Saturday Programme

Beyond Words Workshop

Join Beyond Words' Book Club to read books from their word-free picture series. Beyond Words staff and seld-advocates will lead a series of small book clubs developing visual literacy, empathy, and understanding as we tell the stories we see in the Beyond Words books.

“Tell Me More”: Artists in Conversation 

Join the artists from this year’s Mental Wealth Festival Exhibition - “Tell Me More” - for talks, storytelling, and conversation around their art and the power of creativity. 

Clay Workhop with Ceramic Artist Pedro Kalache and Keith Clapson

Join ceramicist and community educator Pedro Kalache and Keith Clapson to explore the wellbeing benefits of working with clay and contribute your creativity to a collaborative ceramic installation. 

Bearing Witness: The Missing Project – Communities of Creativity & Care

Join artist Deirdre Kashdan and The Missing Project for a powerful and moving exploration of what it means to care for someone experiencing psychological distress or mental ill health. Through talks, readings, performance and art, this event creates a compassionate space to recognise and honour the often unseen experiences of families, friends and carers. 

"Stamp it Out” with Deirdre Kashdan & The Missing Project

Join artist Deirdre Kashdan, founder of The Missing Project, and contribute to a powerful collective artwork exploring the experiences of those who care for or support a loved one living with mental health challenges. Through creative expression, help make visible the often unseen emotional realities of caring, connection, resilience, and hope. 

The Art of Dreams with The Triangle 

Explore the creative power and symbolism of dreams with art and therapy collective The Triangle. Create your own dream-based artwork and contribute to The Triangle’s collective dreaming project. No prior experience or skills required, just drop in, explore and create.   

Creative Brain Scans with artist Nancy McCrum

Response to your unique mind and create your own analogue brain scan inspired by the work of artist and co-curator of the Mental Wealth Festival exhibition, Nancy McCrum.  No prior experience or skills required, just drop in, explore and create.   

Dragon Café Choir

Join the Dragon Café Choir, led by Vivien Ellis for a live performance in the City Lit Gallery. Expect upbeat songs, shared stories, and the kind of warmth that comes from collaborative music.

The Human Library

Unjudge someone with The Human Library!  

The Human Library creates a safe space for open conversations about prejudice, identity and lived experience. Our Open Books are volunteers who share personal stories of stigma, discrimination or marginalisation, inviting honest, respectful dialogue where every question is welcome. 

Simply drop in, browse the available Books with the help of our librarians, and choose someone to spend time talking with.

POW! Play on Words: Performance-Poetry-Pedagogy-Projection

Experience a powerful finale to the Mental Wealth Arts Festival with POW! Play on Words. Expect an exciting mix of live performance poetry, spoken word, art, and animation, featuring headline performers alongside open mic performances. Want to take to the stage? Sign up before the event for a chance to share your own poetry or spoken word in one of the open mic slots.