ActionSpace is pleased to announce our participation in ‘Art as Refuge‘, a two-day conference hosted by The New Art Gallery Walsall and organised by Outside In, with funding from The Baring Foundation.

Our Artistic Director and CEO, Sheryll Catto, will be joining a panel discussion as part of the programme, bringing ActionSpace’s perspective on inclusion, visibility, and the importance of platforming learning disabled artists.

The ‘Art as Refuge’ conference delves into the life-changing potential of creativity in the face of adversity. Through a programme of workshops, discussions, and performances, the event will address questions about the intersection of art, identity, and mental health, including:

How does art provide space, respite, comfort, escape, and collectively, refuge?

Am I an artist? Who decides the role, intention, or validity of an artwork and its creator?

What role does identity and intersectionality play in creative expression?

Why is art made in the context of mental distress pathologised?

Where is the voice of the artist in galleries, museums, and heritage collections?

The conference promises to be a platform for creative minds, artists, and thinkers to come together and explore the many ways art can offer sanctuary and become a powerful tool for expression and connection.

Learn more