In line with Art et al.'s ethos of championing a more neurodiverse contemporary art world, their first exhibition in the UK Season One will present neurodivergent, intellectually and learning-disabled artists, alongside their non-disabled peers. A focus of the exhibition will be the work produced during five Peer/Peer collaborations – digital residencies pairing international artists in Australia and the United Kingdom.
Celebrating the diversity of cultures in both countries, British and Australian exhibiting artists will include David James, Alasdair McLuckie, Thom Roberts, Cherelle Sappleton, Holly Stevenson, Sandra Lott, Emily Ferretti, Georgia Szmerling, Alan Constable, Andrew Omoding, Nnena Kalu, Barry Anthony Finan, Matt Robertson and John Powell-Jones.
The exhibiting artists work with a range of studios including Action Space and Submit to Love Studios (London), Venture Arts (Manchester), Arts Project Australia (Melbourne), Studio A (Melbourne) and Art Gusto (Geelong).
Further Art et al. initiatives which will be reflected in Season One through printed material and events include Curating Collections and a series of Curatorial Mentorships. These projects included Australian artist Michael Camakaris working with the Cranford Collection, one of Europe’s most significant private collections of contemporary art; and London curator and researcher Stella Sideli mentoring Melbourne-based artist Eden Menta.
As part of Season One, Art et al. will host a workshop for visitors on Saturday 19 March exploring the UK/Australia Season 2021-22 theme of Who Are We Now?. There will be a chance to create a page to feature in a zine that will be produced following the exhibition. There will also be a panel discussion with artists and curators who participated in Art et al.'s first year of programming, on the final day of the exhibition, Sunday 27 March.
A major programme of cultural exchange taking place across the two nations, Art et al.’s UK/AU Season programming, including Season One is supported by the British Council and the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
