2.8 Million Minds

‘How can young people use art and culture to create change in their mental health and change how mental health care is imagined, delivered and funded?’

‘2.8 Million Minds is a disability justice informed approach to how young Londoners can use art to begin to radically reimagine mental health support, justice and pride. Begun in November 2021, over six intense months, our first step was to create A Manifesto for 2.8 Million Minds – a performance event at the UK Parliment on the 17 of May, 2022 and manifesto document (Download it here – High Resolution 63MB | Low Resolution 6MB).

This process brought together the ideas, feelings, demands and processes of young people from Haringey, Tower Hamlets (and more) with artists Becky Warnock, Simon Tomlinson, Tyreis Holder, and Yomi Sode. In parallel to these commissions, complementing research around the need, ethics and practicals of art, young people and mental health was led by Tara Brown and Nicola Sim with Seth Pimlot.

The manifesto outlines a series of art processes and actionable ideas that challenge how and who makes the decisions in the lives of young people’s mental health. More than a Manifesto, the document also shares visions for a future worth living, how-to guides, resources and critical reflections.

Over the Summer and Autumn of 2022 we will be following up and figuring out how to make its contents/demands/dreams real. This will begin at Liberty Festival on July 23rd (all welcome).

Artists and collaborators.

2.8 Million Minds is a new collaboration between Bernie Grant Arts Centre, Chisenhale Gallery and the vacuum cleaner.

The project is part of the Mayor of London’s Culture and Creative Industries Unit, Funded by Baring Foundation and Thrive LDN as part of Thriving Through Culture.’