Welcome to the information page about the Our Stomping Grounds Conference. We can't wait to welcome you in person. To book tickets you will need to go back to the main festival programme page using the button at the bottom of this page.
The conference element is new to Our Stomping Grounds Festival, and is an important development for the learning disabled artists in our communities. There is passion and talent, as well as work of significant cultural impact. But, there are many barriers too.
Our Stomping Grounds is creating a conference with learning disabled artists as host, speakers, panellists and artists performing live. A planning group of learning disabled artists has created the event with the support of Little Cog.
Our Stomping Grounds Conference is for learning disabled artists to discuss important aspirations and for the arts community to connect, and hear about barriers and solutions.
Our Speakers and Panellists
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Paul Wilshaw - Conference Host and Keynote Speaker
Robert Ewens - Keynote Speaker and Panellist
Panel 1 - Chatting about your aims and aspirations in the arts, what do you want to do, to see to take part in? Jamie Sample - Artist and Musician
Adele Hudson - Actor and Choir Member
Andrew Walton - Musician
Amy Buttery - Singer and Musician
Panel 2 - What do arts organisations need to do to involves us more in their work?
Jez Colbourne - actor, musician, theatre maker
JoAnne Haines - Actor, dancer, theatre maker
Megan Rees - Actor and writer
Patrick Gill - Actor
Philip Dawes - Performing Arts Student
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Paul Wilshaw is a very experienced writer, actor, engagement advocate and one of the UKs leading learning disabled producers. We are thrilled that he is our artist in residence and as such will host and deliver a keynote speech at our Take Up Space Conference on 26 November. Paul will capture festival moments in bitesize social media reels and create reflective poetry about the festival that he will deliver at the Stomp Cabaret on 27 November. We can't wait to welcome him and you!
Netflix actor Robert Ewens. Rob is an experienced theatre and TV actor, challenging all aspects of perceptions around learning disability. We are huge admirers of his work and are proud to have known him for well over ten years now. He's travelling up from that there 'down South' and will tell us about his experience, working with an agent, and his unending positivity will impact on us all! Come and meet Rob at the conference if you're a learning disabled artist, interested in being an actor or artist, or if you work in the arts and want to know more about creating opportunities for disabled people in your work.
Jamie Sample is well known in the Teesside arts world as a musician and artist. Jamie is currently studying for an MA in Curating at Teesside University which has MIMA (Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art) on site. Jamie volunteers at MIMA and has exhibited his work during Middlesbrough Art Week. A guitarist and singer songwriter, Jamie is involved in a band called Brass Eyed Dragons and is a member of North East Opera. He is known for organising music events, promoting events, and supporting and contributing to culture in Tees Valley through the arts, and supporting charities and organisations working in this field.
Adele Hudson is a singer in SYSTEMIC Choir (Sing Your Song True Equality Matters Inclusive Choir) winners of The Catalyst Award 2025 for Inclusion. She is also an actor and theatre maker with Full Circle Theatre Company and has devised and performed in 3 of their shows; In the Middle of our Street, Our Stomping Grounds and Storiescapes. She has be part of the team that created Our Stomping Grounds Festival and now in its third year she is part of the OSG Festival Planning Group.
Andrew Walton
Amy Buttery is a musician and singer based in Teesside. She is the keyboardist and singer with the Jam Buddies. Amy also sings with the Lattes Choir.
Jez Colborne is based in Bradford and is an internationally recognised learning-disabled artist, musician, composer and performance maker. Known for creating immersive musical experiences, Jez crafts captivating worlds for audiences to explore. For over 20 years, he has collaborated with Mind the Gap, composing music for the company’s productions and leading several acclaimed projects. These include ‘Irresistible’ (an Unlimited commission for London 2012, performed at Cow & Calf in Ilkley, Southbank Centre, National Theatre, and internationally), ‘Gift’ (featuring a shipping container as a musical instrument, commissioned by PRS New Music Biennial), and ‘Trickster’ (a partnership with That’s Life, Galway).
JoAnne Haines is a Learning-Disabled artist and performer whose recent work includes A Little Space (national tour and film – Gecko), ZARA (Walk the Plank) and 3 national tours and a run at Edinburgh Fringe 2017 of Mia. Her personal projects include Colour Full (co-creation workshops for people with LD/complex needs) and adapted as a digital version for Southbank Centre’s Unlimited Festival.
Megan Rees is an actor and theatre maker with Full Circle Theatre company. She has devised and has performed in 3 of their shows; In the Middle of our Street, Stomping Ground and Storiescapes. She has be part of the team that created Our Stomping Grounds Festival and now in its third year she is part of the OSG Festival Planning Group. Megan is also a member of Respect Theatre based in Billingham. Megan writes poetry and short stories.
Patrick Gill
Philip Dawes is a Performing Arts student at Stockton Riverside College. He recently took part in a Rosie Jones Foundation conference.
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Conference Guest Speakers, Panellists and Artists will be revealed soon! Stay tuned.
