This blog was first published in our 2024 report, Creatively Minded and in Recovery, one of 15 case studies examining arts for and by people with addictions.
Who we are
Portraits of Recovery (PORe) is a pioneering visual arts charity based in Manchester, inspiring and supporting people affected by and in recovery from substance use (Recoverists).
We are the UK’s only contemporary visual arts organisation working within this field. By working collaboratively with leading contemporary artists, people in recovery, and communities in recovery, we share the human face of the recovery experience – breaking down barriers and promoting inclusion. Addiction does not discriminate. Addiction is a health, social and cultural issue.
My own lived experience and resilience led me to found Portraits of Recovery in 2011; a space that opens new conversations about addiction and recovery through the lens of contemporary art. We engage those in recovery by empowering them as artists and creators, growing their participation in culture, demystifying the world of contemporary art and giving a powerful voice to an often marginalised community.
Our key stakeholders, people in recovery from substance use, engage with and create high quality inspirational art, as a critical part of their recovery journey. Our work is inclusive, activist and process based. Through culture we build ambition by empowering a stigmatised community to enable systemic change.
We envision a changed society. One in which those in recovery from substance use are, through the transformational power of the arts and culture, empowered to creatively shape the world around them.
The philosophy that guides our work Recoverism: an inclusive social movement borne out of the story of both Portraits of Recovery and Manchester itself – the birthplace of social movements like Trade Unionism, Suffrage, and the Cooperative Society. Our work reimagines ways in which people and communities affected by substance use and in recovery are represented and understood. Recoverism is a form of cultural activism: encouraging us to change the world and our place within it through collaboration and mutual support, between those in recovery, artists, and wider society.
Recoverism – an inclusive social movement borne out of the story of both Portraits of Recovery and Manchester itself – the birthplace of social movements like Trade Unionism, Suffrage, and the Cooperative Society.
Our approach
Our work covers a range of art, from the visual arts, music, performance and a range of participatory workshops. We also host regular community outings, through Recovery Culture Fix, so that our Recoverists have a safe space to explore the arts and culture together and can build essential relationships as part of their recovery journeys.
In September 2023, we launched Recoverist Month; an annual event that brings together Recovery communities and increases positive visibility through a public programme of performances, exhibitions and events.
CHAORDIC: Recoverist Curators Project with The Whitworth
Recoverism, pioneered by Portraits of Recovery, is a burgeoning art and social movement in the north-west of England that celebrates individuals and communities in recovery from substance use. Based in Manchester, historically a hub of social activism, Recoverism promotes a collective, responsible lifestyle free from harmful behaviours. Recovery is viewed as an ongoing social process rather than a finite destination, encompassing cultural, contemporary, and moment-to-moment experiences for individuals, families, and communities.
Portraits of Recovery combines lived experience with professional arts expertise to foster inclusive, activist-driven projects, such as Recoverist Curators.
Recoverist Curators, led by PORe and in collaboration with The Whitworth gallery in Manchester, is funded by the Baring Foundation and aligns with The Whitworth’s mission as a “Useful Museum” for positive social change, utilising its art collection to promote Recoverism’s ideology and philosophy.
Recoverist Curators empowers individuals in recovery to co-curate exhibitions, develop new understandings of the gallery’s collections, and organise events that challenge societal perceptions of recovery. Through partnerships with organizations like SANDS and the LGBT Foundation, The Whitworth has a track record of community-focused initiatives, such as the Still Parents program supporting families affected by infant loss.
Recoverist Curators empowers individuals in recovery to co-curate exhibitions, develop new understandings of the gallery’s collections, and organise events that challenge societal perceptions of recovery
The project responds to the marginalisation and stigma faced by those in recovery, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on support services. By providing professional development opportunities and mentoring, Recoverist Curators aims to shift power dynamics, promote inclusivity, and address systemic barriers within the cultural sector. It seeks to amplify the voices and experiences of the recovery community while challenging stereotypes and fostering understanding.
Evaluation of previous collaborations identified the need for collective efforts to address the cultural needs of Manchester’s recovery communities. Recoverist Curators aims to fill this gap by developing skills, disseminating cultural sector knowledge, and creating lasting partnerships.
Ultimately, Recoverist Curators seeks to leave a legacy of enhanced cultural inclusivity and understanding within Greater Manchester’s cultural landscape. Through exhibitions, symposiums, and evaluative frameworks, it aims to set a precedent for collaborative, community-driven projects that empower marginalised groups and promote social change.
What’s next?
In the future, we aim to widen the reach of Portraits of Recovery through our annual Recoverist Month programme of work, which brings together recovering people, artists, venues and audiences from across Greater Manchester through a public programme of exhibitions, performances and events. Our Chaordic partnership with the Castlefield Gallery, The Whitworth and Manchester Art Gallery will deliver three newly commissioned art projects. The Chaordic commissions represent a bold step towards reshaping the cultural landscape and promoting dialogue around addiction and recovery. Each project is designed to engage audiences, challenge stereotypes, and inspire meaningful change. The commissions include Recoverist Curators at The Whitworth; Let’s Talk About Chemsex at Manchester Art Gallery, led by international artist Harold Offeh; and an Artist in Residence with the Castlefield Gallery and ANEW drug and alcohol rehab in Tameside.
The Recoverist Curators’ exhibition will be held at The Whitworth from July 2025 and there will be a Recoverist Curators Symposium in Manchester on 25 September 2025 – watch this space!
