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Two Rocket Artists in overalls

Projects

We like to make work and collaborate with other artists and Arts Organisations here in the UK and around the world. Recent projects include artists in Brighton - UoB, Enayball, magnetic ideals, Brighton Arts Social Club, Brighton Museum and Art Gallery, The Phoenix Art Space, South East Dance, Lewes - Ensonglopedia, Worthing - Museum and Art Gallery, Devon - Turning Tides, Cornwall - Shallal, Bristol - Art in Motion, Hastings - Project Artworks, London - Tate Modern, Southbank Centre, UK - Art et al, Ireland, Holland, Vietnam, Korea- SYS PLANET, USA - Arts of Life.

See some of our recent projects below

"Rockets present: Art By Johnny, exploring inclusive curation" Exhibition and public events

Phoenix Art Space Gallery, Brighton, 2018

This project provided an important opportunity to contribute to the debate that artists with learning disabilities have credible and valid insights and expertise to offer. It aimed to throw light on the shifting role of the collaborative artist within supported studios as dynamic, listening and socially engaged. The exhibition realized two aims: To celebrate the creativity of artist Johnny Carroll Pell and to present the collaborative journey and processes that learning-disabled and neurodivergent Rocket Artists explored in curating the show. The team documented and reflected on their explorations, asked questions, provoked and negotiated, made observations and devised creative responses to their experiences. In exploring what it is like to be artists charged with making decisions about the artworks of another, the group were able to reflect on what individual artists bring in order to collaborate and move forward with integrity.

See the accompanying book about the process here:

"Rockets present: Work In Progress, towards inclusion" Exhibition and public events

Phoenix Art Space Gallery, Brighton, 2020

This project and exhibition was an evolving gallery take-over aimed at exploring the relationships between artists, audiences and gallery space. The 7 week exhibition and associated event programme included work by 35 learning disabled rocket artists and non disabled support artists and volunteers. Its aim was to invite visitors to choose from an expanding daily menus of art and activity which was led by artists with diverse practices. Including Artists’ walks, Durational Curators, Meet the Maker, Art workshops and demonstrations, Collaborative happenings and inclusive interventions. The exhibition was cut short by Covid 19 lockdowns in March 2020.

Commissioned artwork for LUSH cosmetics; by individual artists and collaborative design

We are very proud to work with Lush Cosmetics on designs for their sustainable gift wrap packaging which are made from recycled bottles and can be reused to wrap presents or worn as a scarf. We have produced designs as a group and as individual artists.

See below for videos of more projects

Inclusive Arts Practice and Research: A Critical Manifesto

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Inclusive Arts Practice and Research: A Critical Manifesto

A quick look at the book here. For more details including, ordering from our publishers Routledge, see here http://www.routledge.com/books/details/9781138841000/

Side by Side - Manifesto

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Side by Side - Manifesto

A manifesto on inclusive arts practice that emerged from the Symposium, Southbank Centre, 22nd March 2013 The Rocket Artists will support creative, inclusive debate on the various aspects of Inclusive Practice. There will be different ways to do this such as talking, making, drawing and filming. We will gather current important issues from the delegates and use these alongside the following questions as a starting point for discussion: What lies at the heart of the experience of the creative, collaborative process for both the artist with learning disabilities? What conditions are necessary in order to enhance the collaborative process, thereby ensuring that artists' with learning disabilities creative possibilities are maximised? How can galleries and performance venues support learning disabled artists' and their non-disabled collaborators to develop a sustained platform for exhibition and inclusive debate for Inclusive Arts Practice.

The Rocket Artists

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The Rocket Artists

The Rocket Artist Group was established in 2002 and is funded by Arts Council England and based at Phoenix Artists Studios in Brighton. Learning disabled artists from the Rocket Artist group make artwork alongside staff and students from the University of Brighton. Strongly linked to the Inclusive Arts Practice MA at the University of Brighton, Rocket Artists have exhibited at galleries including Tate Modern, Pallant House, Phoenix Gallery. Rocket Artists have collaborated with other artists including Corali Dance and more recently Louella Forrest, Rocket Artist and Alice Fox have performed VJ sets for punk band Heavy Load. As well as making art, Rocket Artists demonstrate their practice through workshops. Rockets have worked with schools and early years settings, Occupational Health students, inclusive festivals and open studios.

Overalls

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Overalls

This exciting teaching based research documents the use of artists' overalls as a creative learning tool on the award winning Access to Art project in Brighton. Learning disabled artists and students from the Faculty of Arts at the University of Brighton work alongside each other to make art in a vibrant and inclusive environment. Overalls offers a new and creative look at ways of engaging in reflective practice and proposes a shift in how students gather, reflect upon and reveal their thoughts around learning. Here we have an innovative, transferable model for inclusive learning across subjects, which is of use to mainstream and learning disabled students alike.

overalls

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overalls

Smudged

Smudged

Smudged brings together the visual arts practice of the Rockets Artists and the performance skills of the Corali dancers. The performance was inspired by the 'Ideas and Objects' collection at Tate Modern where the project took place. The Rockets was formed by a group of artists with learning disabilities completing an inclusive arts course at the University of Sussex in Brighton. The Rocket Artists and Corali dancers hope to work together again to create more performance work and share their artistic skills. For more information on the Rocket Artists visit http://www.rocketartists.co.uk For more information on Corali Dance visit http://www.corali.org.uk

Inclusive Arts Practice performance Measures of Bodies (2010)

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Inclusive Arts Practice performance Measures of Bodies (2010)

Measures of Bodies, Alice Fox artistic director, performance and exhibition Musee de la Medecine, Brussels May 2010.

It's a Wrap, Take 1, Take 2, Take 3

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It's a Wrap, Take 1, Take 2, Take 3

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