We are thrilled to share the news that we were recently commissioned by the Crichton Trust to create visual content, alongside For Enjoyment CIC, for a special edition of The New Moon publication to commemorate the European Lunar Symposium 2024. The Symposium was hosted by the Open University, and took place at the Crichton in Dumfries last week.
This event was a significant opportunity for local communities and organisations to engage with prominent figures in space science. For instance, NASA scientists have been inspiring Scottish pupils to consider careers in space, as highlighted in this recent article.
Our invitation to contribute to The New Moon creates a compelling connection between past and present. The original publication was produced by patients of the Crichton Asylum, showcasing their art and writing. This progressive initiative provided a creative outlet for patients, allowing their voices to be heard.
First printed in December 1844, The New Moon encouraged patients to engage in writing as part of their treatment. A monthly magazine featuring poetry, articles, theatrical reviews, notifications of amusements, letters, trip reports, donations to the hospital library, sports results, puzzles, cartoons, weather reports, and staff updates, it was Initially printed at the Herald Office in Dumfries until the hospital acquired its own press in 1846, and a patient-printer took over production.
In honour of the 2024 Lunar Symposium at The Crichton, they have reissued a digital version of The New Moon, featuring articles from original editions as well as contributions from the current Crichton community. You can read the latest edition by clicking here.
By empowering patients receiving contemporary psychiatric in-patient care to create work for this new edition, we are renewing this tradition – providing a platform for their work to be shared, and their voices to be heard. The artwork – black and white in the tradition of the New Moon – was created in a printmaking workshop led by regional artist Julie Stephen, with work inspired by the symposium’s lunar theme.
OutPost Arts Director, Lucy Bell, was asked to write a column for the publication, highlighting art’s important connection to wellbeing, which you can read below.
Continuing the Tradition of Arts & Wellbeing
In an increasingly remote world, where our prime communication tool is a mobile phone – the simple act of gathering with others around a shared creative exercise can make a real difference. Arts and culture can make visible and sustainable changes to the lives of people who need it most. This is something we’ve seen clearly in our work with Midpark Hospital, which supports people who require acute mental health care and treatment.
Developed as part of the Art in Healthcare strand of OutPost Arts’ ‘DG Creative Wellbeing’ project, Coordinator Frank Hayes has worked with the hospital’s team to pilot and develop regular, artist-led creative sessions for both staff and patients. Gathering feedback and reflections from all involved after each block has allowed the team to craft an embedded visual arts programme. Regular weekly sessions provide a space for participants to express themselves in a positive way whilst learning new skills, with each block of workshops focusing on a different theme (most recently ‘Empowering Portraits’). Talented regional artists are commissioned to lead sessions focused on practices such as printmaking, painting, creative writing and mixed media/collage.
“The groups were a fantastic outlet and made the difficult experience of being in hospital more bearable.” (Patient)
Crucially, by taking part together, patients and staff participate as equals, allowing them to develop meaningful connections – a significant advance that contrasts with historic approaches to treatment that resulted in stigma and ‘otherness’.
By Lucy Bell, Director, OutPost Arts
