Image:IDENTITY VII Whitney McVeigh, 2011 Ink on paper 28 x 28cm
21st – 27th September Launch and Private View 21st September
Stephen Fry, Lord Melvyn Bragg and Britain’s biggest artists join forces for an exhibition and arts festival fundraiser at the Old Vic Tunnels and The Imperial War Museum. Jake and Dinos Chapman, Tracey Emin, Mona Hatoum, Mat Collishaw, Sebastian Horsley, Sarah Lucas, Barney Bubbles, Liliane Lijn, Tessa Farmer and Stuart Semple exhibiting
Britain’s biggest artists are joining forces for a major new project entitled MINDFUL, an exhibition and arts festival at the Old Vic Tunnels, launching with a gala dinner and auction at Imperial War Museum. The project, initiated and curated by British artist and Mind Ambassador Stuart Semple in collaboration with creative directors of the Old Vic, will raise money for a new creative therapies fund within Mind, the leading mental health charity in England and Wales.
Image:DIANA SPENCER IN PINK From ‘Ship Of Fools’ series
Annie Kevans, 2009 Oil on paper 50 x 40 cm
Mind creative therapies fund: The Mind creative therapies fund is a new initiative from leading artist Stuart Semple to fund projects enabling those experiencing a mental health problem to explore creative forms of expression. This group show of world-class contemporary art will chart the link between mental health and creativity whilst pin-pointing its cathartic potential for both viewer and artist alike. Proceeds from sales of the work will start the fund which will enable those in mental distress throughout England and Wales to participate in arts therapy sessions.
The exhibition itself will encourage people to question their own views on, and associations with, mental illness, while helping to break down the stigma and discrimination so often faced by those with a mental health problem. Stuart, who has an ongoing anxiety disorder himself, understands first-hand the transformative potential of the arts.
He says: “The whole point of instigating this fund is to enable others access to the therapeutic potential of creative expression, people who may not have the chance, encouragement, or resources to do so otherwise”.
The exhibition will be supported by a gala fundraising dinner held at the Imperial War Museum and an arts festival held at Old Vic Tunnels throughout the week.
Gala dinner at Imperial War Museum on 21 September:
Hosted by Lord Melvyn Bragg & Stephen Fry
Auctioneer: Lord Dalmeny of Sotheby’s.
Lots include: A day in the studio with The Kooks, dinner and cruise on Malcolm Campbell’s Bluebird, boutique mansion house holiday & painting lessons with National Portrait Gallery artist plus some surprise lots from top designers and exhibiting artists. Confirmed VIP guests include: Stephen Fry, Lord Melvyn Bragg, Alastair Campbell, Gail Porter, Adam Ant, Jayne Middlemiss, Grace Woodward and exhibiting artists.
Exhibition at Old Vic Tunnels, open to general public, FREE admission 22 – 27 September:
Includes works by: Jake & Dinos Chapman, Mona Hatoum, Tracey Emin, Mat Collishaw, Sebastian Horsley, Liliane Lijn, Sarah Lucas, George Lilanga, Barney Bubbles, Whitney McVeigh, Ellie Rees, Kate Moross, Tom Wilkinson, Tessa Farmer, Seana Gavin and Stuart Semple.
Arts festival at Old Vic Tunnels 22 – 27 September:
Image:FALSE & INFLATABLE FEELING Stuart Semple, 2011
Acrylic, charcoal, spraypaint & paint marker on canvas 120 x 120 cm
A week’s worth of events spanning art, music, theatre, performance and cinema including; comedy night hosted by Miriam Elia and Jessica Hynes featuring Phil Kay with more acts TBA. Music & arts events with alternative life drawing classes, interactive theatre, performance art, alternative cabaret, spoken word, DJs and live music including My Tiger My Timing, Two Wounded Birds, The Shoestrung with a special headline act TBA. Other events include short film evening curated by ArtHertz in association with Rushes Soho Shorts, design workshops hosted by Ridley Buchanan Architects, choral performance from The Renaissance Project and immersive interactive theatre piece from Flipping The Bird Productions. Street Kitchen will provide the food. Tickets for all events available from Old Vic box office.
Locations: The Old Vic Tunnels were unearthed one evening by mistake when Kevin Spacey discovered them whilst visiting Banksy’s cans festival. An offsite project space for the Old Vic since then the labyrinth of tunnels underneath Waterloo station has played host to a myriad of fascinating and captivating performances, from immersive theatre to rock concerts. As the original site of Bedlam the Imperial War Museum’s main atrium, with its planes and tanks, will provide the ideal backdrop for the gala dinner and auction.
