We want to be seen as professional artists. We can learn from criticism. It helps us grow. We can listen and learn. Others have a lot to learn from us!

Creative Minds asked me if learning disabled artists can get involved in Unlimited? Of course the answer is yes! Unlimited is open to all disabled artists – including those with learning disabilities. We have a great piece in our current programme called Dancer by an artist from Scotland called Ian Johnston and Unlimited in 2012 […]

Quality can be a sticky issue when we are talking about art and creativity because quality means different things to different people. Creative Minds is pushing that conversation forward and this week Jo Verrent, Senior Producer at Unlimited, tells us about how she defines quality. My name is Jo Verrent and I’m the Senior Producer […]

Gavin Stride is the Director of Farnham Maltings. He has been talking to us this week about measuring quality in learning disability arts. “The other observation I would make is that, sometimes, it would be good to not speak of the work as disabled art. I have a real affection for integrated casting, for making […]

Today, Creative Minds asked Gavin Stride, the Director of Farnham Maltings: You have said that you are interested in: ‘the special and ordinary place of the arts in all our lives and in exploring all of the ways in which people express who they are’. Do you think that the best art is about expressing […]

From the Creative Minds Conference “post-it” notes on 10th March 2014 It’s a tricky issue and of course everyone has their own ideas. One of our conference participants said: ‘People are very nervous about deciding if work by learning disabled artists is of good quality. It seems difficult to encourage honest discussion. Discussion needs to […]

CREATIVE MINDS Conference – 10th March 2014 : Post-It Note comments Challenge the barriers with mainstream arts education Being valued gives opportunity to share work. Essential Quality of presentation is important Acknowledge therapeutic benefits – helps to get ££££’s I like the way you work together; creative equals Your skilfulness makes you a professional artist […]

Article re-printed with kind permission from Disability Arts Online: http://www.disabilityartsonline.org.uk/creative-minds-further-questions  By Kristina Veasey The Creative Minds event held in Brighton on Monday 10th March was full to capacity with a good mix of delegates from different roles and organisations. The work was impressive presenting visual art, performance and films that were full of life. Creative […]

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.

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 […]