Inclusive Practice in the Arts

MK Gallery’s multi-award-winning Inclusive Practice in the Arts (IPA) programme provides creative opportunities for children, young people, and adults with additional and complex needs, alongside a wider organisational commitment to championing access and inclusion.

Our dedicated in-house Inclusion team work with a pool of specially trained artists and assistants who support the delivery of all our IPA activities and inclusion. For further information please email access@mkgallery.org

Art and Us

These weekly artist-led workshops are for children aged 5+ with additional and complex support needs and their families. Workshops are tailored to the interests and needs of each family by one of our artists, providing opportunities for families to spend time together in a fun, creative, supportive environment exploring different art forms and activities. Read The Open University’s evaluation of the Art and Us programme  here.

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Art Together

Our Art Together programme offers a unique workshop every half-term holiday, designed specifically for families who have a child or children aged 5+ with additional or complex support needs. Join us and our artists to create, play and explore as a family in an open and friendly shared space.

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Sensory Tours

Our award-winning artist-led Toddle and SEND Tours offer sensory exploration of our exhibitions – bringing them alive through music, storytelling, object handling and play. Toddle Tours are for children under 5 years and their families and SEND tours are designed for visitors with additional and complex support needs. Check our What’s On page to find dates of our up-coming tours. Use this link below to enquire about bespoke sensory tours for schools/community groups.

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Our Studio

A monthly workshop programme for neurodivergent young people aged 14-25 years and those with additional support needs. Our Studio offers a welcoming and sociable space for participants to explore their creativity and explore new artistic media and skills, working alongside peers, artists and MK Gallery’s Inclusion team.

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Explorers at MK Gallery

MK Gallery has worked in partnership with Hastings-based organisation Project Art Works on their Explorers Projects. Project Art Works collaborates with people with complex support needs, families and circles of support.

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IPA Partnerships

MK Gallery’s IPA team are thrilled to be working with two incredible local organisations, MK Snap and The Pace Centre, to explore shared learning around inclusive creative practice and accessible exhibition tours.

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How can we create safe, accessible spaces for all?

MK Gallery’s recent film made in collaboration with the Open University and the BBC.

Watch

Fantastic for Families Awards

We are proud to share that our Toddle and SEND Sensory Tours are now award winning! MK Gallery’s Sensory Tour programme, led by Associate Artist Julia Collar, won the Best Family Arts Activity Award at the Fantastic for Families Awards, 2022. This is the second year running that the IPA programme has collected the award in this category, winning in 2021 for their Sensory Box programme.

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MK Gallery’s Inclusive Practice in the Arts programme is funded by Paul Hamlyn Foundation and Milton Keynes Community Foundation.