National Lottery Mental Health and Arts Programme
The National Lottery Mental Health and Arts Programme has been established to improve the mental health of artists and arts participants.
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.
The programme has three strands:
- It will provide tailored training and support for artists to improve their own mental health
- It will offer specialist training and upskilling for artists who work in the field of mental health
- It will benefit wider groups in society, by providing funding that will pair artists with organisations, specialising in mental health work, in order to develop bespoke community arts programmes for vulnerable groups.
Through the new Mental Health and Arts Programme, the Arts Council and The Baring Foundation will:
- raise awareness and improve the emotional, physical and social wellbeing of artists and participants.
- improve arts-based services for people with mental health issues.
- address stigma and challenge prejudice and discrimination.
- support and promote help-seeking behaviour.
- increase awareness amongst Health and Wellbeing professionals about the benefits of the arts.
- connect artists and arts organisations with organisations who work in the field of mental health to collaborate on the development of new arts-based projects, bringing the benefits of the arts to wider society.
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
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
View the Working and Living Conditions of Artists Report
Contact Lorraine Calderwood, lcalderwood@artscouncil-ni.org for more information on the programme.