Exhibitions and Events
A key aim of ArtWorks is supporting our artists to have the opportunity and access to exhibit their artwork at our regionʼs most established art venues, internationally by entering pieces into creative competitions and exhibitions, and at our own events which we produce for local communities. Take a look below at the examples of exhibitions and events which we have produced!
Our artists were commissioned to create an artwork for the new HSBC branch that opened in Sheffield in December 2023. We responded to the brief of sustainable art practice by using upcycled wood, paper and fabric, and bonding the materials together with wheat paste. Over 26 artists collaborated on creating this artwork.
Our international exhibition called ArtWorks Together took place for the second time in 2023. Yet again, the international call out attracted hundreds of people from around the world. The resulting exhibition showcased artwork in ranging themes and media which reflect the diversity of artwork created by artists with learning disabilities, autism or both. The exhibition was accompanied by a programme of workshops and talks during a celebratory opening week.
Exhibition at BLOC Projects Meanwhile Space
An exhibition of work made collaboratively across ArtWorks Studios, evaluating how we can have a more eco-conscious approach to art making. Through the Making Without Destroying project, we aim to engage in issues around climate change and our connection to the natural world, inviting our audiences to do the same through this exhibition.
at Sheffield Train Station
Our large-scale poppy installation was created for EMR at Sheffield Train Station as part of remembrance services there. It was made up of hundreds of poppies which have been created by our ArtWorks artists in the studios and at the station during workshops with people waiting for their trains, as well as many other groups and individuals who donated crocheted, knitted and stitched poppies to the project.
at Wentworth Woodhouse
The ArtWorks artists worked with students from local schools to create an art trail for Wentworth Woodhouse gardens. They supported students during workshops in painting, cyanotype printing and response drawing. The artwork they created together was displayed in the gardens in August 2023.
at The Civic, Barnsley
​
The aim of this exhibition was to raise awareness of the different types of service dogs and the vital work that they do in detecting the onset of ill health and helping people to regain independence. Our artists created drawings and paintings which were auctioned to raise funds for the Medical Detection Dogs charity to help support the amazing work that they do.
How Dogs and Art Can Help Us Thrive
​
Our artists had the opportunity to take on leading roles in a residency programme for a local group called Nayi Zindagi. They took turns introducing their creative practice and teaching new skills to the group using their own artwork as the starting point. All residency participants left feeling super inspired by the incredible creativity of our artists.
.jpg)
The ArtWorks Trashion Show was a catwalk style event which highlighted issues of fast fashion and unsustainable practices in the textile industries, at the same time celebrating and promoting uniqueness and individuality. The event included a catwalk of inspiring fashion created from upcycled and recycled materials, musical performances and art installations.
​
Watch this video to find out more.
at Sheffield Hallam University
Our artists ran stalls during Learning Disability Week 2023, educating students about learning disabilities and autism, being an artist, and supporting them to exercise their own creativity. All students also received a fabulous sticker to remember the day, which was designed by our artist, Sophie.
at Northern General Hospital
The ArtWorks artists created artwork on the theme of mindfulness to create a cheerful display for patients at Northern General Hospital. To help generate ideas for their artwork, they responded to the question ‘What does mindfulness mean to you?’. The responses were really varied, check out the activity booklet we created to accompany the exhibition to find out more.
Our artists have created a display using re-purposed skateboard decks to decorate the walls of OnBoard skatepark. Thank you to OnBoard for hosting our artists work! You can find out more about OnBoard at www.onboardskatepark.co.uk
at Wentworth Woodhouse
Our artists had the opportunity to curate a programme of 4 exhibitions in the Pillared Hall at Wentworth Woodhouse. They came up with themes for the exhibitions, selected artists through an artist call out and worked with the artists to produce and promote the exhibitions. The aim of this project was to provide our artists with the professional skills of working 'behind-the-scenes' in exhibition and programme production.
In August 2022 our artists took part in ArtBomb Festival. The idea for the artwork which they created was born out of our Sustainability Project and a workshop in Rotherham Town Centre with artist Mike Stubbs and the Climate Emergency Services van.
​
The artwork consisted of animal masks and a sound piece which were used in a performance during which our artists paraded through Doncaster City Centre. The aim of the work was to raise awareness of extinct species and ones at risk of extinction. The masks used in the performance were then exhibited for the remainder of the festival.
​
In April 2022 we ran our first Sustainability Month with the aim of raising awareness of climate change and looking at how we can change the daily activities in our studios to reduce our carbon footprint. We ran a public workshop in Rotherham Town Centre with artist Mike Stubbs, sharing our learnings to local audiences. The project has since continued through exhibitions and events under a new name, Making Without Destroying.
This was the first solo digital exhibition by artist Michael Costen. On display was a wide range of pieces on varying subjects which Michael has explored over many years of drawing. Most recently Michael has been very passionate about the environment. This was documented through multiple climate change pieces which featured Michael's favourite locations and animals.
Michael built the digital space and curated it himself. He is a very fast worker, so it was difficult to choose a small selection of pieces which narrated his practice, but we think that he made great curatorial choices designing the virtual space.
​
In June 2022 we transported Inman Pavilion in Stocksbridge back to 1953. We recreated the street parties which celebrated Queen Elizabeth's coronation to honour the Platinum Jubilee.
Our artists created decorations and props and designed a cafe menu informed by food served at the parties in 1953. We all dressed in costume and ran various stalls, competitions, creative workshops and games to create a fun and educational event for the local community.
Queen's Jubilee Celebration
Abstract was the first solo digital exhibition by artist Daniel Hatfield. It displayed the artist's style which focuses on colour, mark making and texture. It also gave insight into Daniel's making process which begins with a few randomly selected colours, splashed onto the canvas and then pushed around with a brush, regularly destroying a few paintbrushes in the process. Daniel's paintings are rarely done in one session, instead taking weeks of layers and work to get to the final image. Sometimes the pieces are only “done for now”
Daniel Hatfield
In March 2022 our artists had the amazing opportunity to create work in response to and exhibit it at the Wakefield Cathedral. The exhibition was part of the Response Drawing project and it consisted of small and large scale paper drawings, six spire sculptures embellished with drawn marks, and a digital film which captured the drawing process as if the viewer was underneath the working surface. Even Keir Starmer came to see it!
Lazy Compline
Our artists have been commissioned to create a piece for the We Wonder Noir 2022 festival on the theme of 'listen'. They responded with an installation piece which consisted of a sculptural composition of objects which looked like they have been packed up and abandoned for years. The objects engaged in conversation, voiced by our artists, which revealed the creative story of a collection of kitchen objects which tried to run away. Visitors to the festival found the sculpture of escapee kitchen objects later on their route around the venue. This multi-layered piece allowed our artists to experiment with a great range of skills and find strengths in new areas of creative practice.
Listen
ArtWorks Together 2021 was an international arts competition designed to offer adults with learning disabilities, autism or both the opportunity to showcase their artistic talent to the entire world.
The competition received over 1000 entries from around the world. 34 shortlisted artists had their work exhibited in a digital exhibition and 9 winning pieces were displayed at the Wentworth Woodhouse in June 2021. The competition was also accompanied by a series of digital events, including interviews with the artists, and free creative public workshops in the gardens at Wentworth Woodhouse run by ArtWorks artists and staff.
International Arts Competition
Chris' Classic Albums' is the first solo exhibition of one of the ArtWorks artists, Chris Senior. Chris has employed his unique drawing and painting style to recreate famous album covers from the 20th century. He worked on this collection for over a year prior to the exhibition!
The exhibition also featured some of Chris' other work including Sheffield scenery and portraiture. It was a fun and enjoyable introduction to Chris' artwork.
‘Hope Shines’ aimed to brighten the day of the village residents by showing uplifting messages of support and hope when reflecting on the last 12 months. The designs have been created by ArtWorks artists in hope it adds a smile to the day of the people passing by. During these unusual times, creativity and community are more important than ever.
As many galleries have been closed due to restrictions we decided that an outdoor exhibition within our local community would be the perfect opportunity to begin showing our art work to the world again!
The ArtWorks artists took part in a residency at Yorkshire Artspace over July and August 2022. This consisted of 5 weeks of workshops with 4 artists who are studio holders at Yorkshire Artspace and a celebratory exhibition at the end.
​
We worked with artists Mandy Gamsu, Becca Brown, Christopher Jarratt and Richard Johnson, exploring new materials and using the flora outside Exchange Place studios as inspiration. We had a great time working with all of the artists and will be using the new skills to enhance our own parctices back in our ArtWorks studios.
Through July and August 2022 artists Philip Chapman and Lisa Fairchild exhibited their work at the Wakefield Cathedral cafe. Their individual artwork, though very different by subject and style, was joined together by the common use of bright colours. Phil exhibited a series of pieces created with line drawing and vinyl on clear acrylic, and Lisa exhibited drawings and prints.
​
Phil and Lisa also took part in Art Walk Wakefield on 27th July, where they had the opportunity to discuss their practice with the public.
The Free exhibition was produced by ArtWorks in collaboration with The Art Social, Yes to Ventures and Burton Street. It was a collaborative exhibition which showcased work from three of Sheffield’s day services. The artwork displayed in the exhibition was not contextualised under a common theme, instead it showcased pieces simply for what they were- artwork which was materialised during a period of inspiration for the artists and a need to output creatively, completely unique to each person.
​
Involved artists not only created work for the exhibition, but also supported its installation. This is a great practical activity which reinforces their professional skills within the creative industries.
The exhibition at Clifton Park Museum exhibited a body of research into a new type of multisensory museum experience completed by our artists. We experimented with exploring artefacts from the World Cultures collection through the senses of sight, hearing, touch and smell, and engaged in exciting new processes including 3-D scanning and printing and creating fragrances.
​
The aim of the new museum experience is to leave a lasting impact on museum audiences and bring attention to the individual ways in which all of us experience the world around us. The exhibition included an interactive area where the public was invited to engage their senses in creating a response to the objects created by our artists. The exhibition was so popular with the public that it was extended to run through the whole summer of 2022!
A Multi-Sensory Experience
At the beginning of 2022 our artists launched a competition for everyone in Sheffield and the local area designed to generate more excitement for the UEFA Women's EUROS 2022.
We produced a video titled Football Stories in collaboration with Sheffield F.C. and Football Unites, Racism Divides and invited the public to create artwork in response to it. Winning work was displayed on cement blocks in Sheffield City Centre throughout the course of the EUROS in July,
Competition and artwork display
This was the first solo digital exhibition by artist Phil Chapman. Phil built and curated the digital space himself, arranging the artwork to replicate the order in which he filled his sketchbook. The drawings in the exhibition were dedicated to the 1980’s TV series ‘Prison Cell Block H’, a programme which Phil was introduced to by his grandparents.
Prison Cell Block H by Philip Chapman
In November 2021 ArtWorks produced a light installation for the Nightfall Light Festival in Middlesborough. Our artists designed the artwork, Canopy of Stars, in response to the theme of the festival, Stellar Rainbow. It consisted of a canopy of nearly 1000 stars, onto which a colourful video was projected, reflecting star shapes onto the group below. Inspiration for the artwork came from the need for togetherness during lockdown and how looking up at the stars makes us feel connected to everybody else on the planet who looks up at the same night sky.
Canopy of Stars: Stellar Rainbow
Our first Open Studios event took place on Saturday 25th September 2021. Our artists really enjoyed finally having the opportunity to showcase their work and explain their creative processes and ideas to their families and visitors.
​
Family and friends were invited to our three sites at Malin Bridge, SOAR Works and Thorpe Hesley to see the work which we have been working on and experience the environment in which it has been made.
This exhibition featured work made during a collaborative project between a group of artists from ArtWorks and Johnsey. These works are a mark-making exchange, which explore creating work responding to sounds, our senses and the fun, but sometimes uncomfortable process of making art together.
​
They show not only shared connections made between the artists, but also the human connections and shared experiences that are happening through the making of each piece.
While all galleries were shut during the Covid-19 pandemic we decided to turn the Sheffield streets into a gallery and bring our art to the local public. Drop the Pin was our first billboard exhibition, featuring work created collaboratively by ArtWorks and Johnsey through the response drawing sessions. It was an opportunity for our artists to share their work with the public while access to other exhibiting platforms was limited in December 2019.
Retroverse was Josh Garcia’s first solo online exhibition organised in partnership with ArtWorks. The exhibition featured 63 pieces of digital and traditional art created since the start of Covid-19 pandemic, all of it created in a ‘Retro’ style taking inspiration from 1930’s cartoon, the 1980’s and 1990’s animation. Many of the works shown in this exhibition represented current events in society while others gave a nod to nostalgia. Josh is a skilled illustrator who balances important themes with light-hearted comedy.
Josh Garcia
ArtWorks Together – Creativity through Lockdown was an online exhibition organised by 70 artists with learning disabilities and autism. Before lockdown the artists often collaborated with one another, but the pieces on display were created by each artist individually using materials sent out by ArtWorks – showcasing their unique style and the character.
​
Creativity in Lockdown
Reflection showcased the work of some of our newest members of ArtWorks Rotherham through collection of self-portraits in a range of mediums including paint, textiles, illustration, digital art and photography. The exhibition took take place at Coterie Gallery in July 2019.
This was a month-long residency project with Site Gallery during which our artists created work together with local established creatives. The residency explored our artists' chosen themes of movement, environment and light through engagement with new creative media introduced by the external artists. At the end of the residency, created artwork was displayed to the public during a celebratory exhibition.
WE ARE HERE showcased works by our artists at Bloc Projects in November 2018. All the works featured were bright and vivid featuring neon and fluorescent colours.
This was an exhibition of work produced and curated by our artists in response to the 2017 Special Olympics. It focused on achievement, self believe, collaborative practice and teamwork. The pop-up exhibition was on for 3 days and brought in just over 1400 people.
this exhibition took place at The Civic, Barnsley. Our artists focused on the wildlife and environment they have seen first hand during our volunteer placement at Wentworth Woodhouse. Some pieces carefully illustrated the animals they have seen, whilst others created artwork through marks made with foliage found in the gardens.
We are delighted to have been involved, alongside 20 other arts charities, in the creation of the 3rd edition of 'Secret Dishes from Around the World' recipe book, a project created by Bounceback Food. For this book, one of our talented artists, Josh, produced an original piece of art to go alongside a recipe!
Led by local textile artist Gemma Nemer (The Button Tin), 'The Art of Banners' project was themed around solidarity and resilience. We created a unique hand stitched piece inspired by the Craftivist Movement which was a tribute to the Vote 100 Suffrage celebrations.
We also ran a pop-up Sewing Room in Rotherham Market called 'Stitching Hope Together'. We inspired and uplifted the local market traders around us and all who passed by, injecting much needed life into empty spaces...with Art.
​
Silent Auction
We ran a silent auction to raise funds for the Lord mayor's charities. Over 20 local artists donated work for the auction which included art from our very own artists. The pop-up exhibition was displayed at Virgin Money Lounge and raised over £1400.
Special Olympics GB approached ArtWorks to work with local digital artist Greg Harris and some of the participating athletes to create the official artwork for the Sheffield Games which was on display in the city centre. We also designed the official mascots for the 2017 games.
Our artists and Special Olympic athletes were asked to create artwork to celebrate the promotion of Sheffield United in 2017. Football fans Chris and Jack hand painted the artwork before using photoshop to transform it into a banner. This was presented to manager Chris Wilder and displayed at the grounds.
We were delighted to be selected as one of the Lord Mayor of Sheffield's chosen charities for 2016/17. This has given us some fantastic opportunities working alongside; Sheffield Kidney Institute, Sheffield Young Carers, Sheffield Royal Society for the Blind and Sheffield Dementia Action Alliance.
​
