Celebrating neurodivergent creativity: residencies at Bethlem Gallery
Neurodiversity Celebration Week is a time to recognise and champion the creative contributions of neurodivergent individuals. This year, Bethlem Gallery celebrated neurodiversity with a month-long series of residencies, spotlighting the powerful intersection of art and neurodivergence.
These residencies provided a platform for artists Mr X, Jules Cunningham, and the Project Art Works collective to explore and express their unique perspectives, transforming the gallery into a space of vibrant collaboration, accessibility and inclusion.
Illuminating the Soul: Mr X's Residency
Kicking off the year, Bethlem Gallery welcomed artist Mr X, whose practice revolves around colour, light, and immersive structures. Through his residency, Illuminating the Soul, Mr X transformed the gallery space with evolving three-dimensional works composed of cardboard, electrical lights, and found objects. His process - a dynamic interaction between materials, space and sensory experience - invited audiences to witness the ways in which neurodivergent perspectives transform spaces and tell stories.
New Build: A collective exploration of neurodivergent expression
New Build, a residency in collaboration with Project Art Works, expanded the conversation on neurodiversity by creating an open, participatory studio environment. Through supported sessions, a diverse range of people engaged in artistic creation on their own terms. The resulting installation was a reflection of neurodivergent expression - fluid, responsive, and deeply personal. More than just an exhibition, New Build was a research-driven engagement, informing the Arts Strategy for the new NAU Building at Bethlem Hospital and redefining what accessibility means within creative and health-focused spaces.
Jules Cunningham: movement, performance and film
Dancer, artist, and choreographer Jules Cunningham brought an interdisciplinary approach to their residency, incorporating movement, performance, and film into the gallery’s neurodiverse celebration. Their work draws from lived experience as a disabled and neurodivergent artist. During their time at Bethlem Gallery, they developed two new pieces: CROW, a performance work, and fire bird. Additionally, Jules facilitated public sessions in movement, listening, and visual art, opening up the residency as a participatory experience that honoured diverse modes of expression.
The impact of neurodivergent artistic practice
These residencies not only showcased the talent and depth of neurodivergent artists but also challenged conventional notions of artistic production. Bethlem Gallery’s commitment to supporting neurodivergent-led practices and fostering spaces of accessibility is a vital contribution to shifting societal perspectives on neurodiversity. Art thrives when it is inclusive, adaptive and representative of the full spectrum of human experience.
As we celebrate Neurodiversity Celebration Week, Bethlem Gallery’s residencies stand as a testament to the power of art to build connections, drive change and amplify voices that too often go unheard. Through initiatives like these, we move closer to a world where neurodivergent creativity is not just recognised but celebrated as an essential part of cultural and social discourse.
