Our mission at the Nottingham Community Artist Network is to enrich the local community through the support, development, and facilitation of artists. For this project, we have teamed up with Benjamin Zięć a folk singing and community artist, and Raphael Achache, and freelance Illustrator. Together with a guest feature from electronica artist Fang Jr. they have produced an audio track, illustrated video and booklet, and 2D prints titled ‘The Island’, a song written in response to a large number of friends and acquaintances experiencing mental health issues and in the saddest situations taking their own lives.

The Island is a story of support and hope, encouraging anyone tackling mental health issues to reach out and ‘build a window within their minds’, to not be silent, and to open up to their friends and family. The track and music video was released on music label Tangential Music.

With support from Nottingham C.A.N, a micro-grant from Think Nottingham and a successful crowdfunder campaign we raise enough money to begin a pilot for art therapy sessions that focus on offering young males aged 18-35 the opportunity to work with songwriters, storytellers, and illustrators to produce their own stories and illustrations.

Each participant will get the opportunity to work with a songwriter to explore storytelling and an illustrator to storyboard and construct their work. We feel this is a great outlet for people experiencing mental health issues to find a platform from which they can tell their stories and voice their experiences and problems without feeling the process is too invasive. Their work will then be pressed into booklets and prints (in the same manner as the original Island project), and they will finish the project with these stories as a physical product that they can then distribute to family and friends, highlighting their thoughts and struggle and strengthening their support networks.

In you are interested in support the project you pledge at our shop and purchase the original Prints, Story Booklets, and a Digital Download of the original works of ‘The Island’. 

We believe now is such an important time to offer support networks for all people dealing with mental health issues. There are so many people experiencing isolation, open your arms, ears, and heart to your friends, family, and neighbors. Let us raise awareness, stay connected, and offer support 

If you know of anyone this project may support and help, please do contact Nottingham C.A.N at CONTACT US and thank you for the pledges.