Art of the Minds Festival celebrates National Mental Health Week

The Art of the Minds Festival is back next month with a jam-packed calendar of events to celebrate National Mental Health Week and raise awareness for mental health on the Surf Coast and Geelong.

Art of the Minds is a not-for-profit, volunteer-run organisation with a mission to activate, educate and engage the Surf Coast and wider community to creatively manage mental health and wellbeing.

The organisation’s 2022 edition of its annual festival will be between October 9-16.

President and founder Jules Haddock said the festival was a unique opportunity to share their message to a broad audience that wouldn’t usually attend educational events.

“I started Art of the Minds Festival with my own exhibition in 2015, and each year we’ve added more and more people, and community groups and businesses.

“The core message is destigmatising mental health and educating people. And this model helps us use these platforms to really engage with people who might not otherwise engage with this content.

“It’s all about not losing our mission; to reduce stigma and normalise the experience of mental illness across all ages and demographics of the population.”

This year, the Art of the Minds Festival coincides with National Mental Health Week, starting with the Starry Starry Night Fundraising Ball at Mt Duneed Estate on October 1 to support Foundation 61.

Haddock said the Mental Wellbeing Community Award announced at the ball would recognise local community groups, services or businesses who excel in their mental wellbeing support.

Events this year include:

• ‘If The Body Could Talk’, a raw and honest exhibition and performance exploring struggles and celebrations of body image
• Big Boys Breakfast, a special World Mental Health Day event focusing on men’s mental health with special guest speakers Majak Daw and Wayne Wigham
• The Surf Coast Song Contest, now in its fourth year
• A day-long wellbeing retreat, packed with music, qi gong (gentle tai chi), movement to breath, yoga, guided meditation, yin yoga, and ending with a delightful bath of healing
• Epic Glow Up & Get Down Neon Dance Party
• Workshops, panel discussions, research-led conversations and much more.

Art of the Minds marketing manager Judith Ortmann said the uniqueness of this festival was something most areas and councils did not have and should not be taken for granted.

“You look at what’s going on in other places in the country, and they don’t have access to a week-long event with education, celebration, free events, art music and all of that, where businesses and community groups are all coming together.

“The festival is affordable and accessible, and it reaches all age groups, we have activities for children and something for the elderly, activities crossing the arts, wellbeing events, music events, education, professional development, performance and dance, and even a kids’ open mic event this year, and research with Deakin University, it’s really very exiting and very broad.

“That is something is really unique to our region that we have access to.

“If you break your arm, you go to the doctor. It’s important for us to know, too, what happens when we’re mentally not feeling so well, we know where to go for help, it’s all about normalising talking about it and having those challenging conversations.”

For more information or to book tickets, head to artoftheminds.org.au

The Roswell Greys will play a free show at Mavis Mavis during the festival.