Scottish community arts charity Impact Arts is delighted to receive funding to partner with The Hunterian at the University of Glasgow for a new project, Collections Creatives.  

This project will involve a series of wellbeing-boosting and confidence-building creative art workshops for young people facing mental health issues. 

Museums Galleries Scotland (MGS) has awarded £67,810 to four museums through the Creative Minds Fund, thanks to support from The Baring Foundation. The funding will support museums to work alongside partner organisations to create engaging experiences for people facing mental health issues and social anxiety. 

“At Impact Arts, we believe creativity is a powerful tool for improving wellbeing and building confidence. This collaboration with The Hunterian allows us to create a safe, inspiring space where young people can collaborate in new ways and share their voices through creativity when exploring the objects at The Hunterian. We’re thrilled to see how engaging with these incredible collections will spark ideas and empower the group to express themselves in new ways.” – Amanda Munro, Programme Manager at Impact Arts 

The awarded projects will utilise museum collections to provide opportunities for participants to explore their creativity, learn new skills, express themselves, and become more socially connected.

“Museums serve as essential community hubs, providing spaces for engagement, dialogue, and solace. I am delighted this funding will support them in addressing community needs and delivering this important work to individuals facing mental health issues.” – Lucy Casot, CEO of Museums Galleries Scotland 

From this funding made available by Museums Galleries Scotland (MGS), The Hunterian at the University of Glasgow has received £18,020 for the Collections Creatives project. 

The collaborative project between The Hunterian and Impact Arts will give young people the opportunity to engage with museum’s exhibits through a series of creative workshops. The group will share their thoughts and responses to the collections and use them as inspiration to produce their own artworks using a variety of creative techniques and mediums.  

At the end of the project, the work created will be shared with museum visitors, allowing the young people to share their creativity with a wider audience. 

“We are delighted to receive this award from the Creative Minds Fund, a collaboration between Museums Galleries Scotland and The Baring Foundation. The Hunterian is committed to becoming a more meaningful place for more diverse audiences. Working in partnership with Impact Arts, the Collections Creatives project will allow us to provide a creative and immersive learning and development opportunity for young people dealing with mental health issues.” – Professor Steph Scholten, Director of The Hunterian

“The project will allow the young participants to engage deeply with our collections, to discover their creativity, and share their creative output with Hunterian audiences and the wider Glasgow community, as part of our ongoing programmes.” 

Impact Arts would like to thank The Hunterian, Museums Galleries Scotland (MGS), and The Baring Foundation for this exciting opportunity to transform lives through creativity.  

Read more about the other funding awards on the MGS website 

Images credit: The Hunterian at the University of Glasgow

Impact Arts is a community arts charity based in Scotland. Since 1994, we’ve been delivering creative arts and support programmes for children, young people, adults, families, and older people who are facing disadvantages or barriers to progress in life. Our mission is to tackle inequalities, address poverty, and transform lives through art and creativity.