An inspiring and thought-provoking arts exhibition is taking place in East Kilbride town centre this week.
Over the past seven weeks the Expressive Arts Group at Agape Wellbeing has put together an eye-catching display of artwork that expresses how how they see the world around them.
Funded through the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival, the free exhibition runs this Friday, October 11 from 1pm till 2.30pm at the charity’s base on Cornwall Way.
For the last decade the community hub in East Kilbride has been bringing people with mental health barriers together in a safe space with the aim of promoting positive wellbeing for all.
Agape have active groups including a men’s group and vulnerable women’s group who are involved in the arts project.
Within this year’s festival theme of In/Visible, the project involves developing pieces of art including drawings, paintings and installations using nature and other materials as a source of discovering how underserved, unseen or invisible members of a community can become visible, noticed, feel included, and have a positive contribution to a project in which they feel involved and included.
Agape manager Drew McKinney explained: “Mental health is central to everyone’s wellbeing and this is especially true for the individuals who will come together in groups and be involved in this arts festival.
“Through being involved in a creative process, planning, formulating ideas within the project theme, participants will have the opportunity to gain confidence, experience sense of collective belonging and purpose and potential to improve their mental wellbeing through art and creativity, and the strong links between the two.
“By being involved in something from its inception to final display and exhibition of their artwork, participants have the opportunity to develop in many ways including sense of worth, confidence to be part of and activity and group with a common purpose and aim, and ultimately, experience the sense of wellbeing which comes from this.”
The 18th edition of the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival, led by the Mental Health Foundation takes place from October 10-27 with Lanarkshire hosting more than 30 events, including several in East Kilbride.
Other highlights in East Kilbride include:
- Hear Me! a workshop led by Martin Stepek, Scotland’s foremost mindfulness teacher, and aims to help you manage anxiety and the stigma that can often come with it. Workshops taking place at Healthy & Active East Kilbride on October 22
- Young at Heart Dance workshops where participants can learn a variety of fun-filled dance exercises. Dance can improve self-esteem and confidence and allow you to easily express yourself. If you are feeling overlooked, it can also help you to overcome feelings of invisibility. October 7,14 and 21 at East Kilbride Arts Centre
- Needle Felting: Paint with Wool workshops where participants can learn the craft of painting with wool. As well as learning a new skill, you can boost your mental wellbeing. October 9,16 and 23 at East Kilbride Arts Centre
- Gulag to Glasgow is an event with author Martin Stepek telling stories from his latest book of his Polish father’s astonishing and tragic early life, including his time in a Soviet labour camp and the death by starvation of the author’s grandmother. October 17 at East Kilbride Central Library.
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