Applications are now open for our next Trainee Artistic Director!
![A celebratory group shot of visually impaired drag artists, all dressed in a variety of colourful and outlandish costumes. Some people pose while others grin and have their hands in the air.](https://extant.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/20191018-SA901747-scaled.jpg)
Extant is the UK’s leading professional performing arts company of visually impaired artists and theatre practitioners, producing touring productions and delivering training regionally and internationally.
Extant is working in a very rich area, producing powerful performances, and I wish you all the best of strength and fortitude in the future
Peter Brook
Help Extant continue to create world class award-winning work by donating £25 for 25 more years.
![Joanna, a slim white woman with long brown hair hands flowers to Artistic Director Maria Oshodi as they stand smiling in front of a large balloon reading 20](https://extant.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Joanna-giving-flowers-to-Maria-1024x683.jpg)
Welcome to Extant
Extant is the opposite of extinct. Formed in 1997 by founder Maria Oshodi and a group of professional visually impaired artists, the company aimed to redress invisibility of blind and partially sighted artists and explore new creative territories. Since then it has become a dynamic, political space to articulate and celebrate what visual impairment brings to the performing arts.
A short film celebrating our 20th Anniversary can be viewed here, and the full length version is available on request. Read our full list of awards granted over our history here.