Artists and creatives embody the meaning of resilience. Pursuing a career in the creative industries is challenging to say the least. Not only are we the ideas people, we are also the makers, the business managers, the accountants, the public relations officers and everything in between. Looking after our wellbeing and mental health is integral to the creative process. Taking time to decompress and reset is a vital part of helping the inspiration to flow freely.
Colour Box Studio is committed to supporting wellbeing for artists and creatives through the creative journey, that’s why we’ve joined forces with Creative Therapist, Toya Ricci to bring you Conscious Creative Practice – A Wellbeing Circle for Artists and Creatives. This online wellbeing circle for creatives offers an inclusive therapeutic space to connect and share the unique challenges facing our industry. Toya Ricci will lead the wellbeing circle from a place of compassion, incorporating elements of experimentalism, cognitive-behavioural therapy, compassion-focussed therapy and solution-focussed therapy. This one-hour online session aims to give you the support to unleash your creative expression and navigate the challenges and blockages in your life. This event is a chance for our creative community to take a collective exhale.
“The wellbeing circle offers a nourishing therapeutic space for creatives to come together and tend to mental well-being by sharing and reflecting on their unique challenges and triumphs. If you have been struggling to get to regular therapy sessions, or you haven’t had the time to focus on your mental health, the wellbeing circle offers an affordable and accessible way to access support.“
Toya Ricci, BSocSc(Psych), PgDipCEAT, MSexol
The wellbeing circle will take place online on 23rd January 2023. Tickets are A$35.00 and can be purchased here. We will hold space for everyone and all moods are welcome – you can contribute as much or as little as you need/can. You can find more information about Colour Box Studio’s wellbeing offerings here.
Creativity can take a lot out of us! Whether you are inspired or not inspired, creativity can be all-encompassing. Add to that the demands of daily life, running a business, or dealing with all of the beautiful messiness of human existence and we can see how easy it is to lose sight of our mental wellness until it is too late. Our wellbeing is linked to our sustainability. We are so lucky now to have diversity in the ways we can access the supports we need.
Toya Ricci, BSocSc(Psych), PgDipCEAT, MSexol
Wellbeing Resources for Artists and Creatives
For those wanting to delve in and learn more, check out these useful mental health and wellbeing resources for creatives:
The Hey Mate Project
The Hey Mate Project is a social enterprise that delivers evidence based mental health, wellness support, and education to the music, entertainment, performing arts, creative industries and wider community. Founded by Amie Davies, a former sound engineer and counsellor, The Hey Mate Project aims to offer niche support Davies found to be lacking in her personal creative industry experience. They have a range of resources on their website including a podcast and webinar series. You can find more information about The Hey Mate Project here.
Business Victoria Wellbeing Support for Small Businesses
For those in Victoria, there is wellbeing and mental health services and resources for sole traders, small business owners and employees. The Partners In Wellbeing helpline offers assistance in managing financial stress, long hours and the multitude of responsibilities that fall to those who own and work in small business. You can call the helpline on 1300 375 330 or find more information here.
The Show Must Go On
The Show Must Go On is a documentary that delves into the struggle that many arts and entertainment workers have with anxiety, depression and substance abuse. The film includes interviews with many industry leaders exploring their personal struggles in a demanding industry. The documentary is available to stream on Vimeo On Demand or Kanopy. The website also has a bunch of useful resources here.
The Arts Wellbeing Collective
The Arts and Wellbeing Collective is an initiative led by Arts Centre Melbourne after research from Entertainment Assist and Victoria University found that a startling number of workers in the performing arts sector are struggling some degree of depression and/or anxiety. Although created as a response to issues within the performing arts industry their resources can be valuable to those working in all art forms. Their resources include webinars with artists and health professionals exploring creativity and wellbeing with sessions such as “Sustainable Creative Practice” and “Self-compassion Break”. They also produce the podcast House Lights Up featuring great interviews with industry professionals. You can find more information about The Arts and Wellbeing Collective here.
Maya Cares
Maya Cares is an online resource built to empower Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islanders, Black and Women of Colour as they navigate the workplace, family and education settings. Founded by Priyanka Ashraf as a response to finding limited avenues to deal with her own encounters with racism, Maya Cares is a safe and easy way to access support. The website features a chat-bot where you can quickly report instances of racism and access anti-racism resources. They have a large range of resources including legal support and community support and events where you can connect with other diverse women in your community. You can find more information about Maya Care here.
Connected Lives: Creative solutions to the mental health crisis
This Australia Council for the Arts report presents findings from the Arts, Creativity and Mental Wellbeing Policy Development Program, a 4-month series of discussions from Feb to May 2022. The report acknowledges the positive impact the creative industries have on overall wellbeing and seeks to advocate for policy change to better support those working in the creative industries. The Australia Council for the Arts will advocate for the priorities outlined in Connected Lives across 2023. You can read the full report here.
Wellbeing at Colour Box Studio
Artists and creatives can participate in Colour Box Studio’s online group wellbeing circle or access one-on-one support from creative therapist Toya Ricci. More details here.
Want to learn more about your creative community? Sign up to the monthly Colour Box Studio Newsletter here.
