About the project
RAD 2.0 was a series of 7 creative projects in Autumn 2025 that marked 30 years of the Disability Discrimination Act. There were opportunities to be political (overtly or quietly), but also a chance for a bit of a boogie. There were print-making and craft workshops, documentaries being made, yarn-bombing, exhibitions and club nights. Read on for more info and more about our commissioning partners.
RAD had one Lead Artist Residency, three Early Career Artist Residencies, and two Community Projects. By having such a mixture of opportunities, experiences, artforms, and people with different DDN backgrounds leading the projects, we hoped that there would be something for everyone to get involved in.
2025 marked 30 years since the Disability Discrimination Act came into force and 15 years of the Equalities Act. Whilst some changes are evident, in 2025 people with disabilities are still having to continually fight for equal rights and for support. Community organisations and supporting charities are fighting to exist. RAD 2.0 was all about using the arts to help unpick what has changed, what hasn’t and what needs to happen, giving the DDN community a chance to come together and get their voices heard.
At the end of the project we took over Unit 27 in Queensgate and hosted two exhibitions, as well as accompanying film screenings, talks, and craft sessions. Our friendly exhibition hosts, Alan and Jen, plus a wonderful bunch of volunteers, were on hand to offer a cuppa, have a friendly chat, and signpost to our access resources.
How it was received
We are incredibly proud to have commissioned RAD 2.0, and blown away by the heartfelt feedback we received. From people who booked on to one of the workshop sessions, to passers-by who wandered into Unit 27,the overwhelming feedback was that there needs to be more of this. Spaces for people with shared lived experiences to come together, be creative, express themselves and share their honest thoughts. Spaces for joy and pain and bitching and boogying. Spaces where access requirements are met and people can be themselves without fear of shame or stigma.
In numbers…
- 7 creative commissions
- 24 workshops
- 3 x exhibitions
- 1 x t-shirt trail
- 82 hours of volunteering
- 295 participants
- 10,265 audience, 4118 in person
- 78% identified as Deaf,disabled or neurodivergent
In words…
“I desperately needed a space I could spend time that was safe to help me worktowards getting out of the house and back into the community. This sessionexceeded all my expectations.“
“It educated me about history of fighting for equality for DDN community. Made me feel proud of Peterborough, artists, Peterborough Presents.”
”Wonderful event, really enjoyed the tactilenature of it all (very anti ‘please don’t walk ongrass’) and reading all the messages, huntingfor poetry. The t-shirt room was fabulous too,felt like a cocoon.”
“The environment was calm and relaxed permitting people to freely express themselves through painting. The organisers positively engaged with everyone and made sure we were comfortable.
“This is such an important space for us to have in Peterborough and a really powerful exhibition. Thankyou.”
“It’s been so special this. You know just coming in here looking at this artwork, not knowing anything about it before I came in and then chatting with you about my life. You know it could change people’s lives, I really mean that. Just stopping off in here, and you know just sharing experiences from looking at the art. Then the stuff we’ve talked about ADHD that I didn’t know about how to get help, or find out more places to learn about my neurodiversity. It’s meant a lot to me. Just to hear someone who’s had similar experiences and struggles like I do. You’ve passed on knowledge and information. It’s been a help. Thankyou, I mean that. You might have just changed my life. I’m so glad I came in.“
Unreasonable
We commissioned Jay Gearing (Red 7 Productions) to creatively document the whole RAD 2.0 project through film. What he’s created is much deeper than that, it’s a powerful short film that explores activism, access, lived experience, and the important role creativity plays in bringing people together.
Grab a cuppa (and maybe some tissues) and watch this powerful 18 min short film in either uncaptioned, BSL, and Audio Description (Summary).
Meet The Artists and Projects
Fae Kilburn (Lead Artist)
Our lead artist Fae Kilburn is a Midlands based artist and arts facilitator, specialising in printmaking with a Masters in Fine Art. Creating disability awareness is an important part of her practice, as is incorporating the voices of other disabled people in her art. For RAD 2.0, Fae’s project was called The Power of Protest and Print.
Jay Gearing (Early Career Artist)
Jay Gearing is a filmmaker and artist based in Peterborough. Socially engaged practice is at the heart of Jay’s artistic work. Jay founded Red7 Productions, an independent production company based in Peterborough, in 2017. For RAD 2.0, Jay made two short films: Reasonably Adjusted? and Unreaasonable.
John Clark (Early Career Artist)
John Clark is a filmmaker who writes and direct films of his own and of others, drawn from life experiences and observations. His recently professionally credited BFI-funded debut short Snapshot does so, being based on his experiences with unemployment as an autistic adult. John finds the world and people around him fascinating. Having lived experience as a neurodivergent adult has always meant that this has influenced his creativity too. John’s project for RAD was a short film titled “What’s Changed?”
Kim Laidler (Early Career Artist)
Kim Laidler is an artist and craftivist who uses textile and craft techniques to create outdoor installations or yarn bombs (the crafty world’s version of street art). For RAD 2.0, Kim hosted a set of fun and cheeky ‘Stitch and Bitch’ meet ups. Inspired by the conversations during the Stitch and Bitch sessions, Kim made 2 yarn bombs.
Lava Lamp (Community Project)
Lava Lamp is an inclusive nightclub event; founded in 2007 by a passionate group of volunteers from the DDN community in Peterborough. With music practitioners from Beat This CIC they developed a unique haven – a place where people with learning disabilities, their friends, and carers connected, laughed, and danced the night away. In partnership with Peterborough Presents, Lava Lamp made a comeback for RAD 2.0.
Lore Green (Community Project)
Lore Green is a mixed media creative and writer who comes from Peterborough, Lore has worked in a number of different community settings, from schools to prisons, and she has been living with a chronic illness since they were eighteen. Taking inspiration from the work and life of chronically ill artist Frida Kahlo, Lore hosted beautiful flower-crown making workshops and a photoshoot for chronically ill individuals.
Our partners and commissioning panel
This whole programme has been developed in partnership with our commissioning panel of residents, creatives and organisations who represent the D/deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent (DDN) community in the city. Our thanks go to RNIB, PCVS, Disability Peterborough, Peterborough and District Deaf Children’s Society, Voiceability, Deafblind UK, and Lore Green. If you would like to know more about how to be part of the commissioning panel, please drop us a line by emailing sarah.haythornthwaite@neneparktrust.org.uk
