Anne-Marie Atkinson

I specialise in working with people with learning disabilities in a contemporary art context. For the past 3 years I have been one half of an artistic duo with a learning disabled artist named Andrew Towse. Through sustained collaboration we developed a strong relationship that allowed us to share equal responsibility for the concept, development, realisation and dissemination of our projects. Our most recent project was awarded a £15,000 grant from Leeds2023 and concluded in an installation and ‘art walk’ that linked cafés throughout the city. I am increasingly interested in how learning disabled artists can become successful on their own terms, and so I am utilising my experience and privilege to examine and confront the disabling practices of the art-world. Artists who’s lives and careers do not take a traditional route through art school have the potential to offer disruptive and exciting new forms of creativity, and increasing positive representation in the creative fields can lead to a more inclusive world. I have been awarded a VC Scholarship to undertake a PhD at MMU that explores how learning disabled artists are informing contemporary arts, starting October 2018.