The Julia Rausing Trust announces a new partnership with the Sky Foundation to fund the Julia Rausing Sky Arts Bursaries, the Foundation’s inaugural programme.

Championed by dancer and choreographer Ashley Banjo MBE, the bursaries will provide funding, mentoring, professional development and industry support to 20 dance-makers across the UK who are at a pivotal moment in their careers, helping them develop their practice and bring new dance projects to life, regardless of their background or postcode.

New research commissioned on behalf of the Sky Foundation highlights the growing challenges facing the sector, finding that six in ten Brits believe the next generation of dance talent will find the industry prohibitively expensive. Concerns come alongside industry figures1 showing the number of people working as dancers and choreographers has fallen by almost a third (32%) since 2019.

The partnership reflects the Trust’s commitment to creating opportunities for people to realise their potential while supporting inspiring cultural engagement across the UK. By providing funding and support, the bursaries aim to help talented dance-makers overcome financial barriers at a defining stage in their careers, ensuring creative potential, not financial circumstance, determines who has the opportunity to develop new work.

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.”

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