PortFolio, a new project from Independent Arts designed to improve mental health, has received £16,000 of funding from Bupa UK Foundation.
PortFolio was originally a pilot project however the £16,000 Bupa UK Foundation grant will support a year-long provision.
The project is designed to run over 8 weeks providing art workshops and mindfulness sessions specifically aimed at promoting wellbeing for people with mid-life mental health issues.
“PortFolio is a series of workshops across several art disciplines including 3D wirework drawing, collage, photography, 3D modelling and painting accompanied by guided mindfulness sessions. The central theme is to allow the individual to express themselves creatively within both a social and nurturing environment. At the end of the 8 weeks a portfolio of artwork is created and presented in a keepsake box,” says Hannah Griffith, Project Manager
An estimated 1 in 5 GP visits are made for non-medical reasons and a total of 70.9 million prescriptions for antidepressants were dispensed in England in 2018. Whilst medication is one intervention research has indicated that art therapy can have a positive effect on mental health, especially in cases of depression, anxiety and low self-esteem.
Independent Arts, for over 30 years, has been dedicated to improving people’s lives through participation in art-based activities and every week between 500-600 people attend workshops, classes and activities facilitated by the charity.
One participant shares her thoughts on attending a recent PortFolio session:
“I had never tried wirework drawing before. The practitioner showed me some basics and I was gently encouraged to just have a go. Everyone was in the same position and before you knew it there were words of support and encouragement as well as laughter.
Article continues below this advertisement “At times I felt a clarity of mind as I concentrated intensely on shaping the wire, a welcome relief from the constant spiral of stressful thoughts and at other times I found myself in conversation or listening as someone naturally shared their frustration with OCD. I left the session feeling uplifted, like I had been to a mental health oasis,”
If you feel that you could benefit from attending the next PortFolio sessions call 01983 822437 or email [email protected]. For more information visit www.independentarts.org.
