Our festival takes place across Scotland, with a diverse programme of events organised and delivered by communities, for communities. Today we shine a light on North Ayrshire’s packed programme.
Unless otherwise mentioned, all events in this overview take place at Harbour Arts Centre in Irvine.
North Ayrshire’s programme, masterminded by North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership, officially launches with their North Ayrshire Mental Health Arts Festival Launch on Wednesday 9 October. Hosted by comedian Billy Kirkwood, this celebratory event will showcase some of the exciting events – including theatre and musical performances – being delivered across the region this October.
Back after a successful outing in 2023, the Sunrise Walk invites Irvine residents to start the day right with an early morning stroll along the beach on Saturday 12 October. Embarking at Harbour Arts Centre, the walk will include opportunities to join in with photography, drumming and mindful colouring along the way.
If you fancy getting creative outdoors but not the early rise, join Michelle Connolly for Drum ‘n’ the Park, a fun and uplifting drumming experience in the beautiful surroundings of Irvine’s Eglinton Country Park on Friday 4 October.
Peers and students from North Ayrshire Wellbeing & Recovery College share their lived experiences of recovery, and its impacts on mental health, through a series of powerful events, including To Tell or Not to Tell on Tuesday 15 October. Here they team up with Scottish rapper and social commentator Darren McGarvey to explore the value and challenge of sharing a traumatic lived experience publicly.
Don’t miss moving musical Invisible by The Sunshine Club – a social club for people with an Acquired Brain Injury – on Sunday 20 October. When their club is threatened with closure, members decide to raise funds by writing and performing a play which explores their lives and experiences with humour and music.
Our festival theme ‘In/Visible’ aims to address the impacts exclusion, discrimination and stigma can have on mental health. This is Me, an exhibition of art and poetry created by members of the gypsy traveller community, demonstrates the effects stigma has on people from an ethnic background, Wednesday 9 October. And audiences can learn about how to encourage greater inclusion for marginalised groups – and celebrate the lives and creativity of people with learning disabilities – at Can You See Me Yet? on Wednesday 23 October.
Kids will have the opportunity to get creative at Kilwinning Library’s In/Visible Ink Workshop on Monday 14 October, and at Experimental Printmaking Workshops on Wednesday 16 October in Irvine. Adults can engage in arts and crafts while accessing valuable guidance on debt, welfare rights and housing, and how they can impact mental health, at ReVisible: Seen, Heard, Empowered in Kilwinning on Thursday 24 October.
There are more events to explore, browse the full North Ayrshire programme and book tickets here.
