News

Side-by-side art

Published 18 March 2013

Event 16 March – 5 April 2013

Artists with learning disabilities who work with non-disabled collaborators will be displaying their art at the first international exhibition of its kind in the UK.

Works by more than 150 artists from 30 innovative arts organisations around the world will be on show in the Spirit Level Gallery in London's Royal Festival Hall between 16 March and 5 April.

The exhibition will include a symposium on 22 March which will bring together leading organisations in the field to develop the first inclusive arts manifesto. They will seek to name this emerging field of artistic practice.

The exhibition is run by The Rocket Artists and the University of Brighton and will include a live performance by The Rocket Artists and Corali Dance Company which is inspired by the exhibits.

The exhibition will feature paintings, drawings, sculptures, films, animation, music, installation and performance which have been created and curated by artists with learning disabilities working with non-disabled collaborators.

Directed by Alice Fox, who founded The Rocket Artist group 10 years ago, there will also be two sessions on 27 and 28 March when films by exhibitors will be screened, followed by a discussion.

Alice and The Rocket Artists have been working with staff and students from the MA Inclusive Arts Practice at the University of Brighton through arts-based research.

Rockets mean business
Photograph by Peter Gates, 2012

Alice said: "The exhibition is a celebration of Inclusive arts practice – artists with and without learning disabilities establishing a collaborative practice for making contemporary artworks that challenge cultural values and combat social segregation. It is through these creative meeting points that the gift of a new perspective on the world can be offered and the humanity of the artists involved can be witnessed.

"The exhibition builds on the success of the Paralympics, to end prejudiced attitudes. We must continue to celebrate the skills of people with disabilities."

The free exhibition runs from 10am–11pm daily. The creative workshop day on 22 March costs £20 per person and runs from 11am-3pm. Booking is essential for the films and discussion via tickets southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson.

More information: arts.brighton.ac.uk/sidebyside.