Kent County Council host ‘Art in Mind’ exhibition on mental health.

Kent County Council is hosting an exhibition named ‘Art in Mind’ to raise awareness in the lead up to World Mental Health Day on October 10. The aim of the exhibit is to highlight the therapeutic value of art in managing mental health issues.

The exhibition can be found at the County Hall Gallery in Maidstone and is open to visitors between 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, until October 11.

Organisations from all across Medway have chosen to take part including, Mind, Wave, Take Off Works, Deal Therapeutic Community, INTRA Rochester and The Blackthorn Trust. Those showcasing their talent vary from teens to those in their mid 50s. Most use the services provided by these local mental health charities and have submitted their work through them. However, a handful of individuals chose to submit their artwork independently.  

Exhibition organiser, Paul Jerome, explains that the exhibit offers a chance for those contributing to feel proud of themselves and articulate how they are feeling. He says, “it’s an enjoyable thing to do and gives them pride and builds confidence regardless of ability.”  Adding, “One in four of us will experience mental health issues at some point during our lives and our exhibition is a chance to show how art can be a very positive outlet for people to use their creativity and express themselves.”

One particular example of this was a man named Billy who chose to hand in work independently to any organisation. Jerome explains, “he never would’ve thought about showing his work before, it’s only been in the last six months that his confidence has grown enough so he can.”

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Walking around the gallery you can expect to find artwork in a variety of mediums. Most traditionally paintings or drawings on canvas but the gallery also features stained glass pieces, paper mache sculptures and vinyl stickers displayed in the gallery windows.

Much of the artwork takes inspiration from the local scenery of Kent but there is a mix of personal pieces too. Each piece of artwork is available to buy if the artist wishes to sell it and three pieces have already been sold so far with all proceeds going directly to the artist. 

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Although having done a similar type of art exhibition last year for those with learning difficulties Jerome explains he still found himself surprised by what artwork was produced. He says he expected the artwork to be darker due to the difficult nature of mental health issues but instead he found the opposite to be true. “I didn’t expect there to be so much light and hope.” 

In particular the vinyl stickers produced by those from the charity Mind shows this as a number of the stickers were designed to incorporate the semi colon. In the mental health community the semi colon can be used to symbolise when an individual could’ve chosen to end their life but decided not too.

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Jerome plans to continue on with the art gallery next year, hopefully curating another exhibit but shifting the focus to those suffering with dementia.  

Kent County Council is also organising another upcoming event for World Mental Health day on October 10 in the same location at Stone Hall and the gallery. You will be able to find stalls and food promoting good mental and physical wellbeing along with a pony therapy session where it will be possible to pet ponies to destress.