Art display with health in mind

One of the exhibits in the show, which opened at the weekend.

An exciting new exhibition opened at Rochdale's Touchstones gallery this weekend.

The show has a strong health and environment focus and is the culmination of three 10-week courses led by Pete Walker, who is the director of Vital Film and Media Ltd, which specialises in visual art, photography and film-making.

The visual arts courses were part of a programme called Arts for Well-being, set up by Heywood-based community arts project Cartwheel Arts in partnership with the mental health charity MIND.

Cartwheel believes that the arts can play an important role in supporting mental well-being, and says the evidence from the vibrant exhibition of artwork, celebrating the personal development and creative achievements of the participants, certainly seems to support that view.

The environmental theme has been interpreted widely by the exhibiting artists, who are sure visitors will not only enjoy the show, but will feel all the better for visiting it.

Be sure to relax on the hand-painted sofa in the living room area of the exhibition and watch a video about the project.

Funding was provided by NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Mental Health Promotion, Link 4 Life Boroughwide Cultural Trust, Lloyds TSB Foundation and New Heart for Heywood.

Project co-ordinator Niki Duthie is thrilled with the results and said: “The project has been a tremendous success, with all the participants developing their confidence and an improved sense of well-being — and producing quality artworks. They should all be exceptionally proud of their contribution and the high standard of work produced.”

The exhibition runs at Touchstones Gallery One, The Esplanade, Rochdale, OL16 1AQ (Tel: 01706-924492) until 14 October. Touchstones has free admission and the opening hours are: Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday and bank holidays noon-4.30pm.