For the 10th time, Mental Health Art Week is happening all over Finland – and we’re excited to be part of it!
Art, culture and music can have a huge positive impact on mental health, and even more so when getting creative together with other people. Join one of our free workshops and experience how painting, singing or other techniques contribute to your wellbeing.
Mental Health Art Week is organized by MIELI. You can find out more about it here.
Please note: All our workshops are free of charge and open to everyone but require registration beforehand to allow for proper planning. Registration will be open mid-April.
Community Sing
Collaborative Vocal Improvisation Workshop
What?
This workshop is an opportunity to come and sing with others, to play with your voices, to listen and connect. This will be a brief glimpse into the world of Collaborative Vocal Improvisation, the art of co-creating vocal music in the moment. It will be entry level so those who want to test improvising as well as those who would simply like to sing along are all welcome. A sense of rhythm and the ability to sing in tune will suffice, no further singing experience is required.
Languages: English, Finnish
When?
Monday, 20.5.2024
18:00 – 19:30
Where?
Lapinlahden Lähde (Venezia house)
Lapinlahdenpolku 8
00180 Helsinki
Who?
Pia Hansen is a vocalist and community worker with a focus on enhancing people’s wellbeing by using the voice. She has an extensive background in the charity and community sector in London, specialising in homelessness. She has been writing and singing most of her life and 5 years ago took a deep dive into the world of Collaborative Vocal Improvisation (CVI) training.
Her training, done predominantly with Briony Greenhill and Guillermo Rozenthuler, included facilitating CVI work as well as singing for ceremony and ritual. Wishing to merge the worlds and passions of song and community work, she recently completed her diploma in Group Voice Arts Therapy from the British Institute of Sound Therapies. Her ancestors are Finnish and Danish.
She returned to her ancestral roots, moving to Finland from London in 2020 with her growing family.
Creative Workshop with Art Therapy Techniques
What?
Immerse yourself in our Creative Laboratory with Art Therapy Techniques, experience open to all aged 5 to 99, for an enriching 1.5-hour session. Regardless of age, delve into the transformative power of art to foster deeper connections with yourself and others. Through guided activities and free expression, through creativity, you can explore emotions, and cultivate a sense of well-being. Join us in welcoming space where artistic experiments guide you in a pathway to understanding, resilience, and growth. Together, let’s embrace the therapeutic potential of art!
Languages: English, Italian
When?
Friday, 24.5.2024
18:00 – 19:30
Where?
Lapinlahden Lähde (avointila)
Lapinlahdenpolku 8
00180 Helsinki
Who?
Giulia Lepori, a sociologist with a passion for mental health, brings expertise from research and studies to her creative workshops. With a focus on art therapy techniques, she offers transformative spaces for self-expression and healing. Join Giulia during Mental Health Art Week 2024 to explore together approaches to mental wellness through art.
What?
During this workshop, we will go through several ways and tools which can be used to identify, accept and express strong emotions (negative & positive).
By the end of this session, you will have a series of self-portraits in 4 different graphic techniques and the ability to use the acquired knowledge on a daily basis.
To have a healthy working self-care routine, a person needs to know what actions to take, when and why.
The workshops show you a way to easily adopt art therapy practice into your everyday life. Create a healthy emotional routine for yourself. The exercises do not consume big amounts of time and do not require expensive art tools.
Languages: English, Finnish
When?
Saturday, 25.5.2024
13:00 – 15:30
Where?
Nicehearts Ry office
Malmin raitti 17A
00700 Helsinki
Who?
Polina Nazariti is a professional rising artist from Finland. She specialises in a wide variety of art techniques, including acrylic paints, watercolours, papier-mâché, mixed media, and digital art, and has been practicing art therapy for 5 years. She is also a member of the Finnish Illustration Association (Kuvittajat).
Polina’s parents are both professional artists, so she comes from a dynasty of professional artists and craftsmen. She says, “Art is not my hobby or my job. It is my way of being.”
Connection through Lost Connection
Art Workshop
What?
In this art project, individuals will actively engage in self-discovery by challenging
themselves through the exploration of different materials, while they are guided by
facilitators. During the workshop, participants will leave their own artwork and
materials behind and move on to an art project that initiated by someone else. This
process encourages participants to face the difficulties and challenges of letting go to create an environment where they not only accept that their creations are temporary but also learn to adapt to new materials and viewpoints. This creative approach is designed not just to inspire artistic development but also to teach important life skills, highlighting the ability to adapt, the beauty of working together, and the meaningful connections that come from shared experiences.
Languages: English, Farsi
When?
Sunday, 26.5.2024
12:00 – 14:00
Where?
Lapinlahden Lähde (avointila)
Lapinlahdenpolku 8
00180 Helsinki
Who?
Mahsa Khoshnejad & Banafshe Eshraghi
I’m Mahsa social service student with an earlier qualification as a nursery nurse (lastenohjaaja). For 12 years, I worked in an English-language day-care. I enjoyed engaging in art and craft activities with the children, as I hold a bachelor’s degree in Art. Creativity is one of my strong skills. Last summer, I volunteer for a London charity that organises art courses for adults with mental health challenges. I focused on supporting individuals through art activities. This experience highlighted for me the importance of creative engagement and peer support in enhancing mental well-being.
Follow us
