A textile artwork created by members of Cartwheel Arts' Art & Soul group in Rochdale has been selected for a national online exhibition.
The group is now appealing for public votes ahead of the closing date on Friday 26 June in the hope of securing a £400 prize.
A Stitch in Time, a collaborative artwork produced by members of Art & Soul, has been chosen for A Response to Mental Health, an online exhibition hosted by the Chinwe Russell Art Gallery.
The piece was created in response to the question of what best supports mental health and wellbeing. Using fabric and pen, contributors highlighted the role of art, nature and community in supporting their wellbeing.
The work was produced during a difficult period for the group following the death of member Pat Clarke. Participants used the project as a way to share memories, support one another and express their feelings through creativity. The project was facilitated by artist Alex Blakey.
Selection for the exhibition means the artwork will be viewed by a national audience and forms part of a wider conversation around mental health, wellbeing and the role of the arts.
Molly Stedman, Arts for Wellbeing Programme Co ordinator at Cartwheel Arts, said: "The artists who attend Art & Soul face many barriers to engaging with more traditional art spaces and exhibitions. We're so excited that the voices of artists with a mental health diagnosis are being championed in this way, so please do vote for us."
One Art & Soul artist said: "It means the world to us to be included in this exhibition. A Stitch in Time came from a really emotional place, it was our way of supporting each other, and to see it celebrated on a national stage is something we're all incredibly proud of. But it's bigger than us. Mental health still carries a stigma, and not enough people know how powerful creativity can be in supporting their wellbeing. We hope this puts Art & Soul and Rochdale on the map, and helps more people understand that art isn't a luxury, it's something that can genuinely change how you feel and how you cope."
If the group wins the public vote, the £400 prize will be used to fund a gallery visit for participants. Cartwheel Arts said the trip would help address barriers that can prevent people from accessing arts and cultural experiences.
Art & Soul is a regular visual arts group that supports mental health and wellbeing through creative activities. The group meets on Wednesdays and offers a space for participants to develop confidence, build connections and explore creativity.
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