The exhibit opened on 24 January 2026 at the Millennium Gallery as a part of the ArtWorks Together International Festival, exhibiting works from 70 artists from 21 countries with learning disabilities, autism or both.
ArtWorks Together is a festival which aims to provide a platform for underrepresented artists, presenting their work on an international level.
The exhibition is produced by ArtWorks South Yorkshire, a non-profit arts organisation, highlighting the talents and perspectives of artists with learning disabilities to show that everyone can prosper in the creative field.
“Artists who have a learning disability and/or who are autistic belong in our most prominent cultural spaces.”
The exhibition contains a collection of multimedia contemporary work which explores a variety of pressing themes, from nature, to politics, to different cultural perspectives.
Artist Alice Bulmer said: “The title ‘Oh, There Is Thunder In Our Hearts‘ comes from a line in the Kate Bush song ‘Running Up That Hill’, which centres around the imbalance of power, gender and struggle – trying to live in a neurotypical world as an autistic woman and the desire to swap places to allow others to understand our struggles.”
The winners were announced on Thursday 12 February at Mercure Sheffield St Paul Hotel, and included: James Worse, Christina Michelle-Tancock, Debra R, Charles Blake, and Amber Garfield.
Founder of ArtWorks said of Sheffield Museums: “Their continued support sends a powerful message that artists who have a learning disability and/or who are autistic belong in our most prominent cultural spaces, and that their work is valued for its quality, ambition and relevance.”
While Amy Marsh, Exhibitions Coordinator at Sheffield Museums has expressed her ongoing support for this event saying,
“We’re delighted to be part of this wonderful opportunity to celebrate the breadth of artistic talent and creativity of artists with a learning disability and/or autism, through this dazzling array of paintings, drawings, textiles, sculpture and film.”
ArtWorks Together International 2026 will continue until Sunday 31 May, entry is free to the exhibition and donations of £5 are encouraged, in order to continue supporting this work for many more years.