Issue 26

Open Up Arts Cymru

Open Up Arts Cymru was created to raise awareness of mental health issues and tackle discrimination in Wales.

The Open Up Arts Cymru is run by service users for service users and has called on talented artists from all over Wales to produce art work on a mental health theme, to stimulate thoughts and debate and to showcase the creativity and talent of people with experience of emotional distress.

The discriminating arts exhibition was held at Wales Millennium Centre Cardiff Bay, 12th - 29 June 2009. The exhibition was an eclectic collection of all forms of original artwork from paintings, photographs and sculpture, to digital art, pottery, creative writing and craft work.

Several people submitted their art work and one person was lucky enough to be selected for the exhibition. He attend the exhibition where he viewed his work and other artist work that was on display (see photo).

We have received feedback from the "Open Up Arts" coordinator Paul Shewell who thanked everybody for submitting their art work and commented that the exhibition has been a huge success. It is hoped that the exhibition will stage 4-5 events that will be held all over Wales.

Funding for the Open Up Arts Project hasn't been renewed but they are looking at continuing with the project. So keep producing artwork for future submissions.

SianD