Our Vision Our Voice 2023 project is the continuation of a 6 year collaboration between Mullingar Mental Health Association, the HSE Mental Health Services (service users and Occupational Therapy staff) and visual artist Rosaleen Heavin. It is one of the coproduced inclusive programmes provided to help a diverse group of people on their journey of recovery and making the arts accessible as there are many barriers facing this group. It is achieved by encouraging their abilities, helping them to learn a new skill, promoting independence and inclusion.

The OVOV programme will explore through the arts the meaning of climate action and sustainability for those with a lived experience of having a mental illness in Midlands Ireland in 2023.

Participants will be people of all ages attending the mental health services in Westmeath. The aim of this intergenerational project is to make art accessible, create an awareness of the arts and how it can become a part of people’s lives and will also ask the viewer to question their attitudes towards climate action and sustainability for this group. Through the arts, participants will reflect and create their lived experience of the sustainability of the environment and its relationship to the sustainability of their wellbeing. Through the arts, participants will be given an opportunity on meaningful changes and practical solutions that can be made.

Please note that the details of events listed above are provided by the relevant Local Authorities.