In July 2024, we launched Studio Days, as part of an action research project called Finding the Flex with the University of Leeds. Studio Days offered our members access to our fully equipped, accessible studio space for three days a week to work on independent projects. Up until this point, members’ access to studio space was limited to specific group or development sessions.
The inspiration for the project came from feedback from our members who asked for open studio time, as there are very few accessible spaces in Leeds where our members can work independently. Offering a flexible, supportive arts studio that had artists with learning disabilities and autism in mind enabled our members to explore and develop their creative practices.
One of our regular Studio Days attendees was Conor, who started coming to these sessions when they first started. Conor attended as often as he could, sometimes up to three times a week during holidays. His favourite medium was drawing and he often could be found working on large artworks during his studio time.
Conor liked to draw using a variety of materials, and working in our studio space enabled him to experiment with different mediums like felt tips, coloured pencils, oil pastels, wax crayons, and paint markers. He enjoyed layering his work and stacking different patterns and sometimes breaking through the paper too. As well as working on his next piece of artwork, Conor loved to use his studio time to socialise and talk about his favourite things.
Conor’s artwork, as well as work from other Studio Days attendees, was featured in a special exhibition hosted at Sunny Bank Mills in July 2025. The exhibition included sculptures, ceramics, film, photography, painting and print-making from over 15 artists.
Images courtesy of Sunny Bank Mills
As part of this project, Studio Days attendees had the opportunity to visit other art studios and galleries, including The Bluecoat in Liverpool, Venture Arts in Manchester as well as Sunny Bank Mills in Leeds and the Yorkshire Sculpture Park and The Art House in Wakefield.
Learn more about this project by watching the documentaries below.
About Studio Days
Meet the Studio Days Artists
Meet Will from Studio Days
Pyramid Studio Days was part of Finding the Flex, a further development of our ongoing work, Irregular Art Schools. It was funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, and was delivered in partnership with the University of Leeds.
