The Fine Art to Wellbeing

This free 3-week course is designed for people 16+ who are experiencing mental health issues that are holding them back in the here and now. To fully benefit from the social aspect and the information we will provide you with you need to be living in Coventry and Warwickshire. Please note that this is not a training course for professionals.

The course will give you a good introduction to Art techniques that you can use to reduce stress, anxiety and depression and will also introduce you to creative self-help strategies to improve mental well-being. We run these online sessions much like our in-person workshops where we talk you through aspects of mental health followed by easy step by step instructions and support through each stage.

November course dates: 9.11 / 16.11. / 23.11. (3 Mondays 12:30pm-2:30pm)

This is a practical course and suits any skills level as there is no right or wrong in the way we will create Art. During the three sessions you will explore how Art can help you look at things from a fresh perspective, to better understand your own thoughts and feelings, and map a different way forward. We will guide you through creative exercises step by step and there is no pressure as there is no defined image you need to achieve by the end of the workshop.

What you will need for this course:

1. complete the registration which is simply your name and email address, you will be sent your unique Zoom link to the course before the course starts. We assure you it is safe, secure and reputable! Your unique access information is for your use only and is specific to the session you have booked.

2. PC, Smartphone or Tablet (iOS or Android) with a camera and microphone.

3. An internet (WiFi/Data) connection. The speed of your internet connection can affect the quality of the workshops, so please be aware – but this is something Arty-Folks has no control over!

4. Art materials: white A4 paper, pencil, colour pencils or felt tips, scissor, any glue or a glue stick, newspaper or magazine.

What you will learn:

The focus of this course is not on teaching traditional art skills, but on experiencing how mental stress can be relieved through art and to encourage creativity in every day life. We will show you how to relax and channel your mental energy through drawing, to express yourself through your own visual language and colour, and how to cultivate ‘me-time’ to escape from the stresses and strains of life for a few hours, and most importantly to connect to other like-minded people.

The course is co-produced by arts practitioners and members of Arty-Folks with a lived experience of mental ill health.

This Art of Relaxation taster video on Youtube will give you a good introduction to the 3 week course, to Arty-Folks and how we work. It includes full instructions how to make your own dream catcher. For more information about us visit www.arty-folks.org.uk