Joint fund with ACNI awards £400,000 for mental health and arts projects

23 grants of up to £20,000 have been awarded to projects in communities across Northern Ireland, representing a total investment of £400,115 through the Arts and Mental Health Partnership Programme, a jointly funded initiative between the Arts Council NI and the Baring Foundation.

The programme will see arts organisations linking up with specialist mental health service providers to deliver projects that will target people experiencing higher levels of disadvantage or exclusion, including those living with mental health issues, such as addictions and eating disorders.

Launched in 2024, the Mental Health and Arts Programme is dual-focused, providing specialist mental health support and training for artists, as well as supporting arts-based projects in the community.

Lorraine Calderwood, Development Officer: Programmes Officer at the Arts Council NI, said:

Thanks to funding from the National Lottery and the Baring Foundation we are very pleased to announce funding today for 23 community projects. At the heart of this initiative is a desire to deliver meaningful arts-based projects to some of the most vulnerable members of our society.

David Cutler, Director of the Baring Foundation, commented: 

The Baring Foundation is delighted to be funding alongside Arts Council Northern Ireland this new set of exciting projects offering creative opportunities to people living with mental health problems. This is part of our wider funding partnership with ACNI around arts and mental health that includes a pioneering strand of work on the mental health of artists, an occupational group at high risk of poor mental health. We hope this programme will have much to share with other parts of the UK.”

Among those awarded funding are:

Seacourt Print Workshop, Bangor, awarded £15,140 (see photo)

Seacourt has pioneered printmaking for well-being and improving mental health since 2015. Working with principal partner, Action Mental Health/New Horizons Create Connect will provide a safe, supportive space for vulnerable people to engage in creativity as part of their journey towards recovery through printmaking.

The Millennium Forum, Derry~Londonderry, awarded £17,954

Millennium Forum are partnering with Arc Fitness. OUR STAGE is a youth-led drama and health project co-designed by the Youth Forum in partnership with the Millennium Forum and local health professionals. The project is aimed at young people aged 11–18 who will engage in weekly workshops in drama, singing, dance as well as providing opportunities to take part in mindfulness, fitness and resilience.

Millennium Forum’s information video

Armagh Tyrone Wellbeing Collective, awarded £13, 600

Armagh Tyrone Wellbeing Collective will deliver holistic health and wellbeing programmes, including group initiatives, retreats and one-to-one support initiatives. Partner organisation, Apex Music Centre, fosters the development of an engaged creative community through the provision of affordable and accessible arts-based lessons, workshops, productions and events. They will deliver a 12-month programme of weekly arts and mental health workshops for all age groups.

Armagh Tyrone Wellbeing Collective’s information video

Ulster Orchestra Society, Mid-Ulster, £18,048

The Ulster Orchestra is partnering with STEPS and Glasgowbury, both based in Draperstown, to deliver workshops to engage adults living with mental health needs in Draperstown and surrounding rurally isolated communities in Mid Ulster. The project will give particular focus to those who have had limited access to and/or experience of the health and wellbeing benefits of the arts.

Ulster Orchestra’s information video

Youth Action awarded, Belfast, awarded £15, 982

Youth Action will be partnering with a range of organisations, including Belfast Met to deliver their project. The SHINE programme will engage with young people artistically, personally and socially through a series of performing arts workshops and mini festivals. It will be aimed at young people with moderate to severe disabilities, who have been identified as living with a mental health condition.

Youth Action’s information video

See the full list of awards here: https://artscouncil-ni.org/resources/arts-and-mental-health-partnership-programme-awards

Featured image: Emma Drury, Director of Seacourt Print Workshop, Amy Slowik, member and artist and Clare McComish, Visual Arts Officer, Arts Council of Northern Ireland. Seacourt were one of 23 organisations awarded funding through the Arts and Mental Health Partnership Programme.