As we reached the final week of the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival 2025, Press Play brought our SMHAF season to a joyful and heartfelt close. Held from 7th-9th November at The Standard in Dumfries, this vibrant exhibition showcased the creativity, courage and imagination of participants from two of our core community-based creative wellbeing (social prescribing) programmes, which support people experiencing a range of barriers: Art Journal Project (adults) and Creative Toolbox (young people).
CREATIVITY ACROSS GENERATIONS
Press Play celebrated the unique blend of voices, experiences and creative practices that emerge when people are given time, support and encouragement to explore their own artistic journey.
Participants from Art Journal Project explored wellbeing through a series of hands-on, sensory creative sessions – from clay to natural pigment making, to slow, mindful mark-making. Their work reflected a year of connection, reflection and personal growth, revealing how creativity can help us process, express and make sense of our inner worlds.
Meanwhile, young people from Creative Toolbox developed a bold mix of artwork, poetry and film inspired by Mrs Campbell’s Fifth Period by Leyla Josephine. Their pieces were filled with honesty, energy and experimentation – offering powerful glimpses into how young people see themselves, their friendships and the world around them.
Together, the work formed an uplifting, intergenerational exhibition full of colour, emotion and creativity.
A Special Moment of Gathering!
Ahead of the public exhibition, both groups held a specially invited celebration for participants, family and friends.
This was a chance for everyone to come together, see their work displayed, reflect on what they’ve created over the past year, and of course, share tea, cake and conversation.
The gatherings were filled with pride and connection: people pointing out their favourite pieces, young people explaining their film edits, adults showing family their sketchbooks and journals and everyone taking a moment to recognise just how far they’ve come.
A festival of comfort, challenge and creativty
Play joined the Mental Health Forum and TWELVE to create a powerful trio of events during our SMHAF season – each one exploring mental health through a different creative lens. Together, they highlighted the many ways creativity can comfort, provoke, connect and transform.
Most of all, Press Play reminded us that when people are offered the space, materials and support to explore their creativity, amazing things can happen.
AJP & CT projects are supported by The Holywood Trust, NHS D&G Charity and The National Lottery Community Fund Scotland
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