A celebratory pop up art trail will take over a Tameside high street at the end of the month.
The exhibition, which will appear in the windows of shops and other buildings in Mossley, as well as at The Vale arts centre, is the work of A Team, an autistic social group.
Fifteen people, aged from 16-77, will contribute artworks, including paintings and works in clay to the project. With a theme of ‘self’, their hope is that the trail will raise awareness of both Mossley-based A Team and of autism and other forms of neurodivergence, including ADHD and dyslexia.
Before selecting works for the trail, which is titled Spectrum of Expression, the group took part in a series of artist-led workshops at The Vale. For nine weeks they experimented with photography, painting and making with clay. For many of the group, it was the first time since school that they had taken part in a creative session.
The art trail launches with an event at The Vale from 6-8pm on Friday 24 October and runs until Sunday 2 November 2025. Sites along the trail will include George Lawton Hall and Mossley AFC. A full list of venues will be available on The Vale website and at the exhibition launch.
Two public workshops at The Vale’s Studio 1 invite trail visitors to get creative and respond to the exhibition through collage. On Thursday 30 October 6-8pm, local artist Sarah Hardacre will lead one for ages 14+. An all ages session will follow on Saturday 1 November 2-4pm led by Martha Distin Webster. Both sessions are free and have step free access.
The art trail is funded by Mossley Parish Council and Tameside Creative Fund, which is part-funded by the UK government through the Flexible Local Authority Grants.
Mossley resident Jacky Ellison started the free A Team meet ups two-and-a-half years ago when her autistic adult son said he would like to expand his social circle. Mossley AFC offered free use of their social club and the group, for ages 13+, now meets every other Tuesday from 6-8pm. Neurodivergent people and their families are welcome to attend.
Jacky said: “I hope this art trail helps to raise the profile of the group, and encourages more people to come along themselves. It’s a lovely, friendly, accepting group for neurodivergent people and their families, where anything goes.
“People come to chat, to play board games, take part in bingo and quizzes or to have a biscuit and a brew. We go on trips, hold parties and have our own book group.
“We chose ‘self’ as the art trail theme and the group has definitely risen to the challenge of incorporating themselves into the work, whether it’s one artist’s obsessive love of Crocs, to people’s eclectic special interests, or the wonderful quirkiness of Mossley.”
Photographer Bankole Oluwafemi, who ran some of the creative workshops at The Vale, said: “When you’re asked to facilitate a workshop, the general idea is that the knowledge generally flows in one direction, from instructor to students.
“But my interaction with A Team felt a lot more like a collaboration, and I was surprised more than one time by the amount of intuition and insight they brought to each session. I wound up noticing things about my photography that had not been obvious to me because they pointed it out.”
Theresa, a member of A Team who has contributed to the exhibition, said: “I have loved the friendly, safe environment to be creative. I have learnt a lot about photography and enjoyed every session.”
Anyone interested to join A Team can contact their Facebook page or email [email protected]
