As you may know, the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival is under way across Scotland and here in Renfrewshire, for the second year, we have a dedicated youth strand, called Open Mind Fest.
This youth-specific programme has been created by, and will be curated by, young people from Create Paisley, Erskine Music and Media Studio, YMCA and Youth Services. There are 11 events which are specifically aimed at young people, listed below, and we would be very grateful if you could promote these as widely as possible to your pupils or young people you work with and encourage them to go along if they can. We appreciate that the programme is very Paisley-centric, however if we get enough engagement and interest this is hopefully something we can address in future years. All details and links to Eventbrite can also be found on www.mhfestival.com and on Facebook – Open Mind Fest. Unless otherwise stated, no booking is required.
Friday 17th May, 7.30-10pm
Create Café: Open Mic
Venue: Blend Coffee Lounge, 25B Causeyside Street, Paisley PA1 1UL
Create Café is a free safe creative space for 12-21-year olds to express themselves through music or art and connect with friends
FREE
Friday 24th May and Saturday 25th May, 11am-5pm
Open Mind Fest: Live Stage
Venue: Paisley Arts Centre, 15 New St, Paisley, PA1 1EZ
A jam-packed programme of performances, workshops and panels, all showcasing the relationship between music, the arts and mental health. Hosted by Erskine Music and Media Studio.
FREE
Saturday 25th May, 12-1pm
Follow Your Feet: Wellbeing Walk
Venue: Paisley Arts Centre, 15 New St, Paisley, PA1 1EZ
Join members of the Youth Commission for a walk around Paisley. Learn about Paisley’s history and take time to focus on your positive mental health and wellbeing. Participants will be encouraged to leave positive messages for others to find and share on social media using the #FollowYourFeet.
FREE
Saturday 25th May, 12-4pm
10 Recommendations On Mental Health
Venue: Paisley Arts Centre, 15 New St, Paisley, PA1 1EZ
The Youth Commission will speak about the recommendations they would like organisations to adopt when working with young people who experience poor mental health.
FREE
Saturday 25th May, 1-2pm
Journalism & Mental Health
Venue: Paisley Arts Centre, 15 New St, Paisley, PA1 1EZ
An important workshop exploring how mental health is portrayed in the media, how this affects young people, and what we can do to improve this.
Booking required via link below – cost £2
openmindjournalism.eventbrite.co.uk
Saturday 25th May, 1.30-3.30pm
Digital Wellness
Venue: YMCA Paisley Makerspace, 14 William St, Paisley, PA1 2LZ
Open youth drop-in space aiming to promote mental health awareness and empower young people to maintain their own positive mental health.
Incorporates digital based learning and digital creativity outlets, including virtual reality and more.
FREE
Saturday 25th May, 2.30-3.30pm
Poetry Workshop
Venue: Paisley Arts Centre, 15 New St, Paisley, PA1 1EZ
A workshop with poet and journalist Robert Blair exploring poetry as a cathartic way to broach mental health issues.
Booking required via link below – cost £2
openmindpoetry.eventbrite.co.uk
Saturday 25th May, 4-5pm
Autism, Mental Health & Creativity
Venue: Paisley Arts Centre, 15 New St, Paisley, PA1 1EZ
Anxiety and depression affect up to 40% of the autism population. This workshop will explore how, with the correct support, people with autism can make a huge contribution to society.
Booking required via link below – cost £2
openmindautism.eventbrite.co.uk
Saturday 25th May, 7.30-8.30pm
Avalanche
Venue: Paisley Arts Centre, 15 New St, Paisley, PA1 1EZ
In a world where we are more connected than ever, are we really connected at all? This brand-new devised performance from PACE Young Rep Company will examine what is to blame for the alarming mental health crisis facing young people.
Booking required via link below – cost £7 / £5
boxoffice.renfrewshire.gov.uk 0300 300 1210
Sunday 26th May, 4-5.30pm
Film Competition
Venue: Paisley Arts Centre, 15 New St, Paisley, PA1 1EZ
Screenings of the shortlisted films of the Open Mind Arts Competition.
FREE – but please book using link below
Sunday 26th May, 4-5.30pm
Awards Ceremony & Celebration
Venue: Paisley Arts Centre, 15 New St, Paisley, PA1 1EZ
An awards ceremony and celebration of the work produced as part of Open Mind. The ceremony will be hosted by Create Paisley’s youth panel Young Creators who have co-designed this year’s festival
FREE – but please book using link below