For the second year in a row, we were delighted to play a key role in organising Dumfries and Galloway’s participation in the 2024 Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival (SMHAF).
SMHAF offered a powerful platform for people across Scotland to create and share art that delves into mental health, highlighting how the arts and creativity can contribute to healthier, more fulfilling lives.
This year’s festival ran from October 10–27, 2024, and explored the theme of ‘In/Visible’, sparking meaningful conversations and connections throughout the region.
DG Creative Wellbeing was proud to collaborate with the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival, NHS D&G Public Health, DGRI, The Crichton Trust, and Cample Line to bring a series of impactful and inspiring events to life.
Our first event was the launch of the Keep Turning the Page exhibition at Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary. This inspiring showcase featured the work of participants from the Art Journal and Creative Toolbox projects, highlighting their creativity and sharing their personal journeys with a wide audience. The exhibition celebrated the powerful connection between creativity and health, amplifying the voices of those involved.
The Art Journal section featured a selection of journal pages created by participants, alongside a unique artwork created specifically for the exhibition. Informative panels provided insights into the project, explaining how it operates and what the workshops and sessions entail.
In the Creative Toolbox section, visitors could explore an array of original artworks, poems, creative writing, and images from workshops. Detailed panels offered an in-depth look at the sessions and their focus.
The exhibition opened with a special Preview Night, giving friends and family an exclusive opportunity to view the wonderful work on display and learn more about the story behind the exhibition.
Following the launch of the exhibition, we were thrilled to host Crossing Borders to Visibility at the Crichton in Dumfries. This two-part event, which also took place in Melrose, delved into the rich legacies of Dingleton Hospital in Melrose and the Crichton Royal Institution in Dumfries.
Both events featured an expert panel who explored the personal and historical significance of these iconic institutions. They shared insights into the profound impact these places have had on individuals and their communities.
The panel also discussed the evolving role of art in mental health treatment, highlighting its therapeutic and healing potential.
Each event concluded with an open discussion, exploring opportunities for future cross-border collaboration and ways to integrate art into mental health care
To conclude our programme of events for Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival 2024, it was an honour to host a screening of the award winning film ‘Silent Men’ at Cample Line.
This film is Duncan Cowles’ debut feature, where he embarks on a journey taking him all over the UK to ask men about their experiences of mental health. His aim was to confront and understand his own struggles of sharing his feelings with loved ones.
The film has been described as a ‘much need intervention to prompt questions and conversations around the taboo topic of mental health.’
