Join the ‘Revolution’ at the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival this October.
Mental Health Foundation Scotland are calling on communities, organisations and artists from across Scotland to get involved in this year’s Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival (SMHAF) by supporting and developing events in their local area.
Taking place across Scotland from 4–22 October 2023, this year’s programme will explore the theme of ‘Revolution’ through art as activism, confronting the impact of economic barriers and social inequality on mental health.
There are multiple ways to get involved with the festival and SMHAF are keen to see more Dundee and Tay region communities taking part. Proposed events can include anything from exhibitions and creative workshops, to performances, film screenings and more.
Further announcements on the programme and ways to get involved with the festival are due in the coming months, so keep an eye on the SMHAF socials for details!
Submitting Events to the Open Call
- Submitted events must explore mental health themes and/or promote good mental health, involve the arts and creativity across any discipline, and take place broadly within the festival dates.
- Events can take place in-person or online, and can be audience-based, participatory, or both.
- Mental Health Foundation are not able to provide funding for submitted events, so sufficient funding should be confirmed before submission. You may be interested in the Participatory Arts and Mental Health Fund from Creative Scotland.
- There will be two deadlines for submissions:
Early Deadline: Fri 7 July
Final Deadline: Fri 21 July
- If you are interested in submitting, please contact Arts and Festival Officer Rob Dickie for further information and submission forms.
Other opportunities to get involved
SMHAF Artist Commission
- SMHAF are inviting artists based anywhere in Scotland to propose a new piece of work in response to the festival theme to be presented online from October 2023.
- Four artists will be commissioned with a fee of £750 inclusive of materials.
- The work can take any form as long as it responds in a creative way to the word ‘Revolution’ and addresses mental health. They are particularly looking for challenges to established ways of thinking.
- Applications close: Fri 30 June at 6pm
Call for Proposals: Manifesto
- SMHAF are seeking proposals for mental health themed creative provocations, of up to one hour in length, to take place as part of a day-long arts and activism programme in Glasgow on Wed 4 October 2023.
- Three provocations will be commissioned with a budget of £1000 to cover fees and materials costs.
- The creative provocations can take the form of live performances, discussions, film screenings or a combination of all.
- Applications may be for individuals or groups/organisations but all freelance contributors should be paid according to recognised industry rates.
- Applications close: Fri 30 June at 6pm
The Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival (SMHAF) is one of Scotland’s most diverse cultural events, covering everything from music, film and visual art to theatre, dance, and literature. The festival aims to support the arts, explore how engagement in the arts can help prevent mental ill health, and challenge mental health stigma. Led by the Mental Health Foundation, SMHAF combines artistic quality with strong grassroots support, community engagement and social activism.
