This multi-media exhibition – showcasing work made through OutPost Arts’ adult Art Journal and youth Creative Toolbox projects at Dumfries & Galloway Royal Infirmary – enables participants to make their personal journeys visible to a wide audience, amplifying their voices and underlining the important relationship between creativity and mental health.

Forty-five people aged 11+, who live across Dumfries & Galloway, received a curated box of arts materials. Over several months, they worked with artists and makers via workshops and creative research trips to explore a wide range of visual arts practises and processes, including printmaking, clay, animation, illustration, colour theory, theatre-making, sound design and creative writing. The project’s activities are designed to enhance wellbeing via social connection, creative expression and the development of creative self-management tools.

The exhibition can be viewed at the atrium and outpatient department corridor exhibition space at Dumfries & Galloway Royal Infirmary.

Art Journal Project and Creative Toolbox are key strands of OutPost Arts’ community-based DG Creative Wellbeing programme. OutPost Arts have developed these creative prescribing projects with D&G Carers Centre, CAHMS, D&G College, schools, and partner community arts organisation, ensuring that participant’s needs are clearly identified.

These two projects are supported by Dumfries & Galloway NHS Endowment Fund, National Lottery Community Fund, Communities Mental Health & Wellbeing Fund, Holywood Trust and Robertson Trust.