"I am clear that my greatest strengths stem from the fact of being born with muscular dystrophy, apparently my greatest weakness."
Adam’s particular perspective led to a very active involvement in the Disability Arts sector. From 1986 onwards, he was a trustee of (and from 1990 to 97, chaired) Shape Arts, the disability-led arts organisation which works to improve access to culture for disabled people.
He was in constant demand as a consultant, trainer, workshop leader and speaker on disability issues from museums, galleries and institutions across the country, including Hertfordshire Museums, the Russell Cotes Museum and Gallery, Holton Lee, Tate, Acme, Milton Keynes Council, National Museums of Scotland and the Corporation of London.
From 1987 to 1993 he sat on the Arts and Disability Monitoring Committee of the Arts Council of Great Britain and from 1998 he contributed regular art reviews to Disability Now (national monthly). From 1993 to 2005, he worked with Jayne Earnscliffe as a Disability Equality trainer in the museum and gallery sector, also auditing premises, policies and practices.
In 2008, with the support of Adam’s family and friends, Shape Arts, under the direction of Adam’s longtime friend and fellow disabled sculptor Tony Heaton, set up the Adam Reynolds Award in Adam’s memory. This is an annual award designed to support a mid-career disabled artist or artists by offering funds and an opportunity for development in connection with a high-profile cultural location or gallery.
To find out more about Adam's involvement with disability arts, visit National Disability Arts Collection and Archive website. Click here to see NDACA's archival collection related to Adam and his work.