COMMUNITY groups and organisations in Dumfries and Galloway are being encouraged to tackle mental health stigma and discrimination through the arts.
The Anti-Stigma Arts Fund – run by See Me, Scotland’s programme to end mental health stigma and discrimination – is now open for the third year, accepting applications from constituted groups or organisations.
Research has shown that the arts can offer a powerful platform to share experiences, and show what the reality is for people living with mental health problems.
Previous projects included a comic book created with trans and non-binary participants, a film about men’s mental health and suicide, a public information comic created with young women who have experienced abuse and homelessness, animations made by people with experience of severe and enduring mental health problems, and many others.
This year, for the 2023 fund, proposals are encouraged from groups or organisations working in Scotland with an arts project in any medium that aims to tackle mental health stigma and discrimination. Grants of between £500 to £5,000 will be awarded up to three to four projects.
See Me would like to fund projects that are led by or collaborate with people from traditionally marginalised communities which include those with protected characteristics, or those who have experienced social inequities like poverty.
Partnership working between organisations and creative practitioners is encouraged for these projects and applications must demonstrate they have or can can access the necessary skills to take the project forward.
Projects must meaningfully involve people with lived experience of mental health problems and must be led by and/or engage with marginalised groups.
n The deadline to apply is midnight on Sunday 21 January. More information on the application process can be found on the See Me website.
