Art collaboration with people with learning disabilities challenges perceptions
Emma, Robert, Tim and Johnny at Outlandish exhibition
27 October 2025
People supported by Minstead Trust have worked with artist Aaron Williamson to create Outlandish, a major new exhibition at John Hansard Gallery, part of the University of Southampton.
The exhibition runs from 4 October 2025 to 10 January 2026 and tells the imagined story of a group of artists with disabilities, The Outlandish Collective, said to have lived and worked in the New Forest during the late 1970s. The story is fictional, but the creativity behind it is entirely real. The artworks, photographs and archive materials on display were made this summer by people with learning disabilities supported by Minstead Trust, working closely with Williamson and the gallery team.
Over several weeks, participants from Minstead Trust’s New Forest Day Opportunities took part in sessions at Minstead Lodge, Hanger Farm in Totton and other local sites. They experimented with performance, photography, drawing and installation, developing the ideas that became the foundation of the exhibition. For many, it was a first experience of working with a professional artist and seeing their work presented in a public gallery.
Jonny, supported artist, said: ‘I liked being involved in the photos. I liked meeting Aaron again at the gallery, it was very good to go there and see it.’
Jess, supported artist, said: ‘I liked taking the photos it was fun- I liked changing locations and the different backgrounds in the big field.’
Aaron Williamson said: ‘The project was inspired by the creativity and spirit of everyone involved, describing the process as an example of how collaboration can dissolve barriers and create genuine artistic freedom. The idea of a 1970s collective became a playful framework for the group’s imagination – a way to celebrate disability culture and question who gets to be part of art history.’
For Minstead Trust, Outlandish represents much more than an art exhibition. It is an extension of the Trust’s mission to support people with learning disabilities to build independence, confidence and connection. Through its New Forest Day Opportunities, the Trust provides a range of creative and practical activities where people can learn new skills, discover interests and take part in their community.
Silas, Robert, Tim, Liam and Emma at Outlandish photo exhibition
From horticulture at Furzey Gardens, to woodwork, performing arts and craft-making, the day opportunities encourages people to explore their abilities in real-world settings. The partnership with John Hansard Gallery builds on this approach, opening up new ways for people to express themselves and be recognised for their creativity.
Emma Borbely-Bartis, Head of New Forest Day Opportunities, said: ‘The exhibition demonstrates how art can give people a powerful voice and sense of pride. The people we support worked as artists in their own right – developing ideas, experimenting with materials and shaping how the story was told. It shows that creativity belongs to everyone, and that inclusion can lead to extraordinary results.’
Curated by Ros Carter (John Hansard Gallery) and Professor Larry Lynch (Winchester School of Art), Outlandish presents the full body of work created through the project, alongside documentation from Williamson’s wider practice. The exhibition invites visitors to explore the boundary between fact and fiction, and to reflect on how stories of disability and art are told.
Developed in association with Newlyn Art Gallery & The Exchange and Minstead Trust, Outlandish is supported by Arts Council England and the University of Southampton.