HULL – Hull’s Ferens Art Gallery has landed a spot on the international stage, with its standout exhibition Are We There Yet shortlisted for a coveted Museum and Heritage Award.
The 2024 show, which attracted more than 50,000 visitors, showcased the vivid and deeply personal work of disabled artist Jason Wilsher-Mills. Using tablet-based digital painting, Wilsher-Mills brought to life large, interactive sculptures that told stories of disability, identity and resilience.
The artist described the nomination as a proud moment, saying he was “incredibly proud” and grateful to the Ferens for believing in him. “The team showed real care and support,” he said. “That ultimately made the show such a success.”
The gallery clearly felt the same way. After the exhibition wrapped, Ferens commissioned a new piece from Wilsher-Mills for its permanent collection. The result is The Withernsea 2, an enormous inflatable sculpture that now greets visitors near the gallery entrance. Playful and nostalgic, the piece draws on the artist’s childhood holidays in East Yorkshire.
Winners of the Museum and Heritage Awards will be announced in London on 15 May. Whatever the outcome, this nomination cements Ferens’ growing reputation for bold, inclusive programming that resonates far beyond Hull.