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Highlights: Disability Arts Exhibition 2026
Sunderland Culture is delighted to present an open call for deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent artists aged 16–25 to take part in Highlights: Disability Arts Exhibition 2026.
This exhibition celebrates creativity, imagination, and expression, providing an opportunity for artists to showcase their work and share their perspectives. We want to highlight the diversity of talent and provide an opportunity for young disabled and neurodiverse artists to be seen and celebrated in a supportive environment.
This exhibition is not competitive. Every submitted work will have the opportunity to be shown digitally, providing a platform for all artists to showcase their abilities. The focus is on celebrating creativity.
The theme for the exhibition is ‘Challenges, Celebrations and Connections’. Artists are invited to interpret this theme in any way that is meaningful to them.
Here’s a few suggestions about how the theme could be interpreted:
- Challenge – physical, health, emotional, social, or accessibility challenges
- Celebrations – achievements, resilience, overcoming barriers, celebrating personal or community strengths
- Connections-to family, to friends, the planet, nature, to other times, places, hobbies, interests.
Submit now
We have created an Easy Read guide which can be found here:Highlights: Disability Arts Exhibition 2026
Important information
Please read the important information before submitting your work.
Submissions close: Friday 23rd January, 4pm
Email confirmation of your submission and outline of next steps: Friday 30th January, 4pm
In-person preview and celebration: To Be Decided (TBD)
Online exhibition: Friday 20th February – To Be Decided (TBD)
Who can enter?
We invite deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent young people (aged 16-25) who live, study or work in Sunderland to apply.
How many works can I submit?
You can submit one artwork per person.
What type of work is eligible?
All visual art forms are welcome, including drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, film, digital art, and mixed media. The work will need to be photographed and submitted to us.
All works must be an original creation by the artist.
Artwork should be age-appropriate and suitable for younger audience members. Avoid explicit language, violence, or mature themes. Steer clear of discriminatory, offensive, or harmful material.
How should I present my work?
Artists are asked to submit images or digital copies of their work. Please provide clear photographs or digital files.
How are works selected for exhibition?
All works will be exhibited. The exhibition is inclusive and non-competitive, providing equal opportunity to showcase creativity and artistic voice.
During the course of the exhibition you or your artwork may be photographed or recorded on video, with consent. On occasions this material may be used for promotional purposes by Arts Centre Washington or Sunderland Culture.
We have created an Easy Read guide which can be found here: Highlights: Disability Arts Exhibition 2026
If you require support with your application, please contact:
Highlights: Disability Arts Exhibition 2026 is part of the Autonomy project. The Autonomy project is generously supported by the Association of Independent Museums (AIM) Connected Communities programme, which is funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s Know Your Neighbourhood Fund, through Arts Council England.
