The Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival returns to venues around Scotland from Wednesday 4–Sunday 22 October. From Edinburgh to Glasgow and Thurso to Hawick, events will explore a central theme of ‘Revolution’ through the mediums of music, film, theatre, performance art and visual art. With 180 different events to choose from, we’ve rounded up some highlights you won’t want to miss.

The festival kicks off with Manifesto (CCA, Glasgow, Wednesday 4 October), a day of exciting and thought-provoking theatre, live music, discussion, screenings and workshops interrogating the questions: What would a mental health revolution look like? And how do we start one? 

New commissions include an immersive storytelling experience from poet Imogen Stirling and musician Sonia Killmann which updates the myth of Sisyphus to present-day Glasgow, and theatre-maker Skye Loneragan will give a work-in-progress performance of May Contain Nuts*, an absurd comedy about fictional depictions of mental illness and the need for verification. The headline gig from Hen Hoose, an all-female and non-binary songwriting collective, will boast live sets from some of Scotland’s hottest musical talent, Sarah Hayes (Admiral Fallow), Ray Aggs (Shopping, Sacred Paws) and SHEARS. 

The next day sees the launch of Rebirth & Revolution (ARC, University Of Glasgow, Thursday 5–Saturday 21 October), a unique exhibition and event series celebrating the life and legacy of renowned self-taught artist Mary Barnes in her centenary year. It was while undergoing regression therapy at Glaswegian psychiatrist RD Laing’s experimental community Kingsley Hall from 1965-70 that Barnes first discovered her artistic talent. Using her fingers to create visceral oil paintings on the themes of crucifixion, resurrection, and her connection to nature, Barnes went on to become a widely exhibited artist and mental health campaigner. 

A series of four events accompanying the exhibition will bring together experts from psychiatry, the arts and academia, as well as people who knew Barnes personally, to explore her work, her relationship to Scotland, and the radical potential of creativity to support recovery from mental ill health.

Bang in the middle of the festival is Moving Minds (Civic House, Glasgow, Sunday 15 October), a friendly and relaxed afternoon celebrating community and creativity. Alongside a zine-making workshop, photography exhibition and poetry reading, the event will feature an evocative set from Glasgow’s own queer choir QUOIR, the premiere of Bircan Birol’s new documentary we depend on each other which explores lived experiences of four women who migrated to Scotland, and music from singer-songwriter Raveloe.

Round off your festival experience at the Writing Awards (Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh, Sunday 22 October). Hosted by Edinburgh Makar Hannah Lavery, this event will include readings of new writing on mental health around the theme of ‘Revolution’ by shortlisted writers, and a hypnotic stripped-back set from Glasgow-based singer-songwriter Jill Lorean.

Find events near you and book tickets at mhfestival.com