Art in Mind
We are delighted to have news from Sarah Hay, who is a member of Art in Mind, about the immensely valuable work they do with people who may never have realised what abilities they have.
ART IN MIND is an Arran community project set up in 2004, that aims to introduce local people with mental health and/or social isolation problems to Art, Creativity and Self-expression, helping them gain in confidence and self-worth. At that time, the statutory services could not meet this need, but now, Art in Mind takes referrals through the Mental Health Team on the island.
Felicity Walker, a professional artist from the mainland, comes over to the weekly Friday class, to teach and support members with their artistic efforts, helping the class immensely. Artworks are often entered into the Arran Visual Arts and Brodick Castle Exhibitions, and have sold, (a wonderful boost to your confidence – to feel someone appreciates your creativity.) It’s a proof of the major role Felicity plays within the class, and no mean feat, as there is a large social element and gathering us up from various chatting haunts can be a task!
The atmosphere is relaxed, friendly and supportive, and those who come soon get to know it is a safe place, and you can discuss “stuff ” in your head or going on in your life freely and without judgement. Also there can be a really industrious atmosphere, not to mention frequent doses of laughter! Time can be spent in group activity or doing your own “thing”, with Felicity near by for help, support and advice, often achieving great results and finding hidden talents.
A very important aspect of Art in Mind is the understanding that people can often feel ill, low, scared and very alone. It can be a real effort to come to the group, but the atmosphere is such that you come away feeling you’ve achieved something that day, and maybe you’re not so alone.
We have a number of volunteers who help those who need support, especially when we get adventurous and try some more complicated mediums or methods of art and creativity! They also help with transport, to and from the group. A core membership of the class comes each week for companionship and enjoyment in creativeness, meeting up for coffee and a chat after the class, but since Art in Mind started, there have been many people for whom the group fulfilled a passing need. When they gained the support, confidence and sense of self-worth they needed, they could move forward with their lives. It’s lovely to see them when they pop in for a coffee, or occasionally feel the need to come back for a while.
Art in Mind has been going strong for over nine years now, and still has the capacity to help in many ways. It provides people with a sense of belonging, friendship and purpose, helping some to move on and make difficult choices in their life and others to face a very different life altogether, all with a feeling of self-worth and being capable of contributing to the community in which they live.
How does it work? Is it the art and creativity, the members, those who organise and teach, the volunteers, the beautiful situation where we meet? (Brodick Rangers Centre, in the Castle grounds.) Personally, I think it’s a truly lucky combination of all these things. If I could pop the atmosphere and the essence of empathy in poly-bags and send them all over the country, I would!
Greg Allison, my Community Psychiatric Nurse, referred me to the first meeting of the class in 2004, I had to take early retirement in 1995, and by 2004 had managed to crawl out of a very black, hard and painful place, to realise I didn’t feel much like “me” anymore, and was really scared of life most of the time. I didn’t want to go to another “self-help” group, but was persuaded!
Thank you Greg and Art in Mind, I am in a much gentler place in my life!
Sarah Hay
Art in Mind member
