The Art Journal Project is a key aspect of OutPost Arts’ community-based work – creating opportunities for participants to connect with their ‘creative selves,’ enhancing wellbeing via creative expression, mindful practise, positive distraction, and the development of self-management tools.  

Art Journaling is a creative well-being tool, where we put our internal selves onto the page, allowing for honesty and freedom to explore emotions. The art journal is a safe space for self-care, discovery, and self-development. It allows us to have a visual conversation with ourselves, distracting us from negative thoughts and feelings – offering an accessible and portable platform for us toescape, reflect, take stock and re-calibrate.   

In order to reach key groups of participants, OutPost Arts has developed Art Journal Project with D&G Carers Centre, CAHMS, D&G College, regional schools, and partner arts/culture organisations – developing new formal ‘creative prescribing’ processes and increasing community access to creative opportunities that enhance wellbeing and promote positive mental health.

Recruited via self and partner referral, a group of up to 30 adults from across D&G receive a curated ‘starter box’ of art materials, symbolising an ‘investment in wellbeing’. Over sixteen weeks, participants work with a range of Associate Artists and Makers via in-person and remote workshops and attend creative research trips both locally and out with the region – exploring a wide variety of artistic themes, practises and processes such as printmaking, clay, animation, painting, drawing, mark-making, colour theory and natural pigment sourcing/creation.  

A person-centred counsellor works with the project’s delivery team and participants, ensuring that everyone involved is professionally safeguarded and supported.

Art Journal Project programme is delivered annually and connects to a subsequent Graduate Programme which supports participants to ‘scale up’ their ambitions and pursue further creative wellbeing opportunities.

Art Journal Project programme is divided into two parts, and following an in -person ‘welcome session’, the first 8 sessions are delivered via remote zoom workshops – allowing participants from across the region to ‘meet’ in a safe space, and take part in a variety of creative workshops, working with a range of talented, professional artists and makers.     

Using the curated box of materials as a starting point, the Adult & Youth Creative Wellbeing Lead works with OutPost Arts’ Creative Health & Wellbeing Director and Associate Artists to design impactful, accessible and meaningful experiences and learning opportunities – focusing on mindfulness, relaxation, manageable skills development and relationship-building.  

Participants share their personal journeys and progress and receive feedback and support from the programme’s artists and Peer Mentors (graduates of previous cohorts) via private social media platforms. 

As part of the Art Journal Project programme, participants have access to two trips to a regional (Dumfries and Galloway) and a national place/venue. The participants and project leaders visit key sites of interest, spending the day identifying and researching creative work to inform and inspire creative practice. The trips are also an excellent way for the group to get know each other better through spending the day together.

Previous trips have included a creative research trip to Kirkcudbright, touring the Art & Craft Trail; investigating the work of Scottish and international artists and designers in the Kelvingrove Art Gallery Collection in Glasgow; visits to Edinburgh galleries, and guided tours through the current exhibitions of Gracefield Arts Centre in Dumfries.