Richard Hunt won The Shape Open 2017 – ‘Power: The Politics of Disability’ in London in February 2017, for his painting Totempole which he created as part of Creative Bridges project. Shape Patron Artists Yinka Shonibare MBE was one of the judges, and Richard won a cash prize.

Shadowlight Artists group production film “Landscapes”, Richard Hunts film “Amazing Art” and Mark Hemsworth’s film “Moods & Seasons” were screened at the Picture This…Film Festival in Alberta in Canada in March 2017

Shadowlight Artists won the 2016 Haelo Award at the Haelo Film Festival in Manchester in November 2016.

The group had 5 films showing at the Together! Disability Film Festival 2016 in December 2016

The Shadowlight Artists were Shortlisted for the National Diversity Awards for best Disability Organisation (out of over 20,000 nominations). The event was held at the Anglican Cathedral in Liverpool on 16th September 2016. Danny Smith and Richard Hunt went along to the ceremony to represent the group.

Richard Hunt and Danny Smith at 2016 National Diversity Awards, more on the awards can be found here

Big success for Shadowlight Artists

Over the last few years there has been plenty of creative success for The Shadowlight Artists, their work have been shown at Galleries (including Modern Art Oxford), at large public events, on the internet, on National TV, at Local, National and International Film Festivals and at National Film Theatre and Southbank Centre in London.

Creative Bridges

The group have recently completed an Arts Council Of England funded project called “Creative Bridges”. The group made 7 new films and other creative work, such as paintings, drawings and installation, which they exhibited in 2016 and 2017.

Russell Highsmith’s play “The Big Shock” was performed and filmed before an audience of almost 200 at Cornerstone Theatre, Didcot in February 2016, the first play written by a writer with a learning disability and performed at a mainstream theatre.

You can download for free an 64 page e-book PDF version of the groups published “Creative Bridges” booklet, which as details on the history of the group, details on each artists and their work for the project, plus an article by Jon Pratty on “The Creative Case for Mainstreaming”. Download free here.

The group exhibited the full Creative Bridges at Cornerstone Galley 12th July to 14th August 2016 and at Modern Art Oxford in October 2016. Up-to-date photos, videos and more info can be found on their facebook page. They also exhibited their films at ROAR – Oxford’s Disability Youth Arts Festival, in October 2016, and ran special art workshops for 100+ people with learning disabilities (see results of gif workshop).

Creative Bridges also had a fantastic review by Disability Arts Online. One of Richard Hunts paintings from Creative Bridges won the The Shape Open 2017

The new work includes a group production called “Dreamsville” which premiered at Modern Art Oxford on 4th December 2015. Dreamsville has also been screened at Together! Disability Film Festival 2015 in December 2015, OVADA Gallery and at the Paralympic Festival in Queen Elizabeth Park, London in September 2016.