RESIDENTS are invited to take part in a free public drawing workshop at Jerwood Gallery on Sunday 5 August, as part of Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust’s ‘Year of Drawing’ project.

One in 4 people each year will experience mental health problems and there is evidence that participation in the arts can have a positive effect on health and wellbeing.

Year of Drawing is a year-long site specific drawing project to increase access to the arts for people who are facing mental health challenges in Sussex and Hampshire.

The project, which has been running since last October, has included nine public drawing workshops in art galleries, over 30 pop-up studios in NHS mental health settings, and a series of drawing-based courses with Sussex Recovery College.

The final public drawing workshop of the year will take place on Sunday 5 August at Jerwood Gallery in Hastings from 12 – 4pm. It is free to attend, with lots of drawing ideas and materials provided.

Joanna Stevens, Sussex Partnership’s Arts and Health lead, said: “Year of Drawing has been our most ambitious project yet and has broken down some of the barriers people with mental health challenges face participating in the arts.

“These public drawing workshops are a brilliant opportunity for people to be able to come and draw together. Whether they stay for five minutes or four hours, it doesn’t matter. It is just about getting involved and enjoying the positive benefits of making art in a non-judgemental and supportive environment.

“Many of the 700 people we have worked with have arrived telling us they can’t draw but left saying how much they have enjoyed taking part!”

Led by Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust’s charity Heads On, the project is part of Make Your Mark, Sussex Partnership's arts and health programme.

The Year of Drawing is funded by the National Lottery through Arts Council England and grants from Chalk Cliff Trust, John Horniman’s Children’s Trust, Dixie Rose Findlay Charitable Trust and Rockinghorse Children’s Charity.

For more information about the public drawing event, go to www.jerwoodgallery.org/whatson/events/264/make-your-mark, or for more information about the Year of Drawing, go to www.makeyourmarknhs.co.uk.