An artist and mental health activist is taking over the old Argos store in St Helens as the location for an arts festival 'that cares'.
James Leadbitter, who works under the name 'The Vacuum Cleaner', is bringing 13 local, national and international artists and communities together to make exhibitions, films and new performances that support people's mental wellbeing.
He is working with Merseyside-based social arts organisation Heart of Glass on the project, which he hopes will bring back people's sense of community.
James said: "My mental health has nearly killed me twice, so when Heart of Glass, invited me to curate a mental health themed festival in St Helens I seized the chance.
"My ongoing Madlove project is about creating unique, warm, welcoming and playful spaces where mutual care can blossom, stigma and discrimination are actively challenged."
Fresh from a six-month project with mental health patients at Great Ormond Street Hospital, James believes that art can have a transformative effect on supporting healthy minds and a healthy society.
He said: "I grew up in Burnley, a place like St Helens and many other towns across the country. The kind of place that has been left behind.
"By taking over the now closed Argos store and producing a colourful, exciting and welcoming space together, I hope we can create somewhere for people to go to try and re-build that sense of community that has been lost."
Many of the artists and groups involved in the festival have struggled with their own mental health.
They include:
- Acclaimed Indonesian artist and activist Hana Madness, who will cover the town in colourful bipolar monsters.
- Perrier Award-winning comedian Kim Noble, who will present his attempts to end his loneliness.
- Local artist Hwa Young Jung, who has been having conversations across the town to create a map of all the places in St Helens where you can experience care - from the friendly person working at the chippy to formal mental health support services.
- Writer, artist and part-time superhero Jess Thom, aka Tourettes Hero, whose comedy show Stand Up, Sit Down, Roll Over proves it is possible to be both the most persistent heckler as well as the main act.
Emily Gee, senior producer at Heart of Glass, said: "Take Over is our annual festival that reimagines public spaces through art projects made with, for and about people in St Helens.
"This year we’re building on a long-term programme of work which looks at how society affects individuals’ experiences of and treatment for mental distress.
"This programme includes a major collaborative commission The Suicide Chronicles, led by artist Mark Storor, the first part of which features in this year's festival."
The Madlove Take Over space will be open for cups of tea, chats, and moments to relax and be a place where everyone can experiment and explore through the projects presented as well as organise their own activities.
It will be open November 1-30, 11am-6pm, Tuesday to Saturday, at the old Argos store, Unit 2, The Hardshaw Centre, Church Street, St Helens. Everything is free and everyone is welcome.
