Flow Observatorium

This World Autism Awareness Week, we are delighted to share the news of the launch of Flow Observatorium (FlOb), a new national project funded by Arts Council England and based at New Theatre Royal Portsmouth as part of their Creative Lab. Following on from our recent Collider Conversation event on neurodiversity, we are proud to be partnering with FlOb to develop the UK’s first neurodivergent artist-led scheme.

Building on the advocacy work that neurodivergent artist Jon Adams has been doing for the past 18 months, Flow Observatorium aims to become a national hub and centre of excellence for, and led by, neurodivergent artists. FlOb will support neurodivergent artists to make work, collaborate and engage within the cultural sector in creating attitudinal and physical ‘safe spaces’, and will address and campaign for parity and fair play in the various arenas in which neurodivergent creatives participate. They will also collaborate with major universities on academic papers, projects and empirical evidences to support the advancement of neurodiversity theory and neurodivergent culture and creativity, an attitudinal societal change and recognition of neurodivergence as a distinct diversity category.

Flow Observatorium is based at and supported by NTR Portsmouth as well as Threshold Studios. It aims to increase visibility, understanding and confidence of neurodivergent artists and facilitate CPD training, talks and presentations at arts and cultural venues. They aim to empower organisations to not only be Neurodivergent friendly but Neurodivergent enabling.

Uzma Johal MBE, Co-Director of Threshold Studios said:

“Neurodiversity is an important part of our make up as a society, and there are many talented neurodivergent artists who contribute to the UK’s dynamic creative ecology. Threshold is proud to partner with FlOb and will be working with them to develop the UK’s first neurodivergent artist-led scheme through a supportive production and exhibition platform. We are looking forward to this unique collaboration and finding the funders who will support this ambition.”

Flow Observatorium is led by Jon Adams, a nationally recognised neurodivergent artist, Creative Lab associate artist, NAS cultural ambassador and neurodiversity campaigner and Donna Bish, an arts and dance practitioner, researcher and archivist. They have been working collaboratively for the past two years, researching neurodivergent culture through practice and performance.

For more information about Flow Observatorium contact flowobs@gmail.com or follow on Twitter.