Creativity, conversation and connectedness is the focus of a new collaboration between renowned Brisbane art studio Cork & Chroma and Anglicare’s Arts&Minds initiative. Arts&Minds aims to get more people in the community talking about mental health and wellbeing through art and conversation. Over the past two years, it has prompted thousands of people to think and talk about their own wellbeing, while raising money to support Anglicare’s work with vulnerable Queenslanders.
To give more people a chance to connect with others through the artistic process, Cork & Chroma is hosting monthly Arts&Minds art and conversation sessions at its South Brisbane studio. Launching August 1, the sessions will feature an Arts&Minds artist and will be a space to talk freely about art and mental health. The first session features emerging artist Spectator Jonze. The session will be led by a Cork & Chroma Artist, who will teach participants about the basics of acrylics on canvas. By the end of each evening, all participants will have created a unique artwork to take home and no prior artistic experience is required.
Anglicare’s Arts&Minds initiative, now in its second year, paired established Australian artists with emerging artists who have experienced mental health challenges. During a joint studio session, they shared their perspectives and stories about mental health and wellbeing while each creating an artwork that is auctioned for charity. In 2018 more than 1.1 million people saw the campaign on the goa digital billboard network, 600,000 streamed and watched the five-part web series and more than $30,000 was raised to support Anglicare’s work with vulnerable people.
Anglicare Southern Queensland Executive Director Karen Crouch said it was the community’s enthusiasm to get involved with Arts&Minds that led to the collaboration. “During our campaign this year we received hundreds of messages from people who wanted to know how they could get involved,” Ms Crouch said. “We thought Cork & Chroma’s model of giving people the chance to be creative in an inclusive and relaxed environment was a perfect fit so we approached them about running some sessions. We hope this will allow more people to connect, talk and be themselves while they enjoy painting.”
Readers may also be interested in this story on children’s art.
