LET THE ARTS IMPROVE...
www.icenimagazine.co.uk
ISSUE 87 2020
Let The Arts Improve Your Mental Health And Wellbeing Many of us say that we’re not creative. We become clumsy, awkward, embarrassed at the prospect of trying and perhaps making a fool of ourselves. But I’m guessing many of us are more creative than we realise. I bet we’ve doodled, danced, sang along or drawn a diagram at times to illustrate a point. Tapping into comfortable ways of enjoying the arts can be an effective way to improve our mental health and wellbeing. Access to the arts is becoming increasingly easier. Many art galleries and museums are free to enter, so enabling us to see amazing works of art first-hand. Many talented musicians practise their craft as street entertainers, getting used to audiences whilst earning a little money. Arts channels and diverse types of theatre are thriving, as are open mic nights where people can simply turn up and have a go. Often people in the arts are happy to raise awareness of different issues and provide shows to educate and inform or fund raise on their behalf. There are frequently exhibitions, concerts or expos that highlight mental health and wellbeing issues; loneliness, ageing, suicide, gender issues, bullying often utilise media like
art, music, dance, poetry to illustrate their important messages. Equally, some of the big names in music have recently opted to perform at smaller venues, offering cheaper tickets and a more intimate lounge setting, making it a very special, uplifting experience for all. And then there are the music apps which allow us to stream our favourite tracks and have music with us whenever we choose. Let’s look at some other ways to benefit from being involved in the arts, for those of us who don’t want to get up on stage and perform. Painting is the most visual of the arts and we can brighten our lives and homes with the prints and original pieces for sale on markets or at colleges, or even by making our own amateur pieces or displaying those done by the children in our lives. Unique choices of craftwork, pottery, mosaics and glassware can add a personal touch and make our homes all the more homely. Amateur dramatic groups are often looking to recruit new members to help out behind the scenes. Being involved in set design, wardrobe, prompting or joining in a more low-key way in
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