Head & Heart is RRR’s first Mental Health focussed programme!

2020 has been a tough one to say the least and we could all use a little support navigating this hugely unpredictable time.

For World Mental Health Day 2020, RRR have put together an amazing line up over three days of Advocates, Artists and Art Psychotherapists to deliver a fantastic series of workshops and talks.

Art Psychotherapist Gail Calwell presents a workshop on brain development, wellbeing and emotional regulation with lots of artistic experimentation to boot! No creative experience necessary, this workshop will be focused on understanding ourselves and creative expression. During times of stress or dysregulation (hello, 2020), these techniques and resources will provide you with some practical support.

Artist and Advocate Deirdre McKenna from University of Atypical will deliver a talk on identifying individual access needs for disabled and D/deaf artists and how to best communicate them in artistic workspaces. There will be an open Q & A session for participants to field questions to Deirdre about how to empower themselves as artists.

The eminent Belfast poet and photographer Vanessa Ifediora revisits her first ever solo exhibition, Zone-In (2018), “a representation of recovery”. Vanessa presents a new virtual tour of Zone-In for RRR participants followed by a Q+A discussing everything from music, strangers, time, and of course, mental health.

We’ve all spent a significant amount of time indoors this year. Forager and Cook Clare McQuillan will discuss the health benefits of getting outdoors as well as what to look out for when on your walks at this time of year.

Silversmith Claire Mooney delivers a foil embossing workshop which will reflect on some of the mindful making process that exist in both contemporary and traditional craft practices in the Ulster Folk museum.

Brian Kielt is a visual artist who uses drawing and painting to explore trauma, memory and the perception of human experience. Brian will discuss his practice including his current exhibition with University of Atypical and the importance of art making in recovery.

In 2020 being able to survive the digital space is becoming increasingly more important. Hannah Sharp, Niamh Kelly and Sorcha Ní Cheallaigh will explore how social media can impact your relationship with yourself, how to explore and set digital boundaries, and what it means to exist as an artist in the digital space.

Numbers to take part in Head & Heart are limited so register now!

*A special RRR care parcel will be sent to those who register before 5th October.*

*Update* Due to high demand for places we have had to restrict care parcels to those who registered by 2nd October. Registration to join workshop and talks is still open. 

Feature image by Hannah Sharp.

Head & Heart has been co-curated by Sorcha Ní Cheallaigh & Stephen Millar