Reaching Out

A collaborative exhibition asking (and, hopefully, offering some answers to) the question:

What stops you from-

Seeing, Feeling, Hearing, Knowing, Reaching Out?

The work is inspired by, and documents the art and research project “SAFEDI enSHRINE”,

Created through collaboration between co-authors: Cath Walsh, Deborah Nash, Kev Howard, Steph Robson, Cathy Garner, Colly Metcalfe, Andy, Nicki, Paula, Sofia Barton, Sarah Li, Lady Kitt and Dan Russell

Navigating the space:

This virtual tour works similarly to Google Maps. Click the cross at the top right hand corner of this text to enter the digital space. Click and drag with your cursor to look around. Click the white arrows to move about the space. Click or tap on the white icons in each scene for more close-ups and more information about the individual artworks.

“enSHRINE” is an ongoing (2020-on) project (more info HERE )

This iteration of “enSHRINE” has been commissioned as part of SAFEDI* by Manchester Metropolitan University, Social Art Network, & Axis

Supported by BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art (Gateshead), Disconsortia and Headway Arts

“SAFEDI enSHRINE” brings together North-East communities of disabled people to investigate ways of making art centres, galleries and arts organisations more accessible.

We have discussed the barriers we face by creating an “Access Obstacle Course” and have offered solutions to some of these through our “Access Recitations”.

As you move through the digital exhibition you will see works/sections labelled “Access Obstacle Course” (barriers) or “Access Recitations” (ideas for removing barriers). We hope experiencing this exhibition will be exciting, enjoyable, challenging and thought-provoking. We also hope it will be a useful tool for people who want to think about making art centres, galleries and art organisations more open, welcoming, accessible places for lots of different people.

Our focus has been on how creative collaboration can be part of policy change. We want the ideas from this project to be enshrined in policy by art centres, galleries and arts organisations, making their work more accessible.

The “Reaching Out” digital exhibition is curated by Art Matters Now

With audio and image descriptions by writer Lisette Auton