The DG Creative Wellbeing Network is helping to coordinate Dumfries and Galloway’s contribution to this year’s Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival.
DG Creative Wellbeing is proud to be working in partnership with Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival, NHS D&G Public Healt , DGRI, The Crichton Trust, and RBC Film Theatre, to bring you these two exciting and important events.
‘Keep Turning the Page’
45 young people and adults aged from 11 upwards, and from right across D&G, received a curated box of art materials. Over a period of sixteen weeks participants worked with a range of artists and makers via in-person and remote workshops and creative research trips – exploring a wide range of visual arts practises and processes including printmaking, clay, animation, illustration, mark-making, colour theory, zine-making and creative writing. The project’s activities are designed to enhance wellbeing via creative expression, mindful practise, positive distraction, and the development of self-management tools.
The ‘Keep Turning the Page’ exhibition sees these “Art Journallers” showcase their work and share their personal journeys with a wide audience, amplifying their voices and underlining the important relationship between creativity and mental health.
- 4-22 October, Dumfries & Galloway Royal Infirmary (Atrium & OPD corridor exhibition space), DGRI, Cargenbridge, Dumfries
- Free to visit from 4th – 22nd October 2023
- If only visiting the exhibition, please attend 8am-6pm. The exhibition is viewable for patients, their visitors, and staff 24/7.
Up the Middle Road: Stories of Resilience and Recovery
Dr Valentina Bold presents excerpts from Up the Middle Road: Crichton Stories of Resilience and Recovery, made by Mike Bolan. Up the Middle Road documents events held at the former Crichton Royal Asylum in 2022, directed by Valentina as part of Scotland’s Year of Stories. It shares the recorded experiences of former patients and staff of the Crichton Royal, through new songs and stories from Emily Smith, Jamie McClennan, Amanda Edmiston and Kathleen Cronie.
The screening will be followed by a Q&A and a participatory panel discussion exploring how creative retellings of experiences can heal and dispel the stigma around poor mental health.
Following the panel Q&A/discussion, Creative Wellbeing Network’s Coordinator Tabitha Mudaliar will launch OutPost Arts’ ‘Creative Wellbeing Manifesto’ – the beginning of a year of consultation and engagement with stakeholders across D&G – confronting the impact of barriers and inequalities on our mental health, and exploring creative approaches towards forming a collective agenda for change.
- 20 October, 2-3:30pm, Robert Burns Centre Film Theatre.
- Wheelchair accessible venue. BSL Interpretation
- Free (suggested donation £5 to support local mental health charities.)
OutPost Art’s CWNetwork will also be launching its ‘Creative Wellbeing Manifesto’ – the start of a year of creative consultations where together, we hope to build a wellbeing manifesto for D&G.
Watch out for more info being shared soon about these specific events, and how you can take part.
Find out more about the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival