DAiSY - Disability Arts in Surrey

06/02/2026

Discover the Connections exhibition by artists from DAiSY Chain Network, showing this month at Cranleigh Arts Centre!

Curated by Vanessa Cumper, Molly Wickett, and Marcele Silvana and originally shown at DAiSY FEST 2025, this exhibition celebrates the strong creative communities in Surrey and the threads that connect us, expect diverse perspectives from d/Deaf, disabled, and neurodivergent artists across the South East.

Private View: Wednesday 18th Feb 6pm - 8pm

📍Cranleigh Arts, 1 High St, Cranleigh GU6 8AS, United Kingdom
📆 Open Tuesday 17th Feb till Saturday 28th Feb 2026 ( venue closed on Sundays and Mondays)

Access information via link in bio

Poster Artwork by Lesley Illingworth

03/02/2026

We're thrilled to announce that we have received Arts Council funding for our project 'Tending Our Ecosystem'. Over the year, the ambitious programme will weave together disability arts, environmental awareness, and community connection across Surrey.

This project is about tending to the ecosystems that sustain us all: the natural environment, our creative communities, and the vital networks that connect disabled artists across the county and beyond.

At its heart, Tending Our Ecosystem recognises that building a resilient disability arts sector is deeply interconnected with nurturing the world around us. Through training, collaborative projects, and participatory action research, it is our aim to create opportunities for disabled artists while strengthening connections between our creative community and Surrey's landscapes.

Thank you 🌿🌍️

06/01/2026

Reflecting on some of the performances at DAiSY FEST 2025. We can't wait to see what energy this year will bring. Here's to movement, joy and community spirit 🍃👯

Image 1: Singer Songwriter Miss Jacqui performing at DAiSY FEST
Image 2: Xan Dye and Gerald Curtis performing Practicing in Parallel at DAiSY FEST

Images: ©️emmabrownphotography

01/01/2026

Happy New Year from DAiSY! We hope you start the year on a high 💫

Images©️emmabrownphotography

29/12/2025

New opportunity now live! We've partnered with Surrey Hills Arts to host a free Sculptural Habitat training course for members of our DAiSY-Chain network 🍃🐝

This is a unique opportunity to develop new sculptural work in nature and the public realm, working alongside artist-facilitators, ecologists and heritage partners.

The opportunity is open to members of our DAiSY-Chain network who are interested in stepping outside their usual studio-based practice, experimenting with new materials, and exploring how their work might exist in outdoor settings. No prior experience of environmental, habitat-based art work needed. Find out more below, and apply by 29th January.

Call Out: Artists Wanted DAiSY & Surrey Hills Arts Sculptural Habitats Free Training Programme 2026

23/12/2025

We hope for more moments like this next year. Curiosity, community and creativity.

In 2025, we worked with 18 cultural partners, grew our DAiSY-Chain network to 120 artists, supported nearly 50 artists to access training, and hosted an inclusive arts festival welcoming over 400 people through the doors. It's been an astonishing year.

We're going into a period of hibernation this coming January while we await the outcome of our Arts Council bid. We are hoping that our full team will be back at their desks in February. Please bear with us during this time, as we're working at a reduced capacity.

DAiSY relies on grants and donations. If you'd like to help us with a donation this Christmas, that would be greatly welcomed ❄️ Your generosity means the world to us.
https://buff.ly/ErtS1bz

10/12/2025

🌞 Check out these pictures from Bloomin Art's Book of Fey Puppet Show. The room was packed and full of joy!

One audience member said:
“The atmosphere in the performance was incredible. We particularly liked the apples sequence, and it was so inspiring to see the performers looking so confident and looking after each other. I know this was just part of the final piece — can’t wait to see the rest.” 🍎

Well done artists and performers from , if you enjoyed what you saw and wanted to find out more, check out their website here https://buff.ly/eJbM7Mn

08/12/2025

We absolutely love these photographs from Stopgap's inclusive dance workshop at DAiSY FEST! So much movement, joy and great composition! 👯 ❇️

Thank you for bringing your energy and moves 🚀

If you joined in and wanted to know more about Stopgap, check out their website here https://buff.ly/LaXQZJ3

05/12/2025

What workshops did you attend at DAiSY FEST?

The Saturday event was a hive of creativity. Huge thanks to all of facilitators that brought their creative energy, skills and warmth to the creative sessions at DAiSY FEST.

Here's some of our highlights:

✂️ Artist Sea Shucksmith's mini zine workshop gave participants time to delve into their own interests while learning a new way to express themselves
🗿 The Grange's clay figure drop in workshop and installation, inspired by Anthony Gormley. Everyone got involved at making a unique figure to add to the collection!
☮️ Wellbeing practitioner Simon J Keenan's poetry, mediation and wellbeing session delivered calm to start the Saturday
🧤 Artist Vicky Barber-Crimes Creative Hands Collage, delivered in BSL and spoken English
🎨 Artventures' drop in collaborative canvas workshops was a great pitstop in the cafe, for families and friends to get creative

03/12/2025

Showcased at this years DAiSY FEST, the 'Windows to the World' art exchange project brought together artists from five Surrey-based DAiSY member organisations with in Hong Kong based inclusive art studio - ADAHK.

Though separated by geography, The Grange, Art Venture, Halow, Creative Response and Bloomin’ Arts and ADAHK each explored the same simple yet powerful idea: the view from their artists' windows.

Light streaming through the acetate pieces created a striking, colourful atmosphere, highlighting the diversity of styles and perspectives on display.

Read more about it here https://buff.ly/3iGzu2y

02/12/2025

Thank you friends of DAiSY! The photographs are in!

Nearly two weeks on, here are our Friday Forum highlights:

✨ Nearly 100 people join the Friday Forum - the event brought a rich mix of perspectives from artists, cultural leaders, community leaders, accessibility coordinators, creative facilitators and council workers!

🧵 Artist and Activist Lesley Illingworth's textile workshop brought a soft start to the day in the sun lit glass room

✏️ Xan Dye and Gerald Curtis' 'Practicing in Parallel performance was a beautiful monochrome display of movement, sound and expression

📖 The amazing team and performers at Freewheelers showcased 'The Other Library', a gorgeous array of short performances, spanning movement, poetry and drama, all taking place within an interactive library installation

🎤 The wonderful singer-songwriter Miss Jacqui energised the crowd with her performance in the afternoon

19/11/2025

Fun for all the family at G Live this Saturday 10 - 4pm - What can I try at DAiSY FEST?

💫 10.30am-11.30am - Wellbeing through Poetry and Meditation - Simon J Keenan - £3 (Book via website)

💫 12pm-1pm - Creative Hands Collage - Vicky Barber-Crimes, BSL interpreted - £3 (Book via website)

💫 1.30pm-2.30pm - Bloomin' Arts Communication Workshop - FREE

💫 1.30pm-2.30pm - Zine Making Workshop - Sea - £3 (Book via website)

💫 2.15pm-3pm - Stopgap Dance Workshop, BSL interpreted - FREE

💫 All day drop-in - The Grange: Clay Figures Workshop - FREE

💫 All day drop-in - Artventure Collaborative Canvas Painting - FREE