The Expressive Arts Group at Agape Wellbeing put together an eye-catching display of artwork that expresses how how they see the world around them.
Running as part of the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival, the free exhibition was held at the charity’s base on Cornwall Way.
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 have active groups including a men’s group and vulnerable women’s group who are involved in the arts project.
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 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 runs until October 27 with Lanarkshire hosting more than 30 events, including several in East Kilbride.
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