Touring exhibition to share insight into life with neurological conditions

People living with neurological conditions have been working with Teesside University researchers and disability organisation Neuro Key on an arts project to help share insight and raise awareness.

A collection of poems, collages and artwork has been created by people living with neurological conditions to share their lived experience, while helping to challenge stigma about disability. Dr Stephanie Kilinc, Senior Lecturer in Psychology in the University's School of Social Sciences, Humanities & Law, has collaborated with Neuro Key on several projects based on life with and the self-management of neurological and long-term conditions.

Projects have included examining the self-management experience of people with neurological conditions and a co-designed self-management tool.

Dr Kilinc said: "This participant-led arts-based project explores the experience of living with neurological conditions. The aim of the travelling exhibition is to provide insight into the realities, strengths and aspirations of people managing long-term neurological conditions.

"The hope is that the exhibition will help to encourage conversations about new approaches for the management of neurological conditions, neurodiversity and disability."

The artwork has been produced during a series of workshops, with the people involved sharing their experiences of living with neurological conditions and their hopes for the future.

The touring exhibition can be seen on Monday 9 November at Hartlepool One Life Centre; Monday 16 November at Seaham Primary Care Centre, Monday 23 November, at James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, and Monday 30 November at Lawson Street Medical Centre, Stockton. It will also visit additional venues through to February 2027.

Jo Cole, of Neuro Key said: "Around one in six people across the UK live with one or more neurological conditions and additional co-existing conditions. People face assumption-based stigma, social media-driven negativity, loss of identity and live with uncertainty.

"The therapeutic benefits of arts and crafts is established in other genres but the team proved how visually mapping their experiences and self-management added new clarity and psychological adjustment to their life journey."

For details of future exhibition venues contact Dr Stephanie Kilinc.