25.10.2005
The University of Brighton has been awarded a grant of over £70,000 by the Arts Council South East to fund an artists group for the graduates of its innovative Access to Art project which brings art to people with severe learning difficulties.
The artists group called a2a Rockets will enable these artists to continue their arts practice and the funding will also enable the university to recruit more students on to the second Access to Art course.
Alice Fox from the University of Brighton's School of Arts and Communication said: "Graduates of Access to Art have a real wish and urgency to continue to produce and exhibit high quality works of contemporary art. These artists have already produced individual portfolios demonstrating diverse, sophisticated and unique art works and their groundbreaking work was recently exhibited and celebrated at the Tate Modern. In forming a2a Rockets, the students with learning difficulties will be able to realise their ambitions to continue their arts practice in a supported inclusive environment."
A2a Rockets will be based at the Phoenix Arts Association, a mainstream community artist studio with many other practicing artists. This partnership will allow the artists with learning difficulties to become more involved in the arts world and give the Phoenix artists the opportunity to collaborate and learn from the a2a Rockets. The a2a Rockets will also be able to access university resources with support and advice and help from art students.
Alice Fox commented: "Access to Art has evolved into an excellent model for inclusive learning, bringing together adults with a wide range of learning difficulties and disabilities and undergraduate art students, providing the opportunity for them to work together and develop their art practice."
"The benefit to the wider art world is the further inclusion of art work by people with learning disabilities, who due to their life experiences often have a different and interesting take on the world and their part within it. The project will also benefit the university's art students and the Phoenix Artists by challenging their pre-conceptions and stereotypes of people with learning disabilities whilst inspiring their own arts practice and arts processes."
The a2a Rockets initiative will also provide a progression route into the art world for the Access to Art graduates. It is also an example to other artists with learning disabilities and the wider arts community of what people with learning disabilities can achieve with support.
Access to Art was established via University of Brighton's innovative Community University Partnership Programme for more information about how to get involved go to (www.cupp.org.uk).
Contact: Marketing and Communications, University of Brighton,
01273 643022
