Blackpool artists shine with Grundy Art Gallery’s pARTnership programme

Talented Blackpool artists are showcasing their work all over town and beyond as part of Grundy Art Gallery’s dazzling autumn programme, thanks to its innovative pARTnership project.

Three pARTnership painters also sold works to private collectors at The Manchester Contemporary Art Fair this November as part of the ongoing creative and professional development scheme.

The pARTnership brings together locally-based people with and without a learning disability for artist-led weekly workshops focusing on the sharing of skills, ideas and the development of new work. The project is delivered by Grundy Art Gallery, The New Langdale - Blackpool Council’s learning disability day service and contemporary artist Tina Dempsey, and is funded by Arts Council England through Grundy’s National Portfolio status. The programme also facilitates research and development visits to contemporary art exhibitions, such as The Contemporary Art Fair, and over the seven years the project has been in progress, pARTnership artists have exhibited their work locally, nationally and internationally.

Grundy’s exciting autumn programme runs until Saturday 20th December and highlights these rising talents from The pARTnership, celebrates a major artistic partnership with acclaimed international artist Jason Wilsher-Mills MBE with his thrilling new exhibition Jason and the Adventure of 254, and welcomes audiences to discover art in fresh and unexpected ways. Colourful works from all fourteen Blackpool-based artists from The pARTnership can currently be seen brightening up selected bus and tram stops across the resort in the exciting Art About Town public art trail; participating artists Chloe Macfarlane and Kylie New also feature in the captivating multi-disciplinary exhibition After the Archive in Grundy’s Gallery 4, while Dawn & Tony from pARTnership artist Dawn Ward is displayed as striking large scale ‘stickers’ on the Grundy’s exterior glass panels, inviting both visitors and passers-by to encounter art beyond the gallery walls.

The Art About Town art trail is now being displayed as fourteen large posters on tram stops at Burlington Road, South Pier, St Chads, Central Pier, Blackpool Tower and North Pier, and bus stops at Corporation Street, Market Street, Dickson Road, Grange Road, Whitegate Drive, Park Road and Ansdell Road.

After the Archive is a multi-disciplinary exhibition at the Grundy of archive image inspired, painting, collage, video, installation, photography and sculpture from emerging artistic voices from Barrow and Blackpool that explores the rich and diverse history of these areas. This creative collaboration from Grundy Art Gallery and the award-winning film and digital arts charity SIGNAL draws inspiration from the remarkable Sankey Photography Archive - an expansive visual record of working class life across the North West spanning more than 70 years.

Dawn Ward: Dawn & Tony draws on the language of romantic love and matrimony and this emotionally charged exhibition is inspired by Dawn Ward’s relationship with fellow artist, Tony Holmes, who sadly passed away in 2024. This exhibition is also inspired by the theme of love that threads throughout the work of Jason Wilsher-Mills MBE and is taking place as part of Grundy’s Forecourt Gallery commission programme.

Kirsty Pemberton, Stephen Crawford and Justin Addy are the local pARTnership painters who sold work at The Manchester Contemporary Art Fair last month and all also have work featured on the vibrant collaborative project Blackpool Rock: Jason Wilsher-Mills MBE now available to view outside the Grundy, which takes inspiration from Blackpool’s rich dance heritage and depicts a joyful illuminated couple decorated with badges.

Stephen Crawford is a painter who builds his works through a variety of methods including, drawing, stencilling, collage and painting. He often combines his paint with a variety of other mediums and materials to create bold textural works, full of colour and repeat patterns.

Justin Addy is an abstract painter who often works on large scale canvases, creating layers of colour and texture. He makes sweeping gestural movements, working with large brushes and large mark making tools.

Kirsty makes her paintings with generous additions of textural mediums, layering paint to create sculptural works. The paintings' edges reveal the history of each work and a meticulous and labour intensive making process. Kirsty titles each painting as she finishes it, naming it after somebody she feels connected to.

Leader of Blackpool Council and Cabinet Member for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Cllr Lynn Williams, said of Grundy’s pARTnership programme: “This pioneering project is a shining example of how creativity can bring people together, build confidence and open doors to new opportunities. Seeing Blackpool artists achieve such success at Manchester Contemporary is something we can all be proud of, and it highlights the incredible talent we have in our town.”

Grundy Art Gallery Curator, Paulette Brien, added: “This season at the Grundy celebrates the true creativity, passion and ambition of the brilliant artists on our doorstep. From intimate personal stories to large-scale public artworks, the pARTnership artists continue to inspire us with their originality and dedication. Their success at Manchester Contemporary is a testament to the power of inclusive, artist-led learning and a vibrant cultural community we are proud to support.”

Grundy’s autumn programme invites audiences to discover, reflect and be inspired. It’s the perfect opportunity to explore art that’s fun, thought-provoking and made for everyone.

SIGNAL’s After the Archive and Dawn Ward: Dawn & Tony from The pARTnership can be viewed until Saturday 20th December 2025 at Grundy Art Gallery, Queen Street, Blackpool.

After the Archive will also be holding an artist talk on Saturday 6th December from 2pm to 4pm to allow visitors to meet the artists and find out how the Sankey Photographic Archive inspired their artwork.
 

Blackpool Rock: Jason Wilsher-Mills MBE featuring works from local artists Kirsty Pemberton, Stephen Crawford and Justin Addy and Jason Wilsher-Mills MBE: Jason and the Adventure of 254 are also available to view during this time.

Grundy is open Tuesdays to Saturdays from 10am to 4:20pm (last entry). Closed Sundays, Mondays and Bank Holidays. Admission is FREE. For further information please visit www.thegrundy.org or call 01253 478170.