Festival features song contest

EXCITEMENT is building for the remainder of this year’s Art of the Minds Festival and there is no sign of things slowing down.

Music lovers will enjoy the return of the Surf Coast Song Contest on October 29. The annual event boasts an amazing line-up of exceptional local musicians, who will showcase their Songs of Hope and Wellbeing. The winner will walk away with a professional recording of the winning song.

Another key event is this year’s Connected Communities education day. The aim of the day is to bring together mental health professionals and community-based leaders in the field to equip us with knowledge and skills to better support ourselves and the people we care about. The day is broken up into five webinars, allowing attendees to pick and choose the events they are most interested in attending.

Another free event not to be missed is Finding the Right Mental Health Professional, held by Geelong-based clinical psychologist Chris Mackey and Mental Health Educator Jules Haddock.
Chris Mackey has 40 years’ clinical experience including 10 years as a Senior Clinical Psychologist at the Geelong and Heidelberg Repatriation Hospitals. Chris recently received the 2019 Australian Allied Health Impact Award for his clinical research, media involvement and for authoring a book on positive psychology and synchronicity: He is also well known as a presenter of the television show Destination Happiness.

Art of the Minds is also presenting their annual art exhibition, which is going virtual this year. The theme for this year’s exhibition is Gratitude and addresses how we have much to be grateful for despite the increased impact of COVID-19 on our community’s mental health.

The exhibition has seen artists impacted by mental illness express their thoughts and provide insight into their individual recovery, wellbeing, and therapy. The exhibition has also helped artists open up, change and grow through the experience of exhibiting, connecting with others of lived experience or family and friends, and having their work affirmed by the public and wider audience. The exhibition can be viewed on the Art of the Minds’ YouTube channel and Facebook page.

In light of this year’s pandemic, Art of the Minds has also created a Walk 4 The Mind Strava group for individuals to join their weekly challenges by simply logging their walks or run.

“We are thrilled to have added this activity to this year’s program to encourage community members to actively manage and monitor their physical and mental wellbeing. I encourage everyone in the region to join our Walk 4 The Mind group to support our cause and the mental wellbeing in our community,” Art of the Minds president, Mrs Haddock said.

Art of the Minds will also be offering a unique Mind, Yoga and Music Workshop for children, teens and their parents. This carefully-designed workshop program is led by the world-renowned violinist, educator, yogi and mindfulness/meditation advocate Dunja Lavrova. The online workshops have been tailored to diverse groups aged 7+ and 14+ but are also suitable for adults of all ages, who are ready to be spontaneous, creative and just go with the flow. Parents of the younger children are encouraged to participate with them and the older children can partake alone or invite a friend for company.

The Festival will finish off with a Mad Hatter’s dinner party at Il Matto’s in Torquay, celebrating the delicious aromas and flavours of Italy. There will be live music on the street, Dunja Lavrova will be serenating diners with her violin and more entertainment to add to the fun.
For event details, visit artoftheminds.org.au or follow the Art of the Minds Facebook or Instagram page for updates.