Fables

APS is proud to present Fables, the culminating exhibition of Resilient Roots, a new programme supporting people taking their first steps into showing their work. Funded by the Postcode Lottery, this initiative nurtures emerging creativity, offering accessible pathways into exhibiting while celebrating the power of making.

Drawing on over a decade of APS artist development experience, Resilient Roots recognises that beginnings can be the most daunting stage of an artistic journey. Confidence wavers, opportunities feel distant, and many who create don’t yet feel able to call themselves artists. APS designed Resilient Roots to change that.

Over four months, eight artists have taken part in a programme of one-to-one mentoring, group critique, and practical workshops exploring curation, selection, and installation. Together, they have co-created Fables, a collective exhibition that reflects their emerging practices, shared growth, and the stories they choose to tell through their work.

“I have never waited for permission to make things happen, and APS was built from that same instinct. We create together, sometimes messy, always brave, and always real. Fables grew from that belief that creativity survives through community. This is what happens when eight artists are trusted to take risks, to experiment, and to claim their voices without apology. For me, art has never started with confidence; it starts with connection. We grow through making, through each other, and through the small, relentless acts of courage it takes to keep showing up. Fables is not the end of their journey. It is the beginning of what comes next.” Sarah Francis Creative Director 

Fables opens Thursday 9 January 2026, 6:30pm–9pm at The Mill Gallery, inviting the public to experience a diverse range of artwork shaped by curiosity, creativity, and the joy of making. The exhibition continues until 30 January, with the gallery open Fridays, 1pm–4:30pm.

Resilient Roots welcomes anyone who makes, regardless of previous exhibition experience. What matters is taking initiative, bringing energy, and planting the foundations for a thriving future practice.

Start here. Grow anywhere.