NI MENTAL HEALTH
ARTS FESTIVAL
MORE THAN JUST A FESTIVAL
POETRY IN THE PARK
13/09/25
10.30am - 4.30pm
Crescent Garden Park, Belfast
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Poetry in the Park is a celebration of our small green spaces. On September 13th 2025 we are welcoming everyone to come explore Crescent Gardens Park and discover the link between parks and poetry. With family fun activities, workshops, and a poetry reading session, we are sure this day will leave you inspired.
The NI Mental Health Arts Festival is proud to bring you this event. We aim to challenge the stigma associated with mental health by using art as a catalyst for change. We believe it is important to highlight the role nature and the arts play in creating positive mental health.
The event will take place in the Crescent Garden Park which is located between Botanic Avenue and the lower part of University Road, in South Belfast.
9 - 20th MAY 2025
Storytime and Draw-a-Long
with Ashwin Chacko
10.30am - 11.30am
Join Ashwin Chacko as he reads aloud one of his illustrated stories. Taking you on an interactive adventure where creating your own colourful character is the goal. This workshop is open for all ages 5-8 years old and will let their imaginations run wild.
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Making Poetry in Natures Voice
with Ali Warner
1.45pm - 2.45pm
Join voice & body practitioner & social arts facilitator Ali Warner will guide us through a series of embodied creative practices designed to help us move into closer, resonant relationship with the trees & plants of Crescent Park and discover what they might have to say through our own movements & vocal sounds. Open for adults.
Poetry Reading
3.00pm - 4.30pm
NIMHAF welcomes you to Crescent Gardens Park, Belfast for a poetry reading session featuring some of Northern Irelands best talent. Booking is not required for this event.
NORTHERN IRELAND MENTAL HEALTH
ARTS FESTIVAL
The NI Mental Health Arts Festival (NIMHAF) is Northern Irelands oldest mental health arts festival, established in 2013, 2025 marks the 12th annual festival.
This year the theme was 'cathARTSis', referring to the ‘the release of emotions through the process of creative expression leading to a sense of renewal’. NIMHAF was proud to bring a diverse regional programme to Northern Ireland, highlighting the work of researchers, activists, and artists both emerging and established, side by side.​​
9 - 20th MAY 2025
CURRENT PROJECTS:
Open Decks
The Mental Health Arts NI in collaboration with the Black Box present the Open Decks project. A monthly event were early career and aspiring DJ’s can take to the decks and perform, a night of electronic music, dancing, and fun. Free Admission.
Any aspiring DJs who might like to sign up or find out more info can get in touch with us at director@blackboxbelfast.com to find out more.
