Press Release
Michelle Roberts Shortlisted for Sky Arts Awards
Congratulations to Michelle Roberts, who has been shortlisted for the Sky Arts Awards 2025. The nominees were announced today by Sky Arts, and a winner will be announced live on screen on 16 September.
Michelle was nominated for the award by Artist Bob & Roberta Smith, who first came across Michelle’s work in the Outside In open call, where he selected Michelle as the winner. The prize was a solo exhibition Michelle Roberts: Red Blue Up which opened at De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill in February 2025.
Michelle Roberts has maintained a creative practice throughout her life. For the past 20 years, she has worked at the Project Art Works studios, an organisation that supports neurodivergent artists, their families, and extended networks. Over this time, Michelle has developed a distinct visual language that is instantly recognisable for its intense colour, interwoven forms, and densely packed detail. Michelle renders rich and personal interpretations of the significant events and places that have shaped her life. In contrast to dark times, Michelle’s works stand out as beacons of joy and celebration.
Launched last year as an evolution of the South Bank Sky Arts Awards, the Sky Arts Awards honours outstanding achievement across a wide spectrum of artistic disciplines. It remains the only event in the world that recognises the full breadth of cultural genres, with categories including classical music, comedy, dance, film, literature, poetry, opera, popular music, television, theatre, and visual arts.
Phil Edgar-Jones OBE, Executive Director, Unscripted Originals, commented:
“The Sky Arts Awards are more than just a celebration – they’re a reminder of why the arts matter. In a moment where creative industries continue to face funding and visibility challenges, the awards spotlight the vital role the arts play for all of us. We know they bolster the economy, help shape identity, create communities, and bring people together – but most of all, the people who make the stuff we love bring joy into our lives, and what could be more useful than that.”
The Sky Arts Awards takes place at The Roundhouse in London on Tuesday 16 September and will air that evening on Sky Arts and Freeview.
Michelle Roberts’ work is part of a group exhibition at the Project Art Works Open Studio from the 31 August to the 7 September.
Notes for Editors:
LINKS
For images please visit our Google Drive.
For film visit Vimeo.
Find out more about Michelle Roberts at Project Art Works
Open Studio details at Project Art Works
Michelle Roberts: Red Blue Up at De La Warr Pavilion
For press enquiries please contact:
Jessica Courtney Bennett, Communications & Projects Manager, Jessica@projectartworks.org
+44 1424 423 555
Arch 3, Braybrooke Terrace, Hastings, TN34 1TD
About Project Art Works
Project Art Works collaborates with people with complex support needs, families and circles of support. Their practice intersects art and care, responding to neurodivergence, its gifts and impacts. Challenging paradigms of inclusion, it spans direct practical and holistic support, film, events, projects and exhibitions.
Their studios provide the conditions for a broad range of autonomous and collaborative practices with neurodivergent artists, who take part on their own terms. Alongside the studios, the Support Collective brings together people who care for people with complex support needs where we share our experience and protect our rights through training, resources and advocacy.
Human connection and what it reveals about identity and how we view each other are explored within the work. The practice continues to respond to the functional and ethical structures of diligence and care, respecting self-determination and privacy whilst working towards greater visibility and understanding of neurodiversity in culture.
Project Art Works is an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation. Alongside neurodiverse artists and makers, the collective includes paid and unpaid caregivers who help each other to navigate through the complexities of health and social care systems.
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