differently various is a multifaceted immersive exhibition experience which took place in summer 2023 at the Barbican. The project is the culmination of a four-year partnership with the Barbican in which Headway East London members have acted as advisors, designers and artists, challenging the question of who gets to be an artist while also raising awareness of brain injury.
Headway East London collaborated with the Barbican in a truly co-produced project, where members formed a Steering Group and got involved in all the decisions about the exhibition, from concept to design and recruitment of curators and architects to work on the show.
Together, members created a show which takes the audience through their own experience of brain injury, showing what people can achieve while spotlighting the incredible artists involved. This is the first exhibition of its kind. It received a 5-star review in The Guardian and wonderful reviews and feedback from the public who attended.
What’s the impact?
differently various has given a voice and a platform not only to artists at Headway East London, but to people with a brain injury everywhere. Around 5000 visitors to the exhibition have had the opportunity to better understand what it means to live with a brain injury, and how it can affect anyone at any time. In addition, hundreds of thousands of people have read the reviews, media posts and seen the television features on Channel 4 and the BBC; all of them highlighting the impact of brain injury and the importance of the work of Headway East London.
The project was completely coproduced with a Steering Group of 11 members and volunteers, all with experience of brain injury making all the decisions together about the show. They developed the concept, recruited curators, designers, and architects, and selected the art work for the show.
They also put together a public programme of events to run alongside the exhibition which were a mix of workshops, talks and sessions. All of these were facilitated by members and volunteers with lived experience of brain injury. The events programme included music jams, spice mix workshops, drawing and stitching sessions.
The Steering Group also challenged the Barbican on accessibility and inclusion issues throughout the partnership, which has helped the Barbican on its own journey of equity, diversity and inclusion.
“We spent months advocating for a ramp to the gallery for our exhibition which previously had stairs and a single wheelchair lift which was regularly out of order. Eventually we were successful and built a ramp into the gallery as part of the installation allowing inclusive accessibility for everyone.
“We have worked towards this exhibition for a year, with members at the centre of the planning and creation. It has given us a focus and a goal and has shown that we can rise to the challenge to deliver a truly professional standard exhibition within a national venue giving a voice to our members and people with brain injury across the country.
“Our members all described how amazing it is to be involved in something like this, at this scale in the Barbican and how proud they and their friends and family are.”
(Anna McEwen, CEO Headway East London)
“This is the best show I have ever seen in the curve. Please continue to spotlight diverse artists. And keep the ramp!”
“Thank you for shedding light on a beautiful topic.”
“I am totally moved by this incredible exhibition. Such talent and creativity. Such bravery of all these wonderful people. What a brilliant and inspiring organisation Headway is. I’m so glad I came today.”
“Our members all described how amazing it is to be involved in something like this, at this scale in the Barbican and how proud they and their friends and family are.”
(Anna McEwen, CEO Headway East London)
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