Valley festival will be a first
STEFAN JAJECZNYK
AFESTIVAL which aims to raise awareness of issues and stigma surrounding mental health will be held in the Valley for the first time.
The East Lancashire Recovery College and Stubbylee Community Greenhouses in Bacup will be hosting the Mad Pride festival, described as a celebration of ‘Mad Culture’.
The event, which will be held at Stubbylee Park on the weekend of September 29-30, will showcase film, art, music, theatre and dance.
All of the performances and workshops will be addressing issues relating to mental health. Organisers hope to demonstrate that mental illness does not take away anybody’s creativity or intellect.
The artists and performers will be a mix of new and established artists - all of which have used their art as part of ongoing therapy for a variety of mental health issues.
Organiser Ben Millward from East Lancs Recovery College (ELRC), said: ”One in three people will go to their GP to report issues of mental health. It is something that affects us all and there is still a stigma attached.
“Through this festival we want to show people what they can do, and how they can improve their conditions.”
Prior to the weekend festival, there will be free workshops in music, poetry and the visual arts run by the ELRC and participants will be able to perform, or have their work exhibited, at the ‘Mad Pride’ weekend.
Ben said: “The exhibitors are all people who have taken ownership of their diagnosis. An event like this is designed to show that mental illness doesn’t make anyone any less human or intelligent. A mental illness is something we have not something we are.”
Ben explained that mental illness is often ignored as it is not always immediately obvious.
He says, by contrast, that most people will go out of their way to help someone with a cast on their leg as it is clear that they have a problem.
This will be the first time the ELRC have hosted this event, which was started over 25 years ago, and it will be the only event of its kind this year in the North West.
Ben said: “It’s all taking place at Stubbylee community greenhouses and we’re expecting people from all over the region to attend.”
For more information on the Mad Pride festival please email elrc@ stubbyleecg.org ●● Father Terry Murnane of St James’ Church; Ragu Moddia, manager at The Lindens; Deputy Mayor Coun Ann Kenyon; headteacher Frances Brady and guest Krysia Lodziewski