Launceston City Council celebrated Mental Health Week 2023, with the opening of an exhibition at the Queen Victoria Museum at Inveresk aimed at highlighting and provoking positive conversations about mental health and well-being.
Each year, the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, in collaboration with RANT Arts, host Minds Do Matter.
This exhibition creates an important platform for Northern Tasmanian artists to explore their relationship between mental well-being and art, while stimulating important conversations and sharing lived experiences with local community.
Featured in the Community Gallery at the Museum at Inveresk, the exhibition is focused on celebrating the power of art when it comes to supporting positive mental health.
This year, Minds Do Matter features a wide range of works in response to the 2023 exhibition theme, ‘Adapt: Awareness, Belonging, Connection’.
City of Launceston Mayor Matthew Garwood said the annual exhibition Minds Do Matter created a space for community to talk about mental health.
“The therapeutic and conversation provoking nature of creative expression is incredibly important and there are many within our community who experience struggles with mental health each year. It’s vital that we can open up and talk about it through opportunities like this,” Mayor Garwood said.
“This year’s exhibition showcases a great range of artist works from across Northern Tasmania and I encourage everyone to make time with family, or mates, to visit this great display.”
Creative arts and cultural services general manager Shane Fitzgerald said the annual exhibition was an important exhibition for Northern Tasmanians.
“Through exhibitions like Minds Do Matter, we’re opening up community dialogue about mental health and the struggles that many within our community experience,” Fitzgerald said.
“Our institution is a hub for our community, and it’s important for us to facilitate conversations through thought-provoking experiences, like this exhibition.
“We’re proud to collaborate with RANT Arts on this project each year, and congratulate all artists featured in the 2023 display.“
RANT Arts Chairperson Dave mangenner Gough said Minds Do Matter showcases the importance of arts and creativity to the health and well-being of our regional communities.
“Through the lived experience in these exhibitions we share important truths and start important and valuable conversations.”
RANT Arts Pathways program manager Karen Revie said it was a special year for the Minds Do Matter exhibition as it celebrates its 15th birthday.
“It’s a good time to reflect and recognise the significance of the exhibition and what it achieves,” Revie said.
