The Sky Foundation launches new bursary programme to support the future of UK dance

The Sky Foundation has today launched The Julia Rausing Sky Arts Bursaries, a new programme delivered in partnership with The Julia Rausing Trust that will support 20 dance-makers across the UK with funding, mentoring, professional development and industry visibility.

The launch comes as new research commissioned on behalf of the Sky Foundation highlights the need to invest in the future of dance talent in the UK. Despite more than two thirds (68%) of the public believing dance is an important part of British culture, six in ten believe the next generation of dance talent will find the industry too expensive, while over half (55%) think only those from wealthier backgrounds can realistically pursue a career in dance. Nearly half (45%) believe the UK is missing out on dance talent that could contribute to British culture and the creative industries.

The concerns come alongside industry figures¹ showing the number of people working as dancers and choreographers has fallen by almost a third (32%) since 2019, highlighting the growing challenges facing the sector.

The bursary programme also marks the launch of the newly created Sky Foundation, an independent charity established to back organisations and initiatives that help create lasting impact for people, places and the planet.

The Julia Rausing Sky Arts Bursaries is the Foundation’s inaugural programme, funded by The Julia Rausing Trust, one of the UK’s largest philanthropic foundations, and delivered in partnership with Sky Arts. Backed by dancer and choreographer Ashley Banjo MBE, the bursaries will support professional artists who create dance work, including choreographers and dancers who develop their own original pieces. Applications are welcome from people working in any style of dance, from any part of the UK. The new work created through the bursaries will also benefit the wider dance community, creating opportunities for dancers and creative collaborators across the UK.

Ashley Banjo MBE, dancer, choreographer and Diversity frontman, said: “Dance opened so many doors for me growing up. I was lucky that my mum ran a dance school, so I was surrounded by dance from an early age and had access to opportunities that helped shape my future.

But opportunities are becoming harder to access today, particularly for people who don’t come from an affluent background. Creative potential should never be determined by a family’s finances, yet these findings suggest cost is becoming an increasingly significant barrier to pursuing a career in dance.”

The research also highlights just how unequal access to a career in dance has become. Eight in ten (80%) believe people from less affluent backgrounds face greater barriers to pursuing a career in dance, while just 6% believe everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed in the industry.

Two thirds (67%) believe talented people are being overlooked simply because they live in parts of the country with fewer opportunities. Regional disparities are particularly stark, with 38% of people in the North East, Northern Ireland and Wales reporting a lack of opportunities, compared with 26% in the South East.

The findings also suggest that barriers to a career in dance begin long before artists reach the professional stage. Respondents believe talented young people are being held back by the rising cost of pursuing dance, with 63% pointing to the expense of travel, equipment and competitions, while 57% believe many simply cannot afford to pursue creative careers.

Ashley added: “No one should feel that a career in dance is out of reach because they can’t afford lessons, travel or competitions, or because there aren’t enough opportunities close to home. Talent can come from anywhere, and your background shouldn’t determine your future.”

Phil Edgar-Jones, Trustee of the Sky Foundation and Executive Director of Original Unscripted at Sky, said: [i"Dance is one of Britain’s great creative strengths. It’s an artform that brings people together, tells powerful stories and reflects the diversity of communities across the UK. With public funding under pressure, many dance artists increasingly rely on the support of dance organisations, charities and funders to develop their careers. As a Trustee of the newly created Sky Foundation I’m delighted that the first programme will support such an important cause through the Julia Rausing Sky Arts Bursaries, funded by The Julia Rausing Trust.[/i]

“By providing funding, mentoring and practical industry support to 20 dance-makers across the UK who are at a key junction in their career, the bursaries will help remove some of the barriers talented artists face, giving them the confidence, connections and opportunity to develop their craft and build sustainable careers in dance. We hope they will help ensure talent, rather than financial circumstance, determines who gets the chance to succeed.”

Sir Hans Rausing, Co-Founder of The Julia Rausing Trust, said: “My beloved wife Julia was a passionate advocate for helping young people realise their potential, as well as a lifelong champion of the arts. The Julia Rausing Sky Arts Bursaries bring together two causes that meant a great deal to her. I am immensely proud that The Julia Rausing Trust is part of this exceptional new programme. By investing in artists at this pivotal stage in their careers, we hope to give them the time, confidence and support to create ambitious new work and continue contributing to the UK’s cultural life.”

Sir Alistair Spalding CBE, Artistic Director and Co-Chief Executive of Sadler’s Wells, commented: “Building a career in dance rarely follows a straight path. The period between emerging and established can be one of the most challenging, yet it’s also when artists often make their boldest creative leaps. Programmes like the Julia Rausing Sky Arts Bursaries are so valuable because they provide more than financial support. They provide artists with the time, space and confidence to develop their work, take creative risks and build connections that can open doors throughout their careers. At Sadler’s Wells we believe dance truly is a universal language and that everyone should have the opportunity to experience it, participate in it, and create. We’re delighted to be a partner and can’t wait to see the work that emerges from this programme.”

The Julia Rausing Sky Arts Bursaries welcomes applications from professional dance-makers, choreographers and artists aged 18 and over whose creative practice is rooted in dance and movement. Applications are encouraged from all dance styles, backgrounds and regions across the UK.

Access imagery of Julia Rausing Sky Arts Bursary ambassador Ashley Banjo here

Applications are now open and close on 9 September 2026. For more information and to apply, visit https://juliarausingskyartsbursaries.com.

For media enquiries, please contact: skyarts@workandclass.agency

Industry evidence¹: Evidence compiled by Erin Sanchez, PhD, Lead Specialist for Health, Wellbeing and Performance at One Dance UK: Office for National Statistics (ONS) data for Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) 3414 – Dancers and Choreographers – shows there were 15,330 people employed in the occupation in 2025, compared with 10,204 in 2023.

The Sky Foundation’s Julia Rausing Sky Arts Bursaries support exceptional artists with bold ideas. 20 artists will receive funding, mentoring, professional development and a national platform to create ambitious new works and take the next step in their careers. By combining financial support with industry connections and visibility, the bursaries help remove barriers, open doors and give artists the support they need to thrive.

The Sky Foundation is an independent charitable foundation supporting organisations that make a lasting positive impact across the UK. It will work through funding and partnerships across four priority areas: championing arts and culture, growing grassroots sport, bringing communities together, and protecting nature and the environment. Established with Sky’s support, it brings ‘Believe in better’ to life as part of a long-standing commitment to make a meaningful difference to people, places and the planet.

The Sky Foundation is a registered charity (number 1218296). https://skyfoundation.sky/

Sky Arts exists to bring more art to more people across the UK. In 2020, with the creative industries under serious threat, we threw open our doors to make the channel free for everyone to watch. We’ve redoubled our mission to increase access to the arts and we’re committed to getting everyone involved. The fact is, we need the arts like never before, and Sky Arts brings them straight to your living room. 

The Julia Rausing Trust was established by Sir Hans Rausing in memory of his late wife, Julia Rausing, (née Delves Broughton), the British philanthropist who died in 2024.

Julia Rausing co-founded The Julia and Hans Rausing Trust in 2014. She was widely known for her unwavering commitment to philanthropy and her impactful contributions to a wide range of UK charitable causes. She was instrumental in building the Julia and Hans Rausing Trust into one of the largest philanthropic funds in the country, donating £400 million to causes across Health, Welfare, and the Arts, primarily within the UK.

The Julia Rausing Trust is a registered charity (number 1213572) and was established by Sir Hans Rausing in order to make grants in Julia’s name, supporting causes she was particularly passionate about.

https://www.juliarausingtrust.org