If you’re feeling like your energy and emotions are all over the place – you’re not alone. If you’d like some ideas and strategies for navigating this unusual time, our Mental Health Matinées series comprises a range of webinars designed to meet you where you’re at, no matter what’s happening in the world around us. Try resilience and mindfulness with Coco Nkrumah, or take a self-compassion break with Jossy Jiminez. If you’re seeking a perspective shift, take some time to watch navigating through change and uncertainty with Dr Anastasia Hronis, or looking after the Earth to look after yourself with Jamie Marloo Thomas.
If you’re looking for something to read, explore Spotlight: The Arts Wellbeing Collective Magazine. See things differently with How Fascinating! as a response to the unexpected, or check out these deadly tips to stress less. Hold onto the basics with financial wellbeing in times of uncertainty, or if you’d just like something to make you smile, look no further than The Pet Collective.
No matter what you’re going through, support is available, so please seek help early, and seek help often. Extra support is available – the Australian Government through the Office for the Arts recently announced an additional $20 million in funding to expand Support Act’s crisis relief grants to performing arts workers.
The grants are valued at $2,000 for individuals and $2,700 for families with dependent children and are available to anyone working professionally in the performing arts, provided they meet a set criteria. More than 1,000 people have already applied for a grant. The grants are not competitive – if you meet the criteria, you will receive the grant. We encourage you to apply if you meet the criteria, and please feel free to share this information with your networks.
Finally, we would like to share that our Arts Wellbeing Collective Head of Program, Tracy Margieson, will be leaving Arts Centre Melbourne to pursue a new challenge. Tracy has led the Arts Wellbeing Collective since its inception, and many of you will have worked closely with her – sharing coffees, ideas, stories, and your visions for a better future for the performing arts industry. Tracy has stewarded the Collective from the seed of an idea to an award-winning, comprehensive, sector-wide initiative – the only one of its kind in the world. Her last day at Arts Centre Melbourne will be the 15th September. Thank you, Tracy, for everything you’ve done for the Collective over the last five years, we will miss you.
Wishing you good health, warmth, and creativity,
The team at Arts Centre Melbourne
Mental Health Matinée: Building back your confidence
Thursday 30 September, 1.30pm to 2.30pm
Zoom webinar
Confidence plays a huge role in how we show up in the world. If we believe that we have what it takes to succeed, then we’re more likely to put ourselves out there for opportunities and overcome setbacks and in doing so, get closer to achieving our goals. But external circumstances like the impact of COVID-19 have the power to seriously impact that confidence. If you feel like your confidence could use a boost, this Mental Health Matinée will cover what confidence really is, and practical strategies that you can use to build your confidence even in the face of those things that can impact it, such as cancelled shows, not working, or imposter syndrome. Presented by Cailin Howarth, The Performer’s Edge.
Register now →
Support Act crisis relief grants now available for performing arts workers
The Arts Wellbeing Collective has joined a specially created reference group with Theatre Network Australia, Alliance of Australasian Performing Arts Benevolent Funds, and Live Performance Australia to help advise on outreach to our sector. Support Act’s crisis relief grants to performing arts workers are not competitive – they are available to anyone who is eligible.
Find out more →
Support Act Wellbeing Helpline
The Helpline is a 24/7, free, confidential phone counselling service available Australia-wide to anyone who usually works in the creative industries. You can make an appointment, or request to speak with an experienced, qualified clinician immediately about any aspect of your mental health and wellbeing. There is dedicated First Nations support and dedicated support for arts managers and leaders available. Call 1800 959 500, 24 hours a day, seven days a week to make an appointment. If you or someone you know is at immediate risk, please contact the Emergency Services on 000.
Find out more →
