Sensory Project at MK Gallery

Camphill Milton Keynes has collaborated with MK Gallery to create sensory kits for three major exhibitions: Paz Errázuriz: Dare to Look (2025), Lynette Yiadom-Boakye: To Improvise a Mountain (2025), and L.S. Lowry: The Theatre of Life (2026).

Five to six participants from the Camphill Craft Workshop took part in this project, working alongside sensory artist Julia Collar from Collar & Cuffs Co. and support artist Robin to design and create sensory kits for visitors to use while exploring the exhibitions. The kits were developed to enhance accessibility and encourage visitors to engage with the artworks through touch, texture, sound, and sensory experiences.

At the end of 2025, participants from Camphill Milton Keynes were invited to present their work at the Sensory Symposium at MK Gallery. They introduced Camphill Milton Keynes, shared their creative processes, and demonstrated the sensory kits to museum professionals, artists, and visitors from across the UK.

For L.S. Lowry: The Theatre of Life in 2026, Camphill Milton Keynes collaborated with MK SNAP and St Paul’s Catholic School to create the sensory kits. As part of this partnership, Camphill residents, Liam and Anna, were selected to represent Camphill Milton Keynes at the Sensory Symposium on 13 November 2026. They will join participants from MK SNAP for a panel discussion, sharing their experiences creating the sensory kits and discussing their development as artists.

Artist Profiles

Liam

Liam is a multidisciplinary artist who works with ceramics, textiles, and paper. Animals, particularly cats, are a central theme within his artwork, inspired by his lifelong love of cats. Recently, he has been developing a series of ceramic cat sculptures, each with its own unique character. One cat is decorated with musical notes, while another is covered in colourful flowers. Through this work, Liam explores storytelling, personality, and imagination.

Liam reflected that the sensory project helped him think more openly about creativity and accessibility. Creating the sensory kits encouraged him to consider how people with visual impairments and other disabilities experience art, and how artists can make exhibitions more welcoming and inclusive. He also expressed a desire to see more disabled artists recognised within the wider arts sector and hopes to continue developing his own artistic career through opportunities to exhibit in larger galleries and museums.

Anna

Anna is a textile artist specialising in handweaving and embroidery. She enjoys working with traditional floor looms and is known for her use of strong, vibrant colour palettes.

Anna has spoken about how her childhood experiences of spending long periods in hospital have influenced her work. She associates those memories with grey and dark colours and uses bright colours in her textiles a express positivity, hope, and happiness. Her work demonstrates how creativity can transform personal experiences into something uplifting and inspiring.

A Celebration of Inclusive Creativity

As the sensory project reaches its conclusion at MK Gallery, this symposium provides a valuable opportunity to celebrate the achievements of everyone involved over the past two years.

Our Craft Workshop Coordinator, Emi Fujisawa, has had the privilege of supporting many of our artists for more than ten years. She completely agrees with Liam’s view that people with learning disabilities and additional needs have unique creative voices and deserve recognition as artists. The participants involved in this project demonstrated exceptional creativity, commitment, and professionalism, and represented Camphill Milton Keynes with confidence and pride.

We will continue to support our artists in finding opportunities to exhibit, share their work, and develop their artistic careers. Upcoming opportunities include the Artsdepot Winter Arts & Crafts Showcase in North London and other exhibitions that will help our artists gain experience, confidence, and recognition within the wider arts community.

Join us for the Sensory Symposium on 13th November 2026. Exploring the philosophy, practice and learning. Beyond making the case for sensory engagement, this symposium explores how it is reshaping interpretation, meaning-making and public engagement across the cultural sector. Through discussion and creative participation, delegates will experience these approaches in practice. 
With specialist guest speakers, gallerist, producer and curator, Jennifer Gilbert (Jennifer Lauren Gallery) and artists from Blue Room inclusive arts project (The Bluecoat, Liverpool). Delegates will also have the opportunity to visit MK Gallery’s highly anticipated landmark exhibition, L.S. Lowry, at lunchtime.

This event is designed for those working in the arts, museum or disability sectors, who are interested in inclusive approaches to interpretation, co-creation and accessibility in cultural spaces.