Action Space

Arts studios

Established in 1984, Action Space is London's leading visual arts organisation for people with learning disabilities.

Action Space runs projects throughout London and develops partnerships between boroughs and with other arts and disability organisations. The organisation works with people of all ages with mild to profound learning disabilities and encourages their integration into the community by running projects in arts venues. Participants learn new skills by participating in their workshops and projects and have the opportunity to work in different types of media using, for example, photography, sculpture, mosaic, and painting. Those who join the workshops contribute to all areas of project organisation and management, and have opportunities to become workers and volunteers.

Permanent studios include Cockpit Arts in Central London and Studio Voltaire and Croydon Clocktower in South London. Both groups exhibit and sell their work in mainstream venues. The Cockpit Arms group worked alongside the Camden Young People's project to create an exciting exhibition for Camden Arts Centre in May 2007. In addition, they had work on display in a major exhibition at the new University College London Hospital in June 2007.

Action Space has a permanent sculpture trail and bench in Finsbury Park and Gillespie Park. They will continue developing these projects, as public art provides the opportunity for participants' work to reach an audience that they may have not otherwise have reached.

The Camden Young People's project, created for 16-25 year olds, has also displayed their own exhibition, Pop!, at the Age Concern's Hillwood Day Centre for the VisAbility Festival. In addition to the Pop! exhibit, members of Action Space had other exhibits at the VisAbility Festival. Shining Brightly, inspired by the work of their artists from Croydon, uses contrasting and reflective materials to bring movement and light to everyday life. The third display at Conway Hall will be a Mixed Media Exhibition demonstrating a selection of Action Space projects.

Quotes

“I love it here, I really love it.” — Ali, participant

“I like doing this, I'm using my brain.” — Umbreen, participant

Contact details

Action Space.org