Voicebox: Mental Health
Mental health still appears to be a taboo topic - we want to change that. We are now gearing our editorial focus to shine a spotlight on the complex and under-reported world of mental health. We will be conducting interviews, writing blogs and feature pieces, and inviting guest writers to provide you with engaging and informative content that hopefully inspires people to be more open and honest about their mental health.
-
16 November 2020 – 20 November 2020
NGYT This Is Me Dance Tutorial for Odd Socks Day!
Free NGYT Odd Socks Day and Anti Bullying Week Dance Tutorial for Primary, Infant and Junior Schools!
-
21 October 2020
Mental illness – The silent curriculum
Mental illness is affecting every single school child in the UK, but we aren’t talking about it. Mental health needs to be brought out of the shadows and put firmly on the school curriculum for all to see and learn.
-
10 October 2020
Interview with Harriet Knock, author
Newly-published author Harriet Knock talks about how she captured her mental health challenges in a collection of poems.
-
30 September 2020
Interview with Sam Klegerman, photographer
Global fashion photographer Sam Klegerman talks about their career and their new publication Yes No Thank You Goodbye, an honest and vulnerable photographic narrative that documents their mother's early on-set Alzheimer’s.
-
8 July 2020
Do Arts Subjects in Schools Matter?
For a long time we have been fed the narrative that arts subjects don't belong in schools. So I decided to dig a little bit deeper. Why do people feel this way about these subjects? And is there any substantial evidence to support their views?
-
2 July 2020
My new normal: Looking after your mental health
In this world of unforeseen difficulties and surprises, are we learning how to look after ourselves better?
-
20 June 2020 – 31 July 2020
The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery Potty Gardening Club
With many of us spending more time at home, now is the perfect chance to discover the wildlife living on your patch. Exploring the garden is a great way to connect with nature.
-
25 May 2020
Barriers to Participation Within the Arts
So many people don't participate within the arts or find it hard to do so. I want to find out what the barriers to participation within the arts are, how this has come to be and what is being done to help tackle this issue.
-
25 May 2020
Maintaining Wellbeing
What I learnt from the One Dance UK Healthier Performer programme, including wellness, resilience and motivation
-
13 May 2020
Sea Wall by Simon Stephens Review
A review of Simon Stephens' 2008 play Sea Wall performed by Andrew Scott which has been put on YouTube for a week in May 2020 as a result of theatres across the country being shut down.
-
25 March 2020
Top 10 things you can do to help your mental health at home
A ‘top 10’ of things you can do from home that will help your mental health and wellbeing whilst being self-isolated or during social distancing in this coronavirus pandemic.
-
20 March 2020
Exploring wellbeing in an arts and cultural setting
A New Direction recently hosted a workshop for teachers, representatives from the cultural sector, and arts practitioners to explore wellbeing centred projects in an arts setting. But what is wellbeing and what does it mean when we bring it into an arts and cultural setting?
-
18 March 2020
Coping with OCD during Covid-19
As someone with OCD, anxiety and depression, I wanted to make a guide on how to support your friends, family and yourself through this epidemic so you can come out the other side fighting fit.
-
5 March 2020
Dear Evan Hansen review
A simplistic set initially raised concerns of an underwhelming performance, but the play balanced the basic design elements with acting skills that were second to none to create an unbelievable and memorable evening show.
-
3 March 2020
Interview with comedian Richard Stott
"It is so ingrained within us not to laugh, look, talk about anyone’s disability for fear of upsetting them… but all that does is create an elephant in the room. My work is about inviting the elephant to sit at the table and tell us about itself."
-
21 February 2020
Social media companies are ethically bankrupt, and our mental health is paying the price
Increasingly, social media is promoting and sharing inappropriate and harmful material which has a negative impact upon its audiences. This means that vulnerable people are targeted by harmful sponsored adverts.
-
16 February 2020
Mental Health and Auditioning
Gigi talks about her years of auditioning for drama school and how her mental health has been impacted.
-
19 November 2019
The Missing: J. J. Macfield and the Island of Memories
A lesson in why a confused tone can make a story with the best intentions uncomfortable