SCOTTISH MENTAL HEALTH ARTS FESTIVAL MARKS 20 YEARS

The Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival is marking its 20th year with more than 180 events across Scotland. Organisers say the 2026 festival, which began in Glasgow, runs until 8 November. The programme covers theatre, music, visual art, film, writing and community projects. It also includes the International Film Awards. Organisers say people with experience of mental health issues from across Scotland help shape the programme.

Lee Knifton developed the festival idea while working in public health with Glasgow NHS. He discussed it with Professor Neil Quinn and Dr Peter Byrne during a conference in Istanbul. Knifton drew inspiration from Celtic Connections and said public information campaigns alone could not adequately address stigma around mental ill health. “Prejudice against mental ill health is ingrained, it’s generational, it’s cultural, it’s emotional,” he said. The Mental Health Foundation provided space and organisational support, and an NHS secondment made Knifton the festival’s first director.

The International Film Awards opened a weekend of screenings at The Social Hub in Candleriggs Square, Glasgow, on Friday 23 October. The programme includes *Amanda*, *Trine on Fire* and *What Will I Become*, alongside collections of short films exploring home, resilience and creativity. Organisers say community knitting groups and exhibitions carry as much weight in the festival as productions on a national stage. They say the festival uses art to support wellbeing and encourage audiences to consider other people’s experiences.