PROJECT

EXPLORERS

2022 - 2023

What

A national creative programme for increasing visibility and representation of neurodivergent artists in contemporary visual art

Who

Led by Project Art Works in collaboration with eight project partners, including Autograph

Why

To work towards changing the discourse of how neurodivergent artists are positioned and described in culture

ABOUT THE Project

Autograph is proud to be a part of the EXPLORERS Project, following our involvement in the first phase of the project in 2017 - 2020. EXPLORERS is dynamic collaborative programme of art and action that opens up routes into artistic practice for neurominorities, dismantling attitudinal and systemic barriers to representation and rights in art and society.

EXPLORERS is a national creative programme increasing the visibility and representation of neurodivergent artists in contemporary visual art. The project seeks to:

➡ Create platforms for neurodivergent artists

➡ Create pathways for cultural organisations to deepen their understanding and commit to inviting neurodivergent people and carers into their spaces

➡ Work towards changing the discourse of how neurodivergent artists are positioned and described in culture

Autograph's work on the project will directly address current barriers which affect disabled and neurodivergent practitioners. We'll be sharing our activities here as the project progresses, join our newsletter for updates about Autograph's work.

EXPLORERS is led by Project Art Works, in conjunction with eight key partners: ActionSpace, Autograph, BALTICIntoArt, MK Gallery, Outside In, Photoworks and Venture Arts.

What we're doing

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Thompson Hall Artist Residency

Artist Thompson Hall has been selected for the first on-site an artist residency at Autograph, to support the development of his creative practice during the Covid-19 crisis. With support from ActionSpace, the residency will take place 7 March - 31 May 2022 in Autograph’s building in Hackney, London.

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Display: Inequality, Social Change and Marginalisation

View a new outdoor display of Thompson Hall's work addressing issues of empire, social welfare, the cost-of-living crisis and the ongoing impacts of Covid-19

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What we've achieved so far

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artist residency

We provided Thompson Hall with access to Autograph's studio space for 3 months, during which time he made more than 20 new artworks

ACCESSIBILITY

local reach

News about Thompson Hall's residency was featured in Hackney Life, delivered to more than 100k homes and businesses in our borough

support

We provided Thompson Hall with a supported studio environment and access to assistance and materials as well as a travel and research budget

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online gallery

We created an online gallery sharing the work of Thompson Hall with international digital audiences

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billboard campaign

We lit up Old Street with artworks by Thompson Hall for the duration of August 2022

coming up

photography research commission

We will be supporting an artist on a creative research project

new monograph project

A new publication project highlighting an artist's work

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS

Can you spare a few moments? Autograph is carrying out a survey to better understand who our digital audiences are. The survey should take no longer than five minutes to complete. Anything you tell us will be kept confidential, is anonymous and will only be used for research purposes.

The information you provide will be held by Autograph and The Audience Agency, who are running the survey on our behalf. In compliance with GDPR, your data will be stored securely and will only be used for the purposes it was given.

You can take the survey here. Thank you!

supported by

Banner image: Thompson Hall, ABP Autograph [detail], 2018 © and courtesy of ActionSpace

Images on page: 1) Photo of Thompson Hall © and courtesy of ActionSpace. 2) Thompson Hall, Universal Credit, 2019 © and courtesy of ActionSpace. 3) Illuminating the Wilderness [16mm film still], 2018 © and courtesy Project Art Works. 4) The Mask [still], 2017. 3 mins 46 seconds © Sharif Persaud and courtesy of Project Art Works. 5) Brian Searle, Unidentified Sitter, 2020. Courtesy of Submit to Love Studios / Headway East London. 6) Transforming Leadership logo 7) Leon Foggitt, Yoki Mekuria from the series The Artists. Courtesy of Submit to Love Studios / Headway East London / Leon Foggitt. 8) Postcard pack from the exhibition Sharif Persaud: Have You Ever Had at Autograph, London 23 Jun - 28 Aug 2021. 9) Thompson Hall in residence at Autograph, March 2022. Photograph: Jasmine Sarkodee-Adoo. 10) Hackney Citizen Logo.