During the Summer of 2022, alongside the opening of the British Art Show 9 (BAS9) in Manchester, artist MATT N has been working with us here at the gallery to bring together a group of Queer & Neurodivergent individuals, exploring the concept of Safe Space(s) as a tactic for Care & Togetherness.

Since July, the group had been meeting weekly for sessions, both online & in-person at The Whitworth. The group has taken part in a series of conversations and creative workshops developed a shared ‘Safe Space Agreement’, and produced insightful responses to the project’s themes.

The final outcome of the work on this project has resulted in the creation of a zine publication, which aims to highlight the journey and findings of our group whilst also acting as a toolkit for other arts organisations.

The zine shares the approaches and methodologies our facilitators have used on this project and intends to demonstrate how other organisations can develop ‘Safe Spaces’ for Queer and Neurodivergent identities in their own establishments and engagement practices.

Image: Anne Hardy, Liquid Landscape, 2018. © Anne Hardy. Courtesy Maureen Paley, London.
Commissioned by Museum Boijmans van Beuningen, Rotterdam.
Collection of Tate: Presented by the artist 2020