IN November 2023, Bradford 2025 announced a new collaboration with Unlimited - the Yorkshire-based arts commissioning body that supports, funds and promotes work by disabled artists across the UK.

The partnership was set up to develop 10 new micro-commissions that will support the incredible creative talent that exists across the Bradford district.

Ten successful artists have now been selected to begin developing and researching across a wide range of art forms including theatre, music, outdoor performance and writing.

Here, three of the successful artists - Charlotte Jones, Lorraine Brown and Chris Cambell - give the T&A an exclusive insight into the work they are developing, with the help of Bradford 2025 and the Unlimited micro-commissions.

* Charlotte and Lorraine: “We are both artists at Mind the Gap, based here in Bradford. We are experienced dancers and physical theatre performers. We make work based on the themes of mental health, feeling trapped and the environment (as well as many other things).

“We applied for the Unlimited micro-commissions with Bradford 2025 so we could kick start our project and create a performance together. Although we have performed before in productions at Mind the Gap such as Gecko, Little Space and Birdie, this is the first time we have created something in partnership.

“Our performance will explore how people can feel trapped in the worlds they live in due to other people’s assumptions, and how they can find freedom. Our physical theatre performance will also look at the difference between control and support for those who feel trapped.

“We’re calling the piece Knotted and we are really excited to get started. We have worked with each other for a long time, but this new project will give us a unique chance to work collaboratively.”

* Chris Cambell: “My name is Chris (he/they) and I write poetry to better understand myself and others.

“Rather than rehashing the same stories that always get told, I believe in bringing people together under the banner of poetry to examine experiences, and points of view, they may have never considered before.

“For this micro-commission I will trial what I call, ‘journalism poetry’ by facilitating poetry writing workshops to empower other local LGBTQIA+ people to tell their own stories. Then I’ll work individually with participants who don’t feel confident, or safe, sharing their stories publicly.

“Using autofiction techniques I’ll write poems, based off their experiences, that allow them to remain anonymous while still sharing the power of their voice.

I hope to showcase the diverse and inspiring stories hiding all around us in ways that will change hearts, which is only possible thanks to the generosity and support of Bradford 2025 and Unlimited micro-commissions.”