Tannahill Makar Brian Whittingham looks at the life of Paisley poet Robert Tannahill and the impact that Tannahill’s lifelong mental health problems had on his work.

As part of TH.CARS2, this exhibition of woven textiles has been made by a group of participants from the STAR Project, Phoenix Activity Group, RAMH, InCube, the DRC, and KAIROS with support from Glasgow Clyde College weaving tutor Amy Bond.

As part of TH.CARS2, join professional weaver Amy Bond for a drop-in weaving workshop.

Music and dance performance by various artists.

A showcase of talents and skills from workshops and group activities within the Sunshine Recovery Café.

Join Renfrewshire’s award winning The Buddy Beat for a morning of rhythm and wellbeing.

This concert by acclaimed harpist Rachel Hair brings modern and traditional music to elevate the atmosphere of the Royal Alexandra Hospital.

A great opportunity to try Circle Dancing in Paisley. Circle Dancing is a collection of dances and music from around the world. Some of the dances are traditional and some are choreographed. The dances have a wide variety of form and mood, from slow and meditative to the frankly energetic and celebratory but all are inclusive and welcoming for people of all ages. Come along to this introductory session, give it a try and if you enjoy it you can join in the weekly classes in the same venue.

Create Café is a free safe creative space for 12-21-year olds to express themselves through music or art and connect with friends.

Join the Renfrewshire Carers Centre for a gentle dance fitness session that connects diverse movements, great music and good vibes. Suitable for all levels and abilities.

Open youth drop-in space aiming to promote mental health awareness and empower young people to maintain their own positive mental health.

Join other gaming enthusiasts in the Festival Hub for two afternoons of board game workshops. A range of fun and strategy games will be on offer, with enthusiasts at hand to introduce you to new, exciting worlds. With Renfrewshire Libraries gaming groups.  

Join us in exploring the role that faith and spirituality have in promoting or maintaining mental health and how connections within faith communities can provide hope for the future.

As part of TH.CARS2, a daylong exploratory workshop for beginners and refreshers in hand knitting led by professional knitter Rosie Little.

Artist in Residence, Jim Buchanan, will be demonstrating the mental health benefits of labyrinth creation. These are creative workshops, aimed to increase confidence and wellbeing. No previous knowledge of labyrinths required. #FindingYourself

Artist Jim Buchanan will be creating a labyrinth of light for people to walk and practice mindfulness.

It’s World Labyrinth Day, when people from across the world join together to walk labyrinths. STAR Project are inviting you to walk their outdoor, temporary labyrinth in Fountain Gardens and Walk as One at 1pm as part of their #FindingYourself project.

In this interactive origami workshop, you will learn how to create several different paper sculptures. We will also look at how the Japanese culture approaches health and wellbeing through interaction with nature.

Participants must supply their own paper, scissors, pen or pencil, and a ruler. Standard plain or coloured paper is suitable for this activity. Newspaper and magazines can also be used.

For ages 12+, although younger children may attend with an adult. Booking is essential.

Event showcasing arts project Fundamental Conduit who mix spoken word and music to create an exciting show which promotes positive mental health for all participants.

You are invited to the Renfrewshire Mental Health Arts Festival launch event, which kicks off the festival in style and gives a taste of events to come.

Columnist and author Shari Lowe will discuss her book Because Mummy Said So! a funny collection of features about family life. Complimentary Prosecco, cupcakes and chocolate will be served along with therapy sessions courtesy of Eve Spa. Refreshments and therapies included with entry.

Six weeks of free ukulele and happiness lessons. Come and learn the happiest little instrument in the world along with tips and techniques to improve mood, boost energy and fill your life with joy.

For ages 12+, although younger children may attend with an adult. You will need your own ukulele. Please contact [email protected] if you need help with this.

Find out more about The Well Happy Band on their Facebook page.

Pupils and staff will present an evening of entertainment featuring the Kibble Band, short films, dance and musical theatre. 

Join us for fun and games to celebrate World laughter Day 2021. Learn how to use laughter for better health, happiness, and connection.

For ages 12+, although younger children may attend with an adult. Booking is essential.

Come along for Laughter Yoga with Well Happy to celebrate World Laughter Day. A stress-busting afternoon of mirth and mischief with a little relaxation to help you unwind. All ages welcome.

Interactive talk and laughter yoga from Well Happy, followed by a creative mask making session.

Listen and learn event for people to engage in a discussion exploring the importance of wellbeing, good mental health, and feeling connected and belonging in recovery paths.

Throughout SMHAF, Renfrewshire Libraries will highlight resources available in support of mental health through our website.

Find inspiration and support through reading, poetry, arts and crafts sessions for families as well as links to other resources.

Our annual visual art exhibition, Mindspace will take place in window displays across Paisley this May.

Look out for the amazing album covers that were painted throughout lockdown, reminding us of the power of music to provide a sense of wellbeing and normality.

An Open Art Exhibition which celebrates wellbeing and creativity. Artworks on display represent the work of local art groups and artists who recognise the value of creativity to their wellbeing or who have used art as part of their recovery to health.

An exhibition of digital imagery and film by Peer Focus Recovery Photography Group which explores Paisley's mechanised industrial past. The work was made in collaboration with artists from the Threadlines Project, part of Renfrewshire Council’s Paisley TH.CARS2 regeneration programme.

As part of TH.CARS2, a daylong beginners' workshop exploring natural dyeing techniques led by textile artist Gillian Steel.

Renfrewshire Libraries launch their new online book group with The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, author of How to Stop Time and The Humans.

This is a poignant, unique novel about regret, hope and forgiveness - and a library that houses second chances. It has been described as It's a Wonderful Life for the modern age.

Copies of the book can be borrowed online in advance from Renfrewshire Libraries.

Follow Renfrewshire libraries on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

A youth-curated strand of SMHAF based in Paisley. The festival explores youth mental health through everything from music, film and art, to theatre, poetry, and journalism.

Art for the feart! Easy to learn pastel making of a landscape.

Learn how to build a painting using pastels, using easy to follow instructions. It helps to build confidence just to have a go at something new. The results will delight.  

This session will take place on Zoom and a link will be sent by email. You will need a small packet of pastels and paper you can draw onto – either standard paper or pastel paper.

Annual poetry exhibition across the station platforms of Renfrewshire.

An exhibition of poetry which celebrates positive mental health and wellbeing on the festival theme of Connected. Poetry will be on public display across nine station platforms in Renfrewshire and Inverclyde.

Join us for an evening of spoken word in which local poets share their own reflections on the last year of lockdown and each pick their favourite poem from the public’s submissions to our annual poetry exhibition, Passing Time.

A chance to reflect meaningfully on the theme of Normality? and what that means for each one of us.

Create your own textured postcard telling someone or everyone what you want them to know about mental health.

Catherine McAtier, a Paisley embroidery and textile artist, had the idea a couple of years ago to create an art quilt and book of things about mental health that are worth knowing – from the inside out.

This event brings you the opportunity to create your own textured postcard with your message. Your piece can be added to the final quilt or book, or you can just save it for yourself or give it to the person you feel needs to know what you’ve shared.

You will be asked to book a one-hour slot during the day.

This event will take place in accordance with Scottish Government guidelines on Covid-19. This may lead to it taking place online via Zoom. Please visit this page or contact the organisers for up-to-date information.

Follow Catherine on Facebook and Instagram.

An in-house zine created by artists from Dykebar and Leverndale Hospitals which reflects on the nature of lockdown and wellbeing throughout this challenging year.

The zine will be available online and in local health centres.

With Pals of the Privies in Ferguslie and Families First in Gallowhill.

Sma’sh Hits and SHE SINGS have teamed up for an exciting online performance from Renfrewshire Musicians.

Sma’sh Hits is a Renfrewshire-based music collective that celebrates and discovers local talent. The collective meet every month and gives musicians the opportunity to collaborate, network, build a community & strengthen the scene.

SHE SINGS is a songwriting group for young women aged between 16 and 25 in Paisley with the wider aim of tackling the gender gap in the music industry while harnessing a sustainable collective of women who support each other through songwriting.

The two collectives have joined forces for RMHAF to showcase the songwriting talents of local Renfrewshire musicians who will explore themes of mental health throughout their performances.

Sma’sh Hits - #smashhitspaisley

Twitter - @PaisleyArts

Facebook - @PaisleyArtsCentre

Insta - @paisleyartscentre

As part of TH.CARS2, a daylong beginners' workshop in hand spinning led by fibre artist Laryna E Wuppermann.

A seminar as part of TH.CARS2 exploring the positive impact that textile making can have on people's sense of health and wellbeing. Presentations from Prof Jacqueline Atkinson, Dr Alison Mayne and Dr Anna Fisk will be followed by a discussion. Booking advised.

Kairos and Renfrewshire Libraries are bringing you The Kairos Self-Care Collective. Kairos mental health group have produced a poem about self-care and normality in lockdown.

We are asking for submissions from women and non-binary people on how you have maintained self-care during lockdown.

Please submit your art, crafts, photos, or written pieces to [email protected] The deadline for submissions is Tuesday 20 April.

Kairos Renfrewshire Facebook. 

#womensupportingwomen #selfcare #normalityinlockdown #creativity

Renfrewshire Anti-Stigma Alliance (RASA) invites you to our annual event to challenge discrimination and stereotyping, one conversation at a time.

A mindful afternoon on the theme of connectedness between ourselves, each other and the earth.

An Open Aye guided woodland photo walk, using the principles of Shinrin Yoku, or Forest Bathing. Try new photography techniques to explore creativity, the mind, and the great outdoors, sharing tea and healthy snacks under the trees. All abilities welcome. Booking essential.

Wellbeing of the Woods (WOW) is run by Open Aye, specialists in participatory photography projects. The workshops are sponsored and supported by Scottish Forestry.

The WOW project shows that everyone can benefit from being creative in a woodland environment. Taking photos in nature enables us to see things differently, makes us slow down, asks us to pay attention to our senses and encourages us to really appreciate our surroundings. Photo walking in the woods is a gentle activity, open to all and it’s free. It will relax and invigorate in equal measure. A great thing to do in the woods, whatever the weather!

Visit www.eco-ayes.co.uk for more information.

We are looking for people to share photography in the Peer Focus Facebook Group.

The SMHAF 2021 theme is Normality? and we are inviting you to share up to six images of objects or places that have helped you personally keep a sense of normality and wellbeing during this difficult time.

We will also be sharing some easy and fun DIY photographic processes on the site, from local artist photographer Melissa Mitchell.

An online poetry-writing workshop on the theme of birds, suitable for writers of all levels of ability.

Our mental health and wellbeing benefit when we nourish our connections to landscape, earth and nature. Delve into poetry and fiction by women writers including Amy Liptrot and Helen MacDonald and discover how creative writing about ecology and environment can empower and nurture.

This event is 18+ and women only. All women-only events are inclusive of Trans and Intersex women, as well as non-binary and gender fluid people.

This session is offered by Glasgow Women’s Library in partnership with Renfrewshire Mental Health Arts Festival and Kairos, Renfrewshire.