Join ArtWorks

Would you like to make art, have fun and learn new skills alongside friendly people? Then you've come to the right place.

When you join ArtWorks, you'll be based at the studio that suits your interests and is nearest to where you live. You can attend the studio once a week or more so that it becomes part of your routine. An artist support worker will mentor you and the ArtWorks team will help you to settle in.
 
If you're 14yrs or over and at school or college you can join us for workshops during school holidays. If you're 16yrs or over and not in education, you can become a regular ArtWorks artist. Read the page to find out more and when you're ready please email us to arrange a visit.

Book A Taster Session
Photo of Sian, an artist at ArtWorks Barnsley holding a rabbit sculpture in progress for Barnsley Bright Nights. The rabbit is a large sculpture. It is painted white.

Artist Studios

Our studios are led by trained artist support workers who are passionate about making art, and focused on helping you to develop your ideas. The studios are open Monday-Friday in Barnsley, Rotherham and Sheffield.

Every day at ArtWorks is different. We run workshops to explore artistic practices as a group, and there is time to work on your own creative projects. We also visit local galleries to get inspired by other artists' work.

ArtWorks workshops are designed to be accessible and to suit your needs. We're led by your interests whether that's in using paint or yarn, making digital art or building sculptures. We supply the materials, you supply the ideas.

ArtWorks believes anything is possible.
When you're part of an ArtWorks studio you can experiment and have fun making art.  

‍Explore Studios

Exhibitions & Events

Our goal is to make more space in the world for artists with learning disabilities and/or autism to share their talents. That's why we work with Galleries and Community Venues to produce
group and individual exhibitions every year.

Explore all Exhibitions & Events

Murals

ArtWorks' murals can be seen in spaces and places across South Yorkshire and you could help to create one.

Muralling is an exciting way to work, it gets us outdoors and contributes to the happiness of local communities.

You can see ArtWorks murals all over the region, including at Maltby's Coronation Park, Sheffield's Theatre Deli, in the grounds of WentWorth Woodhouse and at Cambridge Street Collective.
‍Find out more about our murals here.
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Photo of an Artworks artist painting a mural in Maltby's Coronation Park. The image shows part of the mural which has bright blue, green, pink illustrations on it.
Photo of Emmie an ArtWorks artist volunteering at ArtWorks Together International Festival launch. Emmie is wearing a pink festival t-shirt and helping a visitor who has arrived at the event. They are with a staff member wearing a pink festival t-shirt.

Volunteering

Through ArtWorks you can gain real life experience of working in the cultural sector through supported volunteering. We currently volunteer at Wentworth Castle gardens each week, at Sheffield docFest, and at cultural events like AND Barnsley. You can get involved too when you join ArtWorks.  

Photo of Phil, an ArtWorks artist in outdoor clothes gardening as part of ArtWorks regular volunteer gardening project. The artist has short light brown hair and is wearing a blue jacket and red gardening gloves. They are holding a gardening fork and smiling. They are in a field of daffodils next to a tree.

Life Skills

ArtWorks believes that developing life skills is essential and should be fun! Learn about gardening, cooking, shopping for arts materials and help to install exhibitions. We also take short local trips to get more confident using public transport. Whatever you want to learn we'll be alongside you.

Other Activities

Photo of four ArtWorks artists in the woods. Three of the artists are sitting on a large tree trunk that is on the ground. It is a sunny day and the artists are smiling.
Walking Group
Get out and about in the Peaks for some fresh air, nature and inspiration.
Photo of an ArtWorks artist cooking in the kitchen at the Thorpe Hesley studio in Rotherham The artist is wearing a navy blue apron and holding a frying pan over the cooker.
Cooking
From culinary lessons with Blend to creative cooking in our own kitchen, we make it and share it.
Photo of three artists and a staff member standing in a line at SOAR studio Sheffield. They are taking part in a drama ession. One of the artists is wearing pink netting material and another artist is wearing a wig. They are smiling.
Dance
Movement and dance sessions are available for artists who like to move it!
Photo of a group of artists and staff enjoying an evening out at Butlins on a respite holiday. They are grouped in front of a large room full of people with lights, a bar and tables.
Respite Holiday
Twice a year we take a group of artists on a break to Butlins in Skegness.
Photo of two people standing against a white wall. One is an ArtWorks artist wearing animal ears and making an animal gesture. The other person is a performer wearing a gold bowler hat, sunglasses, gold jacket and waistcoat.
Drama
Some of our artists are great performers and love to be centre stage in drama sessions, film roles and more.
Photo of a woman and a man, two ArtWorks artists, dressed in casual clothes, on a bus during an Artworks trip
Day Trips
ArtWorks artists travel all over Yorkshire to see the sights, visit exhibitions and explore new places.
Photo of group of artists on the dancefloor at the ArtWorks Christmas Party. The artists are dressed in colourful clothes, hats and wigs and are enjoying the dancing.
Social
Join us for a trip to the theatre or on the dance floor at the Xmas party to see more of your ArtWorks friends.
Photo of an ArtWorks artist swimming in the pool at Barnsley Metrodome
Swim & Gym
The Swim & Gym group heads to Barnsley Metrodome once a week for some laid-back exercise.