SOCIETY FOR DISABLED ARTISTS

about uS

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who we are

The Society for Disabled Artists is a charity that celebrates artists with a wide range of disabilities and enables them to develop their art within a supportive and creative environment. Whilst there is more awareness of the need for inclusivity in today’s society than when the charity was founded in 1979, many of our members still feel excluded from mainstream art groups due to practical concerns regarding accessibility as well as feelings of isolation and a sense of being undervalued.

​SODA works to counteract this, with groups organising professional demonstrations and tutorials, as well as subsidised outings and painting holidays where members’ particular needs are catered for and all activities are fully accessible. We practice inclusion not exclusion, welcoming adults of all abilities and disabilities as well as those that are able-bodied. Those that are housebound or unable to travel can also benefit from SODA through our lone member scheme. By receiving and contributing to the magazine, as well as submitting artwork to national and local exhibitions, lone members feel connected to the national organisation as a wider community.
"SODA is so much more than an art group ... friendship, support ​
and a good laugh while practising a wide range of ​artistic endeavours
​in a ​safe, light-hearted environment."
I 

- FROME group member

"SODA is much more than an art group ... friendship, support ​and a laugh while practising a wide range of ​artistic endeavours ​in a ​safe, light-hearted environment."I 

- FROME group member

what we do

As well as regular group meetings held across the UK, the Society for Disabled Artists funds and facilitates the following activities:
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TRI-ANNUAL MAGAZINE
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Tri-annual Magazine
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NATIONAL & LOCAL EXHIBITIONS
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National & Local Exhibitions
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HOLIDAYS & OUTINGS
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Holidays & Outings

how we started

Sydney Nightingale founded the Society for Disabled Artists in 1979 when he realised that his advancing disabilities would soon curtail his more active pursuits and found that he could adapt painting techniques to meet his needs as his condition worsened so that painting could still be enjoyed. He had previously felt rejected when he tried to join ordinary art societies and thus wished to establish art groups where disabled people could paint & draw and exhibit their work within an environment of acceptance and encouragement. He networked with hospital staff in the Hillingdon area who were discharging patients into the community, finding a large number of people who welcomed the idea of joining an art group. At first visiting people in their homes to paint with them, Sydney Nightingale quickly deciding that it was beneficial for people to experience the companionship of other disabled artists and to get out and about in their local community.

​When the organisation was registered as a charity, Hillingdon in Middlesex became SODA's first group, quickly followed by others in the local area, growing in popularity as they held regular meetings, demonstrations and local exhibitions. In 1991 the original Editor of the SODA Magazine sent an article about the benefits of SODA into Leisure Painter magazine, which garnered a great response from people across the country that wished to join, and it was from this that SODA became the national organisation it is today. From Durham to Somerset, SODA now has 7 groups spanning the country and hopefully more to come!

Get involved

Join a group

START A NEW GROUP

BE A LONE MEMBER​

Contact Us

​Donate

VOLUNTEER

BE A FRIEND OF SODA

Copyright © 2019. Click here to see our Privacy Statement. The Society for Disabled Artists is proudly sponsored by Pro Arte.
Registered Charity No. 278870
  • Home
  • About
    • 40 Years of SODA
    • Magazine
    • Exhibitions
    • Holidays & Outings
  • Our Groups
    • Breckland
    • Chester-le-Street
    • Frome
    • Ickenham
    • Uxbridge
    • Wells
  • Lone Members
  • Members' Area
  • Gallery
  • Donate
    • Friends of SODA
    • Volunteer
  • Contact Us