Ashford Place will hold its Mental Health Music & Arts Festival on the back of its successful event in September last year, which attracted more than 200 attendees for a day of performances and discussions.
Taking place this month at the Kiln Cinema in Kilburn High Road, the health and wellbeing organisation plans to reach more people and offer a wider variety of entertainment.
The programme is set to feature spoken word, poetry, live music, and additional art forms that celebrate the healing power of creativity.
The line-up for the day includes a singalong with Jamie Whelligan, performances by the Ashford Place and Songs of Joy choirs, and poetry from Daniel Tobias Behan and Ronald Ferguson.
There will also be a set by the Strung Out guitar band, a piano performance by John Asher, as well as traditional Irish music by Karen Ryan & musicians and magic by Ady Lloyd.
Interactive question and answer (Q&A) sessions will follow the performances, during which the artists will discuss how creative practice supports their wellbeing and provide practical advice for others on their mental health journeys.
The festival is a part of Ashford Place’s mission to promote the arts as a ‘transformative pathway to mental health recovery’, advocating for a more community-led approach alongside traditional mental health services.
By doing so, it aims to show the tangible benefits of the arts in mental health recovery. Aside from individual wellbeing, Ashford Place aspires to influence decision-makers towards closing gaps in statutory mental health services.
