Autism: The touring exhibition showcasing talented young artists

A touring art exhibition is giving young people who are autistic an opportunity to express themselves.

The Creative Voices: What Autism Means to Me exhibition showcases more than 140 pieces of art created by autistic post-primary pupils from schools right across Northern Ireland.

Each artwork is accompanied by a personalised quote from the artist.

The exhibit aims to give people a better understanding of autism from the personal perspectives of each artist.

Autism is known as a “spectrum condition” as it affects people in a variety of ways and to varying degrees.

It can impact how a person communicates with and relates to other people and how they make sense of the world.

Each piece of art on display allows the artist to communicate what their individual autism means to them.

The exhibition was being held in the Flowerfield Art Centre in Portstewart, County Londonderry, but is now moving on to The Braid Museum and Art Centre in Ballymena from 16 March until 15 April.

The whole exhibition is travelling across various locations in a tour of Northern Ireland throughout 2023.

The project is presented by the Education Authority’s Autism Advisory and Intervention Service (AAIS).

The Education Authority’s Gillian Whiteside said the exhibition provides young people with an opportunity to showcase and celebrate their creative talents, and aims to increase understanding and acceptance of autism within the wider community.

“The idea blossomed from our work with pupils on increasing their personal understanding and self-acceptance of autism,” she said.

“We felt the pupil’s voice should be at the heart of the exhibition and it should be a vehicle for each of them to express their own personal and individual experience of autism.”

Ms Whiteside said the main aim of the exhibit is to give a greater understanding and acceptance of autism within the wider community.

“Only then can we truly have an inclusive society where neurodiversity is celebrated,” she said.

For Molly’s artwork she decided to paint a character named Ella that represents her autism.

Molly said autism can be a difficult thing to explain to people – she wanted to make it easier to understand through Ella.

“I have a deep connection to animals, music and bright colours so that is why those things are in there.”

Molly said that autism “brings out the best in a person” and should not be viewed negatively.

In her quote attached to her artwork, Molly said autism “makes us unique in ways people aren’t able to see and it makes us better people”.

She said the painting took more than a week to complete and that she was incredibly proud of how it turned out.

Emma’s artwork was all about about highlighting the many positives associated with being autistic.

“I view my autism as my ability not a disability,” Emma told BBC News NI.

“I have great memory, I’m very precise when it comes to detail, I’m very punctual and I’m very honest and reliable.”

Emma said the bright butterfly depicted in the painting is a metaphor for her autism, with it being a guiding light in contrast to the dark background.

Emma decided not to take Art as a GCSE, but said she will continue painting and being creative.

Shauna McNeilly, arts and cultural facilities officer at Flowerfield Art Centre, said the exhibit had been a joy to display.

“It really represents what autism means to so many young people and it is a celebration of creativity,” Ms McNeilly said.

“It lets any viewer of the work know more about autism, what it actually is and how it varies from individual to individual.”

Ms McNeilly said they have been blown away by the response and said the centre has been inundated with positive feedback about the wonderful artwork on display.

“So many people, myself included, have learned so much about autism from the wonderful array of quotes and colourful drawings and pictures.”