The Studio Innovation Fund 2027 Call for proposals

The Studio Innovation Fund 2027 in Partnership with the Immersive Audio Network – Call for Proposals 

The Studio at Bath Spa University, our vibrant city-centre hub, is excited to be teaming up with the Immersive Audio Network (IAN) for this year’s Studio Innovation Fund. We’re building on a legacy of success from previous Studio Innovation Fund recipients, whose partnerships have sparked meaningful collaborations and impactful change. 

• See our previous Studio Innovation Fund awardees here.
• SIF 7 Launch & Connect Event – Wednesday 21 October, 5.30pm – 7.30pm. Get tickets here.
• SIF 7 Connect 2 Event – Tuesday 27 October, 12.30pm – 2.30pm: Get your tickets here.

We want the next wave of creative partnerships to help shape a more resilient, inclusive and tech-enabled future. This year, our focus is immersive audio, and we’re inviting Studio Residents to team up with the wider creative community to explore, using immersive audio, how they can address pressing social issues through collaboration, experimentation and shared learning. And we are offering six hours of bespoke development support for each partnership, delivered by The Uncultured.  

What type of proposals are we looking for? 

Partnership and collaboration are at the heart of this fund. Each year we look for proposals that bring people and organisations together to build something sustainable for the future, using technology in ways that create a strong social impact. 

This year, we’re excited to be working with the Immersive Audio Network and exploring the potential of immersive audio. We’d love to hear ideas that use it to respond to a societal challenge in creative and inclusive ways. 

It could be in the field of health and wellbeing, skills and training, the cultural sector or related to helping create positive environmental impact. We are interested in the social impact and value of your proposal. We expect inclusion and diversity to be built into your practice.  

In this context, immersive audio means using spatialised sound either binaurally, through headphones or using some kind of multi-speaker array (Ambisonics / Dolby Atmos or a bespoke setup). Proposals do not need to be audio only so can involve visual or other elements e.g. in VR, but do need to be audio-led. If you wish to use the IAN’s Immersive Audio Lab equipment, that must be included in the budget. The Studio has some immersive audio equipment that can be booked by Studio Residents as part of their residency. 

Our aim is to foster new partnerships between Studio Residents and the wider community in the region. We require all partners, and anyone hired to work on your concept, to be properly paid for their time. While we do not expect a finished project at the end of the funding, you should have an idea of how you will take your idea forward. Positive outcomes might include formalising a new partnership, moving from R&D into product development, connecting with a new community, or broadening social impact. 

We’re looking for long-term ambition and partnerships with room to grow. Rather than funding a finished, one-off project, this fund is here to support the bigger picture of where you and your partner want to go together. 

We know that funding for individual projects is increasingly hard to find, and part of The Studio’s role is to help our residents build sustainable creative practices and businesses. This fund is designed with that in mind, as a tool for sustainable growth rather than a way to deliver a single piece of work. 

We’d love to see how your partnership could develop over time, and how it could benefit both you and your partner well beyond the life of the fund. This reflects The Studio’s wider mission to support residents to thrive in the long term. 

About the Immersive Audio Network 

The Immersive Audio Network (IAN) was set up by Bath Spa University’s Dr Ruth Farrar for Bath and Bristol-based practitioners, educators and enthusiasts. It aims to: 

• To create a networking platform including events, workshops and meet-ups to share knowledge and investigate innovative ideas. 

• To deliver mentorship and training opportunities to proactively resolve a current and future skills gap in this area and encourage an inclusive and diverse talent pipeline in this field. 

• To showcase Bristol and Bath as world leaders in immersive audio. 

The Studio is delighted to be partnering with IAN on this year’s Studio Innovation Fund, to grant you access to expertise and equipment to help you develop your immersive audio ideas. 

About The Uncultured 

The Uncultured was founded by Ashleigh Bowmont and Laura Sweeney, who are passionate about helping artists, creatives and cultural organisations thrive. They work with people at different stages of their journey to build confidence, strengthen ideas, and create sustainable opportunities for growth. Their approach is friendly, collaborative, and tailored to each individual or partnership, combining practical advice with honest conversations, encouragement, and accountability. Rather than offering a one-size-fits-all programme, The Uncultured focuses on understanding where people are now, where they want to get to, and helping them develop a realistic and achievable path forward. 

Key Details 

• Funded Period: 01 January – 30 June 2027 

• Funding Available: 

• • 3 x £10,000 partnership grant 

• Support Includes: 

• • Access to The Studio’s equipment library via Studio Resident 

• • R&D rates on Immersive Audio Lab ambisonics speaker array  if required (must be included in budget) 

• • Onboarding Workshop 

• • Six hours of Bespoke Development Support including paid training and mentoring opportunities up to the value of £1000 per partnership. 

• • Optional Producer Check-ins 

• Our expectations of partners: 

Please budget for your time for the following activities (about 2 days each in total) 

• • All partners to attend Onboarding Workshop (see date in timeline)  

• • All partners to fully engage with agreed partnership support  

• • All partners to engage with and complete interim and final evaluations 

• • All partners to take part in final sharing event in September 2027 

Backed by Bath Spa University’s Centre for Cultural and Creative Industries and a HEQR Policy Support Fund grant from Research England. 

Who Can Apply? 

• • Current Studio Residents partnering with freelancers, micro-businesses, commercial businesses, social enterprises, or third sector organisations 

What to Include in Your Application 

• • A clear description of your idea, anticipated outcomes and intended social impact 

• • How creative tech supports your goals 

• • How the partnership will benefit all parties 

• • Your long-term ambition for the partnership and how it could continue beyond the fund 

• • Budget breakdown (pay rates, kit, travel, etc.) We would advise you to include your partnership time with The Uncultured and the six hours of bespoke development support you receive 

• • Timeline of activities 

Eligibility Criteria 

Applications must: 

• • Include at least one current Studio Resident and one external partner 

• • Use immersive audio as a core element of the project 

• • Demonstrate a clear social impact and potential for long-term growth 

• • Involve eligible partners such as freelancers, businesses, social enterprises, or third sector organisations 

• • Deliver activity in Bath & North East Somerset or the surrounding region 

• • Include at least one partner based in Bath & North East Somerset 

• • Commit to participating in development support, evaluation activities and the final sharing event 

• • Show a fair and meaningful contribution from all partners 

Please note: Studio Residents may be involved in more than one application, but only one proposal per Resident can receive funding 

Key terminology 

Sustainable growth
Developing your practice, business or partnership in a way that can continue over time, rather than relying on one-off funding. This might mean building new income streams, skills, relationships or ways of working. 

Social impact
The positive difference your work makes to people and communities. This could be improving access to culture, supporting wellbeing, bringing people together, or helping to address an issue that affects a particular group or place. It doesn’t need to be large scale, but it should be meaningful. 

How to Apply 

• • Deadline: 23:55, Sunday 15 November 2026 

• • Submission: Complete the online application form or video submission form. (See a pdf version of the application for reference here.)

• • Contact: Caroline Anstey (Studio Manager) at thestudio@bathspa.ac.uk 

Selection Process 

• • Shortlisting: The Studio Team will assess applications based on strength of criteria alignment 

• • Interviews: Up to five proposals will be invited to interview at The Studio on Wednesday 9 December 2026. 

• • Awards: Three partnerships will be selected to receive £10K plus funding for agreed mentoring, training or business support 

Let’s build on the momentum of past successes and continue to grow a thriving, collaborative creative tech community in Bath. We can’t wait to see what you’ll bring to the table. 

Timeline 

• • Tuesday 6 October 2026: Fund goes live 

• • Wednesday 21 October 2026: 5.30-7.30pm: Launch and Connect evening Connect event at The Studio – meet Studio Residents and find collaborators for partnership. 

• • Tuesday 27 October 2026, 12.30-2.30pm: Connect daytime event at The Studio – meet Studio Residents and find collaborators for partnership. 

• • Sunday 15 November 2026, 11:55pm: Deadline for proposals. 

• • Wednesday 9 December 2026: Interviews with shortlisted teams. 

• • Monday 14 December 2026: Applicants informed of decisions 

• • January 2027: Funded collaboration starts 

• • Thursday 21st – January 2027: Half day onboarding workshop and introduction to The Uncultured, development support programme 

• • Late April 2027: Mid Point Producer Check ins & Evaluation 

• • Early/Mid June 2027: Final Producer Check ins & Evaluation 

• • 30 June 2027: Funded collaboration completed 

• • September 2027: Sharing Event

Got questions or need support? Reach out to the team at thestudio@bathspa.ac.uk. 

APPLY HERE (online form)

APPLY HERE (video submission)