Highlights: Disability Arts Exhibition 2026 Celebration

Event description

Join us to celebrate the creativity, imagination and expression of the deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent young artists featured in Highlights: Disability Arts Exhibition 2026.

Featuring:

• Preview of the in-person exhibition

You can find the online exhibition here: Highlights: Disability Arts Exhibition 2026 – Online Exhibition

You can find the dates for the in-person exhibition here:Highlights: Disability Arts Exhibition 2026 – In-person Exhibition 

• SEND-friendly drop-in workshops, including:

Decorate your own paper lantern

Inspired by the Chinese Lantern Festival, use tissue paper, paint, and embellishments to experiment with layering, pattern and colour and create an eye-catching paper lantern.

Create your own cardboard jumping jack

Have a go at making your own classic jumping jack puppet using cardboard and string – design your own character, whether that’s your favourite character or animal, and make them dance.

Make your own stop-motion animation

Learn about different animation techniques, design your own characters and bring them to life with motion, voices and sound effects.

• Musical performances, including:

Ava Ellis – 12:30pm-12:50pm

Ava Ellis is a 17-year-old singer songwriter based in Sunderland. Inspired by pop disruptors the likes of Bat for Lashes, the Cocteau Twins and Kate Bush, Ava’s music brings together dream-like stories and unusual instrumentals for a one-of-a-kind experience.

Ava will be playing songs from her debut album – Steve – which is released on Friday 20th February.

Listen here: Steve by Āvā & The Fates

Lewis Hill – 1:30pm-1:50pm

Lewis Hill is a 21-year-old solo vocalist from Washington. A veteran member of Arts Centre Washington’s Right Track Youth Music Project, Lewis is inspired by 90’s greats like Oasis, Blur and Green Day, as well as more contemporary acts like Sam Fender.

• A whole load of free pizza!