From Creative Minds Conference: University Arts Departments need to open their eyes to learning disability led arts activity. They provide opportunities for Universities to understand how to apply the skills of learning disabled people. It is up to us to tell Universities what we are doing.
Recent Discussions
Oska Bright should be on TV
Two comments from the Creative Minds Minds Conference on Monday 10th March at Brighton Dome, both written on the Post-It boards: Oska Bright Films should be on TV – come on Carousel, make this happen! Oska Bright films should be screened in mainstream cinema’s just before the feature film. Why hasn’t this happened yet?
Does the BFI value diversity?

These are comments from the Oska Bright discussion at Creative Minds on the 10th March 2014 Why isn’t diversity a specific department in places like the BFI? It might help strengthen the genre and promote the work so more people can see if. Do they see it as quality work? If not, how can we […]
More questions on quality
QUESTIONS POSED BY BELLA TODD ON Disability Arts Online ON 13th March 2014 http://www.disabilityartsonline.org.uk/creative-minds-review What sorts of feedback have learning disabled artists found genuinely meaningful and constructive? How should we balance the responsibility to lift aspirations without the danger of crushing them? As critics we look for what is distinctive. If some of what is […]
Not quality art at all
Comment from the Creative Minds Conference at Brighton Dome on Monday 10th March 2014: “I wouldn’t programme any of the work I saw today in my venue. It’s not of a high quality. Art produced by learning disabled people isn’t of a high quality, generally. They can make their own art, performance and film, but […]
Thoughts from Beat Express
Here are our thoughts about quality and being a band of musicians with learning disabilities: Lee Hubbard (lead singer and bass): “I work hard and play lots and I feel responsible for making sure it is good. We like to be liked! Some people like it and some people might not, which can be stressful […]
Inspiration

Chris Beck from Song Unite asks us: Who and/or what inspires YOU and why? To set the ball rolling… my son inspires me. He works hard, laughs hard and never discriminates. He can be honest without being insensitive or unkind and he lives each day as it comes, embracing and enjoying life to the full. […]
PicKee Steps

Our joined up thinking on quality and art by people with learning disabilities especially for Creative Minds in Brighton. Who are we? Well I’m Sarah Pickthall and this is Andy Kee and together we are PicKee STEPS. We will be sharing our PicKee thinking leading up to the conference on the 10th March… Why are […]
Knowing when art is quality
We need to find a way to make people know when our work is good. We don’t want people to patronise us. If someone tells us what to do, for example“walk on stage, turn round, say hello and walk off”, then we are not being creative. Whereas if we make our own entrance and find […]
Stand up and be counted
Do you think it’s important to tell people that the art is made by someone with a learning disability? Or should it not actually matter? Francis Manning – “If I make some work then the people I care about most are my friends and family – I don’t think about what other people […]