and imaginative design practices having launched an award for Material Innovation a decade ago in 2014. Mary Jane Edwards, Director of The Arts Foundation says:

“We are thrilled to continue our support of forward-looking designers and creative practitioners. We are always greatly encouraged by the collaborative practices of all four designers working with materials and people and nature-centred design approaches. As the global climate crisis deepens, we are proud to have been an early advocate of innovation in material and social design, and to have supported a formidable body of thinking and work in this space.”

Read more about this year’s awards.

The Arts Foundation is a registered charity that supports individual artists and creatives in the UK with unconditional financial Fellowships of £20,000 through the Arts Foundation Futures Awards. Since it was founded in 1993, the Arts Foundation has awarded over £2 million to the most promising artists in the UK at a pivotal moment in their careers to enable them to concentrate on their creative development, experiment, and realise their artistic potential. 

The Arts Foundation announce the four Shortlisted Artists of the Arts Foundation Futures Awards 2025 for Dance.

The Dance Award supports choreographers who are expanding the medium of choreography and developing original works. Meet the Shortlist: 

Charlotte Edmonds

Charlotte Edmonds is a choreographer, dancer and filmmaker. Her work uses classical and contemporary dance to tell stories through movement.

Shannelle ‘Tali’ Fergus

Shannelle ‘Tali’ Fergus is a London-based creative working across choreography and performance. Her movement style is a blend of her training in street styles and contemporary.

Anthony Matsena

Anthony is a Zimbabwean-born and Welsh-raised choreographer, performer and director working between the mediums of dance, theatre, music and poetry.

Charlotte Mclean

Charlotte Mclean is a choreographer whose practice draws from tradition having competed in Scottish Highland Dance throughout her childhood. 

With thanks to our independent Jury members: Choreographer & Director, Holly Blakey; Artistic Director of Studio Wayne McGregor and Choreographer (and Arts Foundation Fellow and Ambassador), Sir Wayne McGregor CBE; and Artistic Director and co-CEO at Dance Umbrella, Freddie Opoku-Addaie who said: 

“It’s been a real pleasure to join the jury of the Arts Foundation Futures Award for Dance. It was clear from reading about the artists’ respective work that creatives across the country are simply trying to survive, not thrive, in the present climate. Awards like this are vital to support artists to reach a basic standard of living and should be more widespread. From Shannelle ‘Tali’ Fergus’ punchy short-form work in hip hop to Charlotte Edmonds’ refined contemporary portfolio, and Charlotte Mclean’s inventive and traditional forms to Antony Matsena’s boundary-blurring productions – I was really impressed with the quality and innovative contemporary choreographic practice present on the shortlist.”

The Arts Foundation has a long history of supporting dance and the performing arts, and Mary Jane Edwards, Director of The Arts Foundation says:

“The four choreographers’ work demonstrates the great range and breadth of contemporary dance practice. Each of the shortlisted artists has pursued highly individual and unique ways of thinking and approaching the medium, and we are thrilled to be supporting their artistic development.”

Read more about this year’s awards.

The Arts Foundation is a registered charity that supports individual artists and creatives in the UK with unconditional financial Fellowships of £20,000 through the Arts Foundation Futures Awards. Since it was founded in 1993, the Arts Foundation has awarded over £2 million to the most promising artists in the UK at a pivotal moment in their careers to enable them to concentrate on their creative development, experiment, and realise their artistic potential. 

The twenty artists shortlisted for the Arts Foundation Futures Awards 2025 have been announced across five award categories: Dance, Design, Film, Theatre and Visual Art.

The Arts Foundation is a registered charity that supports individual artists and creatives in the UK with unconditional financial fellowships through the Arts Foundation Futures Awards.

Since 1993 the Arts Foundation has awarded over £2 million to the most promising artists in the UK at a pivotal moment in their careers to enable them to concentrate on their creative development, experiment, and realise their artistic potential. 

The annual Arts Foundation Futures Awards provide five transformative £20,000 Fellowships, with all Shortlisted Artists receiving £1,000 towards the development of their practice.

The vital contribution of the Arts Foundation Futures Awards to the arts in the UK is demonstrated by its past Fellows, many of whom are regarded as contemporary pioneers and have gone on to become leaders in their respective art forms, including: Wayne McGregor (1994), Alice Oswald (1996), Sarah Kane (1998), Asif Kapadia (2001), Ali Smith (2001), Rufus Norris (2002), Carol Morley (2003), Lynette Yiadom-Boakye (2006), and more recently, Simon Fujiwara (2009), Sam Lee (2011), Alice Birch (2014), Hollie McNish (2015), Evan Ifekoya (2017), Holly Hendry (2019), Onyeka Igwe (2020), Klein (2020), and Bethany Williams (2020).

The Arts Foundation Futures Awards 2025 are supported in partnership with The David Collins Foundation, The Yoma Sasburg Estate, and with development support from The Maria Björnson Memorial Fund. 

The five winning Fellows receiving £20,000, will be revealed at an Award Ceremony on 17 February 2025 in London at Kings Place. Mary Jane Edwards, Director of the Arts Foundation said:

“The creative ingenuity and breadth of contemporary art practice showcased by the artists shortlisted for the 2025 Arts Foundation Futures Awards is both energetic and inspiring. We are so pleased to be able to increase our support for independent artists this year amidst the growing financial pressures faced across the cultural sector in the UK. No-strings-attached funding of this nature is vital to strengthen creative practice, but also affirm our belief in the transformative power of art.”

You can explore the Shortlisted Artists’ work on the Arts Foundation website and watch the Award Ceremony announcements via Instagram Live on the night.

Read the Press Release here.

The full Press Pack and Artist Images can be viewed online.

As 2024 comes to a close, we look back on another wonderful year supporting and championing independent artists and creatives!⁠

In January we announced the incredible Shortlisted Artists for the Arts Foundation Futures Awards 2024, across the fields of Regenerative Design, Jazz Composition, Short Documentary Film, Theatre Writing and Visual Art.

In February, the winning Fellows receiving £10,000 were announced at a live Award Ceremony at the Southbank Centre in London, with all shortlisted artists awarded £1,000. ⁠

We were thrilled to host jury members Vicky Featherstone, Soweto Kinch, Clare Sillery, Adelaide Bannerman, and Roy Williams as our guest of honour. Roy’s rousing welcome address and the ceremony are archived on our website and YouTube channel. ⁠

In May the first artists arrived for their week-long residency in the stunning setting of Hawkwood Centre for Future Thinking

In June we continued to grow a new community of Friends and Patrons to support our work, hosting our annual Patrons dinner, an inspiring gathering of like-minded individuals and conversation about the importance of art and creative practice.⁠

⁠The summer also saw us celebrate fellows’ work with gatherings at the Jazz Cafe to see Daniel Casimir play to a sellout crowd, and De La Warr to hear Rebecca Bellantoni in conversation as part of her first institutional solo show. 

⁠In September, we announced that we are increasing the Fellowship award amount to £20,000 to ensure our work continues to have the same life-changing impact and responds to inflation, the ongoing cost of living crisis and low artist income precarity experienced across the contemporary arts in the UK.

We also shared the award categories for the Arts Foundation Futures Awards 2025: Dance, Design, Film, Theatre and Visual Art, and partnership collaborations with the brilliant The David Collins Foundation, and the Maria Björnson Memorial Fund. 

⁠In October we announced the phenomenal jury members for the awards,  take a look back at our news feed, or on Instagram.

⁠The beginnings of 2025 are looking bright, with the Arts Foundation Futures Awards 2025 Shortlist Artist Announcement in the New Year, a film screening with London Short Film Festival at ICA London on 22 January, and our Awards Ceremony in February! ⁠

Enormous thanks to everyone who has supported The Arts Foundation this year, we are hugely grateful for your time, generosity and care.

Wishing you all a restorative festive period!⁠