£400,000 of funding announced for mental health and arts projects
29th September, 2025
With funding from the National Lottery, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, together with the Baring Foundation, has announced funding for 23 projects that will give people living with mental health conditions access to creative workshops and classes.
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.
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, 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
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 on our resources section: https://artscouncil-ni.org/resources/arts-and-mental-health-partnership-programme-awards
Details of upcoming workshops, with mental health support and advice for artists, will be announced in the coming weeks, via the Arts Council website and social media channels.
