Art
An Evening with Artists First
- Artists
- Artists First
A pioneering group of Bristol disabled artists with learning difficulties is celebrating 30 years of making work together.
“When they started, Artists First wanted to be taken seriously as artists and they have achieved exactly that. They’ve been looking back over their history and this event at Arnolfini gives people a chance to hear about their experiences.
“Artists First members say, “Being known as an artist, an artist first before anything else, changes things. It changes attitudes. We want people to see our art work first, what we can do, what we can create and bring to the world. This is what the last 30 years has been about: coming together, making art, sharing it.”
is needed now More than ever
“Artists First will be screening new films they have made about the way they have worked together since 1988, thanks to support from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The group will share the stories of their origins and giving away copies of their new publication.”
Artists First were formed in 1988 at Portway Community Day Centre, whose ground-breaking philosophy was centred on people with learning disabilities being taken more seriously and having more control over their lives.
Some of the disabled people formed an art group. Over the years, the group grew and moved into their own studio (they were some of the first artists in Spike Island studios) and have since exhibited across the UK and internationally.
June 28, Arnolfini Front Room, 6-8pm, free but reserve tickets from the link below.
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