Our Vision Our Voice 2023 exhibition to open on Friday

Twenty five people from the midlands have benefited from Our Vision Our Voice 2023, an art project for both youths and adults.

This year the project seeks to explore through a variety of media, such as photography, painting, ceramics, writing and video, the recovery journey as a lived experience by mental health service users in the midlands of Ireland in 2023, creating an artistic response to common agreed topics in the area of mental health and recovery.

This multigenerational project is the result of a collaboration between visual artist Rosaleen Heavin, Mullingar Mental Health Association, HSE Mental Health Occupational Therapy Departments including; Adult Community, Child and Adolescent, Rehab and Recovery and St Loman’s in the Westmeath Longford area.

The project is funded this year by a Creative Ireland grant, through the Westmeath County Council Arts Office. Westmeath Arts have funded the project since its inception in 2018.

Through their exhibition this year the artists seek to explore sustaining mental health through sustaining the environment.

Over eight weeks, groups met at various locations in Mullingar to explore themes of sustainability and mental health, while as far as possible using recycled materials such as cardboard.

They have curated their work into an exhibition that seeks to inform viewers about the challenges and the positives the participants have experienced.

The exhibition will run in Mullingar Library on October 6-13; the official opening is on Tuesday October 10 at 5.30pm, when Martin Rogan, CEO of Mental Health Ireland, will perform the honours.

All are welcome to attend the opening or drop in and view the works during the week.