World Mental Health Day 2024

Earlier this year, the Arts Council announced details of a new £600,000 Mental Health and Arts Programme. This new programme, supported by the National Lottery and The Baring Foundation, is a key action aligned to the Arts Council’s 10-year Strategy, focusing on delivering Outcome 4: ‘A sector that contributes to social and economic benefits’, and Priority 6: ‘We will support arts projects that address contemporary societal challenges’.

The programme is being developed following public consultation and feedback from the arts community and in response to the NI Executive’s Mental Health Strategy 2021-31, with its key theme of promoting good mental health across society.

In September, the Arts Council hosted a number of regional workshops with mental health charity Inspire Wellbeing. The sessions were designed to find out more about artists mental health and wellbeing and discuss how this new programme could support artists going forward.

Over the coming months The Arts Council will be working to develop training workshops and networking events for arts organisations/artists and those working in the field of mental health.

Key findings from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland’s Working and Living Conditions of Artists report, 2024:

• 11% decline in real income for artists in Northern Ireland from 2010-23
• 30% of artists perceive mental health issues as personal challenges that hinder their work
• In response to being asked the question “How anxious did you feel yesterday?” Artists report almost twice as high levels of anxiety compared to the rest of the population
• 23.9% of artists have undertaken training relating to community arts but only 16.6% have undergone training relating to mental health

To stay up to date with the latest developments and opportunities within the Mental Health and Arts Programme, go to: National Lottery Mental Health and Arts Programme | Arts Council NI (artscouncil-ni.org)