South-West London, UK – In January 2026, PPP collaborated with young people from Black Minds Matter and the wider community, to produce one of three workshops designed to look at the intersection of arts and mental health. Black Minds Matter UK is a registered charity operating in the UK. Their purpose is to create and champion safe and accessible mental health support with and for the Black community.
Hosted at the Battersea Arts Centre, the workshop was led by Tanya Matthews, a poet and facilitator passionate about supporting the wellbeing of young people. The workshop started off with the screenings of the two short films “On My Feet” (Já de Pé) and “Lady Anxiety” (Senhora Ansiedade). Both films explore the impact of violence on the mental health of favela residents. On My Feet presents the rapper and poet Mc Martina and musician Jonathon Panta, filmed in the largest complex of favelas in Rio de Janeiro. Lady Anxiety is a video poem by Math de Araújo and was filmed at an artificial beach by the largest complex of the favelas in Rio de Janeiro.
After watching the films, the young people were then invited to reflect on what they had seen by writing down one emotion, one word and one image that resonated with them.
The poetry workshop invited the young people to explore their relationship with mental health both individually and in groups. Using the metaophor “My Relationship with Mental Health is Like,” the group were encouraged to share their knowledge and experience to create a space whereby they could communicate their thoughts and feelings through the artform of poetry. Individually they gave responses and then as small collectives, they were allowed to pick one phrase to delve into. Through this collaboration, a mixture of poetry, rap songs and drawings were produced.
At the end of theworkshop, the Long Table Methodology was used to discuss the themes highlighted throughout the workshop. Created by PPP associate artist and former Queen Mary University of London Drama lecturer Lois Weaver, the Long Table invites all present to come to the table and allows for everyone to have a voice. Designed to facilitate dialogue through the gathering of people with common interests, members of the group were encouraged to sit at the table, and converse about their thoughts and feelings from the film screenings and the poetry session. With only 12 seats at the table, the hybrid performance – discussion was accompanied by drawings, and the attendance of those who simply wanted to listen. The aims of the workshop were to discuss community-based cultural resources, to co-develop strategies for strengthening resilience, and to discuss how art can be used as a medium to discuss mental health. Participants found the workshop to be “interesting,” and “insightful.” The Long Table was said to create a “free and enlightening conversation,” which effectively allowed for everyone to engage in an open discussion.
People’s Palace Projects have curated a set of workshops looking at the intersection of arts, the climate crisis, and mental health. The creative Resilience Project is working with communities across London (UK), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), and Fortaleza (Brazil). At each location, the project is bringing together young people, researchers, and local artists to co-create research knowledge and outputs.
By Samantha Blackwood McKinson