The first in our series of network gatherings relating to mental health, titled Holding Space, was held in Glasgow in October 2024. We invited artists, organisers, health, cultural and migrant justice workers based in and around the city to consider the role of art and creativity and its impact on the mental health and wellbeing of sanctuary seekers.
The event was held in partnership with Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival (SMHAF), Refugee Festival Scotland and Creative Scotland.
We had two rooms for the event at Civic House: the main room, where the programme would take place, as well as a smaller room, which we named the Resourcing Room. The purpose of the latter was to offer a quiet space for anyone who might have needed to step out from the discussion and it also offered a series of books and art supplies.
As attendees arrived there was a warm hum of reuniting collaborators, allies and friends as well as new connections being made. The day began with a welcome from Tom Green (Counterpoints Arts) and Gail Aldam (SMHAF). We were reminded of the current context that would be impacting many people in attendance, from events in places including Palestine and Sudan, to the ongoing impact of the “hostile environment” towards migration, and the toll this had on everyone’s mental health.
The first panel conversation was “Reimagining Infrastructures of Solidarity & Care”, with Amal Azzudin, Catrin Evans, and Pinar Aksu in conversation with Mónica Laiseca. It started from an understanding that across the arts, migration, and mental health sectors we are constantly pushing against systems that exclude, discriminate, and cause harm. Yet from within the cracks of these failing systems we are witnessing the emergence of bold and creative pathways to healing and belonging.
The panellists reflected on this moment in Scotland’s history, where political change, lack of funding, and the ongoing injustice of the asylum system were leading to a need for new thinking in order to renew commitments to welcome, solidarity and forging new collaborations.
The speakers’ shared belief in the power of the arts was palpable. They spoke of theatre’s capacity to offer a space to rehearse for life in nuanced and transformative ways; from offering a place to practise centering care and fostering relationships to engaging in difficult conversations. In times such as these, where we are witness to mounting anti-migrant sentiment, they emphasized the arts’ unique ability to create platforms where voices can be heard, inviting us to understand the roots of such sentiments rather than turning our backs to them. The arts, they suggested, offer a pathway to collective healing, bridging divides and nurturing empathy in an increasingly polarised world.
This conversation highlighted a crucial insight: with regard to mental health the conditions and processes underpinning a project are as important as the creation of an artistic output itself.
Questions that were raised and considered in group discussions included:
– How can we create spaces where participants feel safe enough to express themselves?
– What does it mean to hold space with dignity?
– What steps should be taken to embed more considered safeguards into agreement templates when establishing partnerships and how can we center accountability in our work as organizations and practitioners to protect those we work with?
– What practices can we adopt to prioritise long-term sustainability for projects, given that continuity is so important for mental health?
– How do we foster a culture of humility that encourages us to learn from one another?
There followed a screening of Bircan Birol’s film, we depend on each other, a collaborative project with co-directors Bircan, Zozan, Lydia and Virginie.
This short documentary unfolds at a unique tea party. Four immigrant women discuss the challenges they faced after arriving in Scotland and the misunderstandings by the mental health system regarding their PTSD and related depression.
Following a delicious lunch provided by in-house caterers Parveen’s Canteen, with plenty of time to talk and reflect, we came back together for the second panel: “Art as a Pathway to Healing”, with Bircan Birol, Dr. Gameli Tordzro and Mariem Omari in conversation with Daniela Nofal.
We know that artists are at the forefront of reshaping the way we understand mental health. Using nuanced, trauma-informed approaches, they nurture creative spaces of sanctuary for communities impacted by displacement to foster a radical sense of belonging, joy, hope and possibility. As stewards of these spaces, artists are deeply invested in supporting those affected by adversity, often stepping in where public services fall short.
The panel explored how they navigate this responsibility while ensuring their own wellbeing, as well as the resources and support structures that are needed to sustain their work.
Bircan Birol spoke of her personal story and healing journey which led her to developing her film. Given the participatory nature of the film, Bircan touched on the importance of ensuring participants’ informed-consent at every stage in the process, ensuring that everyone involved felt they had creative ownership of the film. In the development of the film Bircan explained how she navigated various ethical questions, reminding us of the importance of returning to the foundational “why” behind an artistic idea —in her case, a commitment to both personal and collective healing. She emphasized the power of film, sharing how one participant later used the film to articulate her experience navigating the mental health system.
Mariem spoke about her experience developing participatory theatre projects, and how it was informed by her background in the humanitarian sector. She underscored the importance of avoiding assumptions about others’ experiences, even when they may feel familiar. Mariem reminded us that mistakes are an inevitable part of the process and offer valuable opportunities for growth. She distinguished between “power with” and “power over,” advocating for practitioners to push back against commissioners when necessary, prioritizing the well-being of the people they work with. Importantly, Mariem emphasized that as practitioners, we have the power to transform the industry in ways that support the mental health of those we work with.
Dr. Gameli Towdzru shared his concept of “mutual enrichment,” explaining how the arts provide a space for individuals to gift a part of themselves—a deeply healing act. He highlighted how healing can occur without explicit labels or categories, and he demonstrated the transformative power of music by playing his flute, transporting the audience to an ephemeral, spiritual space. Gameli spoke of music’s capacity to create vibrations that physically heal and its ability to connect us on a deeper, non-verbal level.
The day culminated in a wonderful performance by Maryhill Integration Network’s Joyous Choir, fully embodying the power of art, to uplift, nourish and unlock new ways of feeling and relating.
Overall, the day highlighted the power and significance of coming together to share and reflect — many attendees commented on how rare it was to have these opportunities, particularly across sectors. It also made clear how central concerns around mental health are in the context of the arts, refugees and asylum seekers. There was a huge amount of experience shared, many questions raised and a demand for more opportunities to exchange practice and build new systems that support mental health needs of both participants and practitioners. Many new connections and collaborations were discussed, with Refugee Festival Scotland and the next Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival discussed as obvious platforms to continue these conversations.
As one attendee commented: “There was such an incredible amount of knowledge and experience in the room. To be able to move from one person to the next and engage in deep conversation about art, displacement and mental health was very inspiring. I hope there are many more of these events to come.”
Counterpoints will be producing several more networking events around the UK across the coming year, building capacity and learning, with a national conference on the arts, mental health and displacement planned for November 2025.
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Download the Holding Space Information Pack, with full speaker biographies.
Some resources referenced at the event:
– Performing Anxiety
-Where we meet?
-The Diverse Artist’s Guide
-Migration Education Resources
-Under the Jasmine Tree
-Lift the Ban
-We Make the Path
