The Mental Health Foundation has been awarded Multi-Year Funding from Creative Scotland towards the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival over the next three years.

This funding will support our programme which aims to present innovative, diverse, and accessible arts and mental health events across Scotland. The annual festival will include a multi-arts showcase, new commissions, international film awards and screenings, and our writing competition.

It will also enable us to build on work we have been doing in recent years to enhance our regional programming model, better support artists who make work about mental health, and promote good practice in the arts and mental health in Scotland.

Gail Aldam, Arts and Events Manager at the Mental Health Foundation said:

We are delighted to share that we have received Multi-Year Funding from Creative Scotland for the first time, with a grant of £298,153 over three years. Along with support from our partners, this will allow the Mental Health Foundation to continue to build on our work in the arts and mental health in Scotland, including the annual Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival.

The festival will celebrate its 20th year in 2026 and the stability that this longer term funding brings is vital as we continue to connect and form collaborations with artists and communities across Scotland, celebrate the artistic achievements of people with experience of mental health problems, challenge stigma and perceptions, and encourage participation in the arts to promote good mental health for all.

The Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival will return in October 2025, with full dates and our festival theme to be announced soon.