August - November 2022

The Institute of Mental Health once again teamed up with Nottingham charity City Arts to launch an online exhibition, Re-Imagine.

Re-Imagine was the first in a series of four online exhibitions, each exploring young people’s experience of mental health issues. The series showcased artwork by a mix of UK-based and international artists aged 13-25.

Young people face growing uncertainty and new pressures. These artworks variously express feelings of depression and anxiety. Some capture the experience of intrusive thoughts. Many of the exhibited works attempt to depict a safe place, real or imaginary, a refuge from dark thoughts.

Artwork was submitted in response to an open call which asked for work that responds creatively to the theme of mental health. The artwork was selected by a panel of young people.

The work in this exhibition was submitted in early 2020, before the full gravity of the COVID-19 pandemic had become apparent and before the war in Ukraine.

The exhibition was viewed online from 1^st – 31^st August 2022 on the City Arts website: https://city-arts.org.uk/event/20169/re-imagine/

Since 1977, City Arts has collaborated with communities and artists to create and explore art of all kinds – from music to writing, from drawing to dance. Through its work, City Arts promotes inclusivity and access to great art as a basic human right. Exhibitions with the Institute of Mental Health builds on its proud history of supporting people with mental health issues to express themselves creatively. City Arts is a registered charity and is supported by Arts Council England and Nottingham City Council.