SUPPORT
Over 14 weeks, you will receive a comprehensive development programme including:
Mentorship
You will receive dedicated mentorship and guidance from:
- Lesley Taker is a freelance Liverpool-based arts producer, curator, writer and digital arts specialist. She is particularly interested in how technology is changing contemporary art practice and discourse, and in artworks that address fluid identities, shifting truths, or unstable narratives.
- Myra Appanah is Co-Director of BRiGHTBLACK, a neurodiverse-led arts company known for immersive, interactive theatre and VR/game experiences.
- FACT Studio/Lab team, including Lynn Song (Immersive and Studio/Lab Lead), Josiah Worth (Studio/Lab Producer for Artist Development), and Mali Draper (Studio/Lab Producer for Technology)
Mentors will guide you through project development, business strategy, accessibility embedding, audience identification, marketing planning, and pitch preparation.
Financial Support
Fee: £110 per day for 10.5 days (5 days in Liverpool, 11 half days online)
You will be paid for your attendance and engagement throughout the programme. Payment covers your time and ensures that the opportunity does not utilise Access to Work funding entitlements or impact benefit eligibility. FACT will consult individually with all participants regarding payments to ensure they do not negatively affect their circumstances. When visiting FACT, if needed FACT will cover all travel and accommodation expenses.
Deliverables
At the end of the programme, you will have developed:
Pitch Deck: a completed traditional format presentation for approaching funders and partners created by you with a designer and your mentor. This pitch will also have at least 1 level of integrated access such as (audio describe, BSL video, or captioning for example).
- Project Budget & Funding Plans: realistic budgets and funding strategies for your project.
- Marketing & Audience Development Plan: identifying target audiences and distribution strategies.
- Project Access Rider: a detailed assessment of accessibility in your project and actions taken to embed it.
- Action Plan: Five key actions to progress your project beyond Digital Crip Camp
- Tailored Contacts: a list of industry connections and mentor introductions
- Proof of Concept Pitch: presenting your project at Digital Crip Camp’s closing day to potential commissioning partners.
Programme Split
Weeks 1–10: Weekly online sessions (cohorts divided into AM and PM sessions)
Week 11–12: One-week residential at FACT in Liverpool (11-15 May 2026)
Week 13–14: Post-residential online sessions and evaluation
Accessibility & Support
Access Measures Include:
- Cohort divisions by learning styles and access needs (e.g. BSL interpretation cohorts are grouped together)
- Flexible session timing: morning and afternoon sessions allow you to manage energy-limiting conditions
- Bookable 1-to-1 mentor sessions scheduled around your individual requirements
- Access support worker budgeted for each project
- Pre-programme Access Rider to outline your bespoke access needs
- Benefit entitlement consultation to ensure payments do not impact benefit eligibility
- Welsh-language support available
- Flexible participation options, including rest weeks and optional additional mentoring built into the schedule
Disability and Deaf arts organisation DaDa will act as accessibility consultants throughout the programme to ensure accessibility is embedded across all aspects of delivery.
“FACT is a place where disabled artists flourish amidst the bustling digital arts world, blending the international landscape and local networks with DaDa’s input. Digital Crip Camp is a blend of co- creation with creative visionary partners. I know disabled artists would welcome the new Digital Crip Camp, to push their practice to new levels, FACT are undoubtedly the perfect hub for dreams to come true.” - Zoe Partington (Former CEO, DaDa)
