The Blooming Minds Club was an opportunity for young people with moderate to severe mental health difficulties to develop agency in both art and life. Its ambition was the implementation of an arts and health programme situated at Creative Spark Dundalk in partnership with CAMHS mental health professionals.

The Blooming Minds Club was a service to support partnership working and cross-sectoral cooperation (Healthy Ireland, 2023). In addition to clinical care situated at CAMHS, community mental health assets address the wider determinants of wellness, particularly in relation to lifestyle choices and healthy behaviours (Healthy Ireland, 2023).

The club was co-produced by Creative Spark, a centre for innovation located in Dundalk, County Louth and CAMHS services in Louth and Meath for the purpose of offering art studio experiences for young people with lived experiences of mental health challenges. As creatives these young people have developed a portfolio of artistic skills through a series of art courses facilitated by local artists.

The Blooming Minds Club was voluntarily attended by young people who were self-referred in liaison with mental health professionals from CAMHS services. Participants became part of Creative Spark’s community of artists, designers and makers and thrived on the ethos of Creative Spark to activate potential and to help people to realise their ideas and ambitions.

This project was funded by the Creative Ireland Programme under the Creative Youth Nurture Fund Pilot which ran from 2023 – 2025. The pilot supported organisations and individuals that could reach groups of young people that are seldom heard to nurture their creative passions and ignite their creative potential.