Tuesday 13 January 2026, 12.00pm–3.00pm
Artspace, Leeds Art Gallery
Pyramid is hosting a major celebration event this January to bring together organisations that took part in IDODP 2025, alongside the public launch of Pyramid View On… John Atkinson Grimshaw. The event marks a year of creative exploration, collaboration and community connection, and showcases the artistic responses developed by Pyramid artists with learning disabilities and autistic artists.
This celebration is part of Pyramid’s long-term work to champion inclusive arts in Leeds, ensuring that people with learning disabilities and autism have meaningful opportunities to create, exhibit and lead cultural work in the city. The partnership with Leeds Art Gallery brings this vision into one of Leeds’ most recognised public cultural spaces.
What to Expect at the Event
Visitors will be welcomed into Artspace for an afternoon of hands-on creativity, conversation and celebration. The Visioning Group, an artist-led group within Pyramid, will be hosting three accessible, family-friendly workshops. These activities are rooted in their exploration of John Atkinson Grimshaw’s atmospheric night-time paintings and their own experiences of working with light, silhouettes and storytelling.
1. “What do you see in the window?” – Collaborative Sculpture
Inspired by Grimshaw’s depictions of buildings at dusk and night, the Visioning Group created a sculptural structure filled with colourful “windows” that reflect imaginative scenes and characters.
Participants will be invited to design and add their own window, contributing to a piece that will grow and evolve throughout the afternoon.
2. Shadow Puppets and Storytelling
Grimshaw’s use of shadow and silhouette has sparked a creative journey for the group, who experimented with handmade shapes and shadow theatre.
Attendees can create their own shadow puppets using simple materials and explore how light transforms artwork. Artspace’s lighting makes this an ideal setting for playful experimentation.
3. Drawing Prompts from a Giant Illustrated List
Visioning Group member James created an extraordinary illustrated list of words and themes inspired by Grimshaw’s work, written over a watercolour background designed to resemble a night sky.
Each word is hidden inside a top hat. Visitors can take a prompt and create a drawing or sketch inspired by James’s imaginative world.
These workshops are designed to be inclusive, open to all ages, and accessible for adults with learning disabilities, their carers, and support organisations.
About the Exhibition: Pyramid View On… John Atkinson Grimshaw
Running alongside the event, Pyramid View On… John Atkinson Grimshaw showcases the group’s artistic response to the major exhibition Don’t Let’s Ask For The Moon…: Nocturnes and Atkinson Grimshaw.
This new body of work highlights the skill, imagination and originality of Pyramid artists, offering a distinctive interpretation of Grimshaw’s famous nocturnal scenes.
The exhibition will remain in place at Leeds Art Gallery until April 2026, providing a significant opportunity for Pyramid artists to reach new audiences and continue deepening their connection with the city’s cultural life.
IDODP Celebration
The Visioning Group Celebration Event is not only a showcase of artistic talent. It is a moment that brings partners, supporters, and communities together.
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It celebrates the achievements of organisations involved in IDODP 2025, recognising their commitment to creating inclusive, creative opportunities across Leeds.
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It strengthens the relationship between Pyramid, Forum Central, Leeds Art Gallery and wider cultural partners.
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It offers an open, accessible space for people to experience art, take part in creative activities, and explore the role of inclusive arts in shaping Leeds’ cultural identity.
For Forum Central, this event reflects our ongoing partnership with Pyramid and our shared commitment to ensuring that adults with learning disabilities are included, valued and visible within the cultural life of the city.
Event Details
Where: Artspace, Leeds Art Gallery, The Headrow, LS1 3AA
Date: Tuesday 13 January 2026
Time: 12.00pm–3.00pm
Booking: No booking required
Leeds Museums and Galleries information
