We are looking for a local autistic artist (living within a 40-mile distance of John Hansard Gallery) to create a new work in response to the exhibition, A Gentle Man (Part II) (1975-2029) by Becky Beasley, showing at QUAD, Derby, Bluecoat, Liverpool in 2026, and John Hansard Gallery in Spring 2027.
This commission is curated by Jess Starns as part of the Future Curators Programme, a residency programme for Disabled curators working within mainstream visual arts institutions. Grounded in disability justice, the Future Curators Programme was founded by DASH.
The exhibition for which the commission will be made will be on display from February to May 2027 (alongside Becky Beasley’s exhibition.) It will explore ways artists work alongside others as part of their artistic practice and highlight the many forms these creative relationships can take, from facilitators and BSL interpreters to Access to Work support. Through the making and curation of artworks, the exhibition will explore ideas of interdependence, collective care and shared responsibility.
We are inviting autistic artists who are interested in developing work through collaboration with autistic adults who are late diagnosed. We particularly welcome approaches that are participatory, research-led, and grounded in inclusive arts practice, creating space for shared making, reflection, and exchange.
Film and moving image-based work is encouraged, although expressions of interests in any medium are welcome.
This commission will be developed collaboratively with Autism Hampshire and facilitated by John Hansard Gallery.
Artist fee: £2,000, plus travel expenses, access costs and materials budget to be defined.
Information session:
Artists are invited to attend an Information Session in person or online to find out more about the opportunity before applying. Booking links below for both events:
In person: Monday 13 July, 11am-12pm
Book for the IN PERSON session
Online: Thursday 16 July, 3-4pm
Book for ONLINE session
Alternatively, you can call 023 8059 2158 to book a place on either session. Please let us know if you have access requirements to attend, for example BSL. Information on visiting John Hansard Gallery here.
More information:
If you have any questions or would like to discuss access requirements for applying, please get in touch jennifa@jhg.art
Deadline to apply: Sunday 16 August
Interviews in person or online: Monday 24 August