There is a reason why Media and Culture is one of the 8 Pillars of Include For Good.

Within the team of Rapporteurs we have DJs, radio and podcast hosts, Tik Tok content creators, musicians, artists, filmmakers and animators.

Yet it is not the norm to see or hear people that we identify with in the media or arts.

This is why the news that Scottish artist Nnena Kalu has won the 2025 Turner Prize has been celebrated by the team.

Nnena has a learning disability and is autistic.

She is the first artist with a learning disability to win this award.

The Turner Prize is one of the world’s most important art prizes. It gets a lot of attention in the media. Winners can become famous.

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What did you think when you heard the news?

Kris: “I thought ‘wow’. Not because of her learning disability but because she was being recognised for her art.”

Rosie: “It’s a brilliant achievement for anyone.”

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What do you think of Nnena’s art work?

Rosie: “That’s magical. It’s in front of you and you can move in and around it.”

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Kris: “It’s free. You can lose yourself in the moment, in the magic.”

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Why do you think it is important that someone with a learning disability has won the Turner Prize?

Kris: “It’s really good for raising awareness of learning disability. It challenges the narrative on learning disability and what people with learning disabilities have to offer the world. It makes people see beyond the disability.”

Rosie: “It will help people to understand and acknowledge that people with learning disabilities can think differently to those without.”

Kris: “It won’t just challenge the thinking of people in the art world. There’s the ripple effect and brings learning disability and how people can challenge perspectives to others such as employers.”

Rosie: “It’s exciting what it will do for Nnena. It will really showcase her work.”

What difference do you think Nnena’s win will make for other people with learning disabilities?

Kris: “Achieving things can be a real challenge. Seeing Nnena can make you think the challenge can be conquered.”

Kris: “It might encourage other people with learning disabilities to take risks and to follow their dreams.”

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Rosie: “Hopefully it will raise the profile of organisations that offer opportunities to people with learning disabilities and perhaps bring in more funding.”

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Here is Rapporteur John K talking about his recent experience of working on an animated film.

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