Phoenix Brighton focuses on Disability and Mental Health Awareness in April

To coincide with World Autism Awareness Week (1-7 April), Phoenix Brighton is focusing on disability and mental health awareness, and carrying this on throughout the month.

Phoenix’s commitment to supporting inclusive arts is aided by poet, performer and Phoenix patron, Henry Normal, who initially worked with Phoenix on Art By Johnny, a 2018 exhibition that showcased paintings by Johnny Carroll-Pell, Normal’s son who has autism.

Throughout April, Phoenix present a major exhibition of paintings by a talented young artist with autism, Siddharth Gadiyar, curated by Project Art Works, the UK’s leading artist led organisation working with people who have complex needs. The exhibition runs from 23 March until 21 April and is free to visit.

On Wednesday 10 April, Phoenix welcome Colin Hambrook, editor of Disability Arts Online, for an event called ‘Art Words: Mental Health’. Colin will be sharing poetry and artwork from his published work, reflecting on the experience of psychosis, across three generations of family history.

Then on 24 April, acclaimed author, journalist and autism researcher, Adam Feinstein, hosts a ‘Cred Talk’, part of a series of talks hosted by Henry Normal. In this Cred Talk, Adam will speak about his work, focusing on his two books on autism: ‘Autism Works – a guide to successful employment across the entire spectrum’, and ‘A History of Autism – Conversations with the Pioneers’.

Tickets and more information about all of these events can be found on the Phoenix Brighton website.

Image: Siddharth Gadiyar, courtesy Project Art Works.