DIT 2026: Rosana Cade and Moa Johansson – Make FUNding FUN again
- Year
- 2026
- Partners
- Deadline for applications
Monday 23 February 2026
- Apply
Application Form
Download a Word doc version
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Optimistic and FUN FUNding solutions for mid-career rejects
What
This workshop explores playful, collective-focused alternatives to art FUNding systems in the UK for mid-career artists with experience of rejection…
Applying for ACE can feel like a lottery, but with more work and nowhere near as much FUN. As it gets harder to secure FUNding for truly experimental projects we find ourselves feeling increasingly powerless and pushed to compromise our creative visions.
As an urgent response to the dire situation, we want to collectively explore how we can create new artist-led structures for supporting each other financially. For example, a monthly artist lottery, shared investment scheme, group casino trips…
Our initial questions are:
- Is there such a thing as a fair FUNding system?
- What happens when we take financial risk collectively rather than individually?
- Are our chances of securing FUNding higher by going to the casino, than applying for ACE?
- Can we design an alternative FUNding system that is sustainable for the community, prioritising solidarity and play over competition?
On the opening day, we’ll share experiences of FUNding, explore examples of collective economies, and visit a casino to gamble some of our budget and test ideas of luck and risk.
Participating artists will split into two teams and be given a small budget each to develop a new system for collective FUNding/mutual investment – these can be as FUN/silly/radical/ambitious as need be. The teams will meet online across the 4-week period to develop these ideas.
On the closing day we’ll meet in-person again to pitch our new money making schemes to each other, and consider whether there is potential for future collective activity to bring the schemes into fruition.
As well as cash, we hope to generate feelings of optimism, agency and collective possibility.
Where
Activities will take place in person at Live Art Development Agency in London and at a casino somewhere nearby.
When
- Saturday 6 June, all day (11am–8pm, with a lunch break) – in person
- Saturday 4 July, all day (11am–5pm, with a lunch break) – in person
Online meetings in between, to be decided by the group.
Who
Mid career artists who’ve had a funding rejection in the last three years. We have no fixed definition of mid-career – applicants are welcome to self-identify.
What to expect
- There will be a mixture of listening to information, discussing as a whole group (12 people), and discussing in smaller groups.
- We will have regular breaks.
- The workshop will involve a trip to a casino to play roulette.
- It’s ok if you’ve never been to a casino before and feel like you don’t know what to do.
- You will not be asked to gamble any of your own money in the casino, only money from the budget.
- You will need access to a computer and the internet for the online sessions.
- This workshop is not promoting gambling as a serious long-term option.
Access
- The workshop space is wheelchair accessible.
- We will visit a casino that is wheelchair accessible (exact location to be confirmed) and we will facilitate the trip.
- Online meetings will be held on zoom with closed captions and transcribers.
- Please note that there will be no specific support in place for gambling dependency, and the casino element of the workshop may not be suitable for those affected by this.
A small access budget has been reserved to cover taxis within London if needed. This will be allocated after selection. If you would like to discuss this before applying, please email [email protected].
Travel & Accommodation
Participating artists/practitioners based outside of London will be responsible for their own travel and accommodation, apart from taxis for those who need them.
Travel Bursary: partner organisation Home Live Art is offering a travel bursary for artists/practitioners based in Hastings and Rother attending this DIT. Please tick the relevant box on the application form if this applies to you. This bursary will be allocated after selection.
About the Artists
Glasgow-based artist Rosana Cade (they/them) has created experimental performance touring internationally to a range of contexts for the past 15 years. They are half of Cade and MacAskill, with whom they made the award-winning show The Making Of Pinocchio. They are also co-founder of Buzzcut.
Rosana Cade. Image Ivor MacAskill
Moa Johansson (they/them) is an interdisciplinary artist working across live art, dance, sculpture and textile. Moa has presented work across the UK and Europe, including a recent solo show at Southwark Park Galleries. Their work explores limitation as possibility, drawing from the idea of ‘working with what is at hand’ – both conceptually and materially.
Moa Johansson. Image Olof Grind
How to apply
- Application Form: Each DIT has a different online application form, depending on the needs of the project. You can find the link to the online Application Form, Word and audio versions at the top of this page.
- Alternative formats: We accept written, video, and audio applications. For video or audio applications, please answer the questions listed in the Application Form within a recording of 5 minutes. Send the file to [email protected].
- Access: We cannot provide or pay for access support to help with writing or preparing the application. Should you need support accessing or submitting the application, please contact us using the phone or email details below and we will be happy to help.
- Further questions/support: Please see the FAQs, email [email protected] or call us on 020 8985 2124.
Banner image credit:
Rosana Cade and Moa Johansson. Image by Ray Gammon and Moa Johansson
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