Countdown to the start of the Big Give Arts For Impact Campaign!
DanceSyndrome: iCreate
We are raising money for iCreate, a groundbreaking 3-year project changing perceptions of who can choreograph, helping to redefine the future of dance.
This work has transformed the lives of those involved & it will transform those who get to experience it through live performance too! The process has enabled Artists to shift from being directed to directing and from participating to producing. The project not only demonstrates significant individual growth, but increased confidence, leadership, and creative agency.
This project deserves to be celebrated with the world on a BIG stage. We want to share this work on a major professional stage at The Lowry, Salford. BUT, and it’s a BIG BUT, staging an accessible, high-quality showcase will cost around £20,000.
Access costs are not always obvious, but they have a significant price tag. These costs include extra time for rehearsals, extra lighting & technical support, additional backstage staffing, BSL Interpreter, Audio Describer, touch tours, visual story creation and accessible marketing materials.
DanceSyndrome hopes to generate £9,000 of public donations during the Big Give ‘Arts for Impact’ campaign week. Every donation made is doubled for one week only! So, for example if you donate £25, we receive £50.
All donations must be made between 12pm on Tuesday 17th March and 12pm on Tuesday 24th March via the Big Give Arts for Impact platform.
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About The Campaign
The Need
Inclusive opportunities for people with learning disabilities to access, engage with, progress and perform in the arts are severely limited; impacting life chances, happiness and reaching potential. This inequity of opportunity exacerbates the overwhelming disadvantages that people with learning disabilities face and create barriers to living a full life; poor self-esteem, low confidence, ill health, and significant isolation.
The Project
Our iCreate project has been delivered over the last three years to break the mould, providing opportunities for dancers with learning disabilities to become Artists, performers and visible role models, offering alternative perspectives and visions of the future of the industry. Feedback from people throughout the dance sector tells us these opportunities aren’t available elsewhere.
iCreate will challenge & change perceptions towards Artists with disabilities & champion inclusion in the Arts. In November 2026, we will be presenting a high-profile performance event at The Lowry in Salford, which will provide a platform for artistic skill, talent and passion to an audience of 400 people, including influential dance industry leaders. We will showcase high-quality, inclusive choreography, proving what people with learning disabilities can achieve when we invest in support, amplify their voices and make them more visible.
Through the Big Give ‘Arts for Impact’ project, we hope to raise the funds needed to make this a fully accessible project. Providing people with learning disabilities with the right support takes time and extra resources, but DanceSyndrome believes that it is worth the investment. We need your help to make the dreams of Artists with learning disabilities into a reality.
Past audience members tells us why iCreate is important:
“Never experienced anything like this before, usually see token acts on TV with the “awww” factor, this was genuine & quality.”
“You are really pushing the boundaries and showing the dance world what people with learning disabilities are capable of. Well done – keep up your tremendous work.”
“Totally unexpected, it broke down all my preconceptions about what dance for disability looks like.”
How you can help
Creating a truly accessible performance event will cost in the region of £20,000 to deliver. DanceSyndrome hopes to generate £4,500 of public donations during the ‘Arts for Impact’ campaign, which will become £9,000 as all donations are doubled.
So… we need your help! Can you donate to support our work? Or can you run your own small scale campaign for cash donations which can then be donated online during the campaign?
You could:
- like and share our story on your social media and with friends and family
- ask colleagues in your workplace to donate the cost of a cup of coffee or a glass of wine
- run a 50:50 draw, raffle or tombola
- do a sponsored activity
- host a bake sale, quiz night, film night or table top sale
If you need any support with your fundraising, please contact our team at info@dancesyndrome.co.uk
To donate, please set a reminder on your calendar to visit our Big Give Arts for Impact campaign between 12pm on Tuesday 17th March and 12pm on Tuesday 24th March. At the time of donation, you will be asked if you also want to support The Big Give, this is your own personal choice and you are able to choose £0 if you prefer not to.
You can also support us by sharing our appeal on social media. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn to see regular updates during the week, which is also Down’s Syndrome Awareness Week – what better time to support our work?
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