The Northern Ireland Mental Health Arts Festival is excited to announce the six recipients of our New Works Commission for 2026. This initiative addresses the barriers faced by artists who have lived experience of mental health challenges by awarding £2000 to invest in their own practice and wellbeing. It is supported by the National Lottery through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.

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The selected artists were chosen in response to our open call across Northern Ireland. We were overwhelmed by the extensive number of artists across art forms who applied for this award. The artists will have the opportunity to invest in their own practice, create new work, and participate in monthly artist’s forums supporting peer-learning and knowledge exchange. There will be a celebration event to showcase the work produced in May 2026.