Artist wins award for exhibition exploring disability

Lucy_Scope

From BBC News by Rachel Russell

An exhibition that explored an artist's life as a disabled person has won an award.

Jason Wilsher-Mills' work, Are We there Yet?, won the Museum and Heritage Awards' Temporary or Touring Exhibition of the Year.

It attracted more than 51,000 visitors when it was on display at Ferens Art Gallery in Hull.

The artist said he was "so proud and thrilled" to be recognised for his work, which took people on a journey of his personality, memory and disability through theatrical portraits and sculptures.

He added: [The team at Ferens] showed their faith in me and I was able to repay this by creating new work, which the public in Hull truly engaged with.

"This was a group effort, which enabled me to work with and support disabled artists in Hull. I hope that I am able to work with my friends at Ferens in the future because we seem to bring the best out of each other."

The exhibition, which was displayed from February and June 2024, has inspired Ferens to showcase more of the artist's work.

His inflatable sculpture, The Withernsea 2, is now part of the gallery's permanent collection and is on display at the entrance.

It was inspired by his childhood holidays in the seaside town and the Roos Carr figures , external- prehistoric figurines discovered near Withernsea in 1836 - in Hull Museums' collection.

Hull City Council's cabinet member for culture, Rob Pritchard, said the award was a "real testament to the quality of Jason's work".

"Are We There Yet? proved incredibly popular during its time at the Ferens and our permanent collection sculpture 'The Withernsea 2' continues to draw as much interest now," he said.

"I know the Ferens team learnt so much about making the gallery's exhibitions and programme accessible, improving access for everyone."