DYSPLA is a Neurodivergent-led, award-winning arts collective celebrating, producing and developing the work of Neurodivergent Storymakers.
* Saatchi Gallery 'Artist of the Future Prize' Winners 2025. *
DYSPLA makes art and conducts research into the Neurodivergent Aesthetic with a focus on short form narrative in the following mediums: Digital, Print, Photography, Poetry, Performance, XR (VR, 360º Film, AR, MR), Moving Image, Theatre and Installation.
DYSPLA elucidate a new artistic aesthetic - the Neurodivergent Aesthetic defined by the cognitive difference of neurodivergence.
DYSPLA Manifesto:
• Produce and develop the work of neurodivergent storymakers.
• Create stories with underrepresnted or undervalued communities around Britain and internationally.
• Build a national and international network of neurodiverse creatives.
• Inspire Britain’s neurodivergent storymaking community.
• Produce and develop the work of neurodivergent storymakers.
• Create stories with underrepresnted or undervalued communities around Britain and internationally.
• Build a national and international network of neurodiverse creatives.
• Inspire Britain’s neurodivergent storymaking community.
PROJECTS & EVENTS:
• 10th April - 3rd May 2026
EXHIBITION
Neurodivergent Aesthetic, Stephen Lawrence Gallery, Greenwich
• Apr 2023 - Apr 2026
EXHIBITION
DYSPLA_colonialism, Compton Verney Art Gallery and Museum
Physical and Digtial Artwork currently in exhibition.
•
25 October 2025 - 11 January 2026
EXHIBITION
DYSPLA_disabled, Artist of the Future Prize, Saatchi Gallery
• 7th December 2025
TALK HOST
DYSPLA_Chat
A peer-to-peer monthly gathering of like-minded Neurodivergent Creatives discussing the Neurodivergent Aesthetic, sign up via link above.
• 2nd November 2025
TALK HOST
DYSPLA_Chat A peer-to-peer monthly gathering of like-minded Neurodivergent Creatives discussing the Neurodivergent Aesthetic, sign up via link above.
• 2nd - 12th October2025
EXHIBITION
Surplus: The Rat, the Tampon and the Laughing Gas,
Cultura Inglesa Festival, Brazil
• 5th October 2025
TALK HOST
DYSPLA_Chat Starting Small - log line, synopsis, character backstory, treatment, scene, poem, short story or Text as Art - A peer-to-peer monthly gathering of like-minded Neurodivergent Creatives discussing the Neurodivergent Aesthetic, sign up via link above.
• 7th Septmeber 2025
TALK HOST
DYSPLA_Chat
Neurodivergence and Writing - A peer-to-peer monthly gathering of like-minded Neurodivergent Creatives discussing the Neurodivergent Aesthetic, sign up via link above.
• 3rd August 2025
TALK HOST
DYSPLA_Chat
A peer-to-peer monthly gathering of like-minded Neurodivergent Creatives discussing the Neurodivergent Aesthetic, sign up via link above.
• July 2025
EXHIBITION
CONSCIOUS SQUARE, Arbeit Studios, London, UKNeuro-futurist Virtual Reality (VR) film exhibiting a kaleidoscope of social anxiety and loneliness.
• April - July 2025
EXHIBITIONS & Workshops
• 6th July 2025
TALK HOST
DYSPLA_Chat
Guest Speaker: Animator and Founder of Alchemy Studios. Louise Haywood speaks about all things animation.
• 24 June 2025
LECTURE
Critical Neurodiversity Studies Conference, Durham UniversityHeterodox ideation & Neurodivergent Aesthetics
• 1st June 2025
TALK HOST
DYSPLA_Chat
Discusion on the DYSPLA_motion production process in New Zealand, supported by the British Council.
Discusion on the DYSPLA_motion production process in New Zealand, supported by the British Council.
• 4th May 2025
TALK HOST
DYSPLA_Chat
Guest Speaker - Dr Ruth Gibbons.Theme - Neurodivergence & Movement, supported by the British Council.
Guest Speaker - Dr Ruth Gibbons.Theme - Neurodivergence & Movement, supported by the British Council.
• 26th April 2025
WORKSHOP
• 6th April 2025
TALK HOST
• 20 March 2025
LECTURE & EXHIBITION
Lunchtime Lectures: Neurodivergence and Creativity, Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), London, UK
Neurodivergence in Creativity and how cognitive diversity is essential to innovation in our creative industries
• 2 March 2025
TALK HOST
DYSPLA_Chat
Script Development - Focusing on how DYSPLA works with writers at SurgeryScript and hearing how other ND writers approach script work.
• 22nd February 2025
WORKSHOP
• 27 June - 8 Sept 2024
RESIDENCY & EXHIBITION
ENFIELD is DISABLED - Arbeit Residency, Palmers Green
• 18 Apr 2024
GUEST SPEAKER & PUBLICATION
• 16 Feb 2024
GUEST SPEAKER
The Neurodivergent Aesthetic - Film & Screen Media, University of Cork
• 1-2 June 2023
WORKSHOP
The above video explains the relationship between neurodivergence and cinematic methodology. This introductory analysis explores the relationship between neurodivergent conditions, such as dyslexia, and some of our most celebrated Auteurs within Cinema Industry. We have found this strong relationship links neurodivergent traits and cinematic methodology and has lead us to believe that neurodivergent cognitive functioning is a necessity in creating innovative cinema.
Dyslexic and Neurodivergent storymakers have a strong heritage in narrative and non-linear art history. This analysis of cinematic history features some work by the following neurodivergent filmmakers… Steven Spielberg, Alfred Hitchcock, George Lucas, Steve McQueen, Tim Burton, Stanley Kubrick, Quentin Tarantino, MartinScorsese, Orson Welles, Guy Ritchie, Ridley Scott, Michael Bay, Woody Allen, Spike Lee, David Lynch, Billy Wilder, Charlie Chaplin, David Lean, Francis Ford Coppola, Nicolas Winding Refn, Zack Snyder, Guy Ritchie, Sylvester Stallone, Joe Wright, Walt Disney, JF Lawton, Alejandro Iñárritu and Jim Jarmusch. This is just a small list of artists that share neurodivergence as their commonality, and as their genius.
The UK’s education system has belittled and undervalued the neurodivergent community for centuries. Cuts to education in the arts, craft and music, lead by the worship of academia and the mythical neurotypical are destroying our young storymakers.
DYSPLA speaks up for the unrepresented voices in our society; those who are disenfranchised politically, socially, economically and educationally. We have built a creative community with the facility to enable artists to explore their craft to the extent that would only usually be available to established artists and large production houses. We are democratising the development and production process to allow early career writers, artists, and grassroots activists to be heard.
DYSPLA believes that our education system is suited for the few. The ‘social model of disability’ says that disability is caused by the way society is organised, rather than by a person’s difference. We are looking at ways of removing barriers that restrict life choices for those who think differently. By undervaluing the creative, the risk taking and the empathetic, the UK have lost countless great minds over the years and will continue to, unless we realise society is made up of a plethora of individual minds.
In recent days, one of the UK’s great dyslexic resources went into administration. The loss of Dyslexia Action is another blow to a neurodivergent community which lacks government support. It is another blow to the voice of millions that deserve to be heard.
DYSPLA dreams of a world where each and every creative mind, no matter how different from society’s norms, is individually valued and can flourish within an empathetic and supportive environment. We exist in the hope of building the crucial next generation of innovative thinkers.
DYSPLA is run by two neurodivergent artists, Lennie Varvarides and Kazimir Bielecki.
