Mental health festival returns
The countdown is on to this year’s Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival.
It kicks off next week, with many events taking place across Renfrewshire.
This year’s theme is Reclaim — an idea which has inspired a host of theatre, film, music, comedy, visual arts and literary events, which take place from Tuesday, October 10 till Sunday, October 29.
One highlight is Flint & Pitch — Jenny Lindsay’s popular spoken word and music night, which is taking place at Paisley Arts Centre on Wednesday, October 18 at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £6.
Another attraction is a photography exhibition in Paisley JobCentre on the High Street on Mindful Photography, which starts on Monday, October 16 from noon.
Buddy Beat, the popular drumming group, is celebrating its 10th birthday during the festival on Friday, October 13, from 1pm till 2.30pm in The Spiegelent, in County Square.
The festival is hosting a screening of Mad About Normal, a film starring Paisley’s own David Tennant as controversial Scottish psychiatrist R D Laing, who experimented with LSD on his patients in the 1960s and 1970s. This takes place on Tuesday, October 17, from 7.30pm, in Paisley Arts Centre and the film will be followed by a discussion.
Sunshine Recovery Cafe is opening its doors to experience how food, poetry and music can contribute to people’s recovery.
The event will feature a free buffet and open mic performances from Sunshine Recovery Cafe’s Creative Writing Group and Paisley Guitar Group and take place on Wednesday, October 18 in St Matthew’s Church, from 1.30pm from 3pm.
Paisley Camcorder Club is hosting a night called Renfrewshire Restored at the Arts Centre featuring local films bringing the past back to life on Wednesday, October 25, from 7pm to 9pm. Tickets cost £2.
Jeanette Allan, Renfrewshire Mental Health Arts Festival lead and lead occupational therapist, said:“The programme which runs from October 10 — World Mental Health Day — has 35 events covering all genres and art forms, including poetry in eight train stations and a film programme at St Matthew’s.
“We are also excited about screening the film‘Mad to be Normal’in Paisley Arts Centre.”
For more information on what’s on where and when, pick up a programme from Paisley Arts Centre or the town hall or search for Renfrewshire Mental Health Arts Festival on Facebook.
You can also visit www.mhfestival. com