Hands On Studio

About the work

This exhibition is a part of the 30th anniversary of Hands On Studio, celebrating three decades of artistic practice, community engagement and cultural contribution by artists with disability. Presented at the Civic Art Bureau in Canberra, the exhibition provides an opportunity to consider the development of Hands On Studio and its significance within the broader context of disability arts and contemporary creative practice.

Drawing on the studio’s extensive history, the exhibition brings together still and moving images, artworks, archival material and other forms of documentation to examine the people, practices, relationships and experiences that have shaped Hands On Studio over the past 30 years. Collectively, these materials provide insight into the evolution of the studio, while foregrounding the diverse artistic voices and perspectives of its artists.

The exhibition considers the archive not simply as a record of the past, but as a means of understanding the ongoing cultural and social significance of disability-led and disability-inclusive arts practice. Through documentation of artistic processes, exhibitions, collaborations and community activities, the exhibition traces the ways in which Hands On Studio has contributed to the visibility, recognition and development of artists with disability.

As part of Hands On Studio’s 30th anniversary birthday celebrations, the exhibition acknowledges the studio’s history while also reflecting on its continuing role as a site of creative expression, artistic development, connection and belonging. It invites audiences to engage with the breadth of the studio’s 30-year history and to consider the contribution of disability arts to Canberra’s cultural landscape.

About the artist

Hands On Studio is a Canberra-based disability arts organisation with a 30-year history of supporting and facilitating the artistic practices of people with disability. Since its establishment, the studio has operated as a creative and social environment in which artists can develop individual practices, engage in collaborative processes, and participate in the broader cultural life of Canberra.

The studio’s significance extends beyond the provision of an arts-making space. Hands On Studio represents an important site of cultural participation, providing opportunities for artists with disability to exercise creative agency and contribute to contemporary understandings of disability, identity and artistic practice. Through its programs, exhibitions and community engagement, the studio has supported the development and presentation of diverse artistic practices across visual and media-based forms.

Over three decades, Hands On Studio has generated a substantial body of creative work and documentation. Its archive provides a valuable record of the artistic activities, relationships and communities that have developed through the studio, while also reflecting broader shifts in the recognition and representation of disability within the Australian arts sector.

The 30th anniversary offers an opportunity to critically reflect on this history and to recognise the contributions of the artists, facilitators, families, supporters and communities who have shaped the organisation. Hands On Studio’s ongoing practice demonstrates the cultural value of accessible arts environments and the importance of creating sustained opportunities for artists with disability to participate in, and contribute to, contemporary Australian cultural life.