SPACE is a mobile well-being room coming to Z-arts on Friday 1 November.  SPACE offers a cup of tea, chat, well-being tips and activities, as well as signposting to well-being initiatives and services. It is a space where people take time to take care of themselves. We caught up with Sarah Emmott, Co-Director of Art With Heart, who told us a bit more about the creation of SPACE.

SPACE was initially conceived as a well-being space to run alongside (before, during and after) our most recent touring work Declaration exploring ADHD and mental health. It consists of activities linked to well-being, but also offers a cup of tea and a chat with others, or with our trained Mental Health Practitioner, Steph.

SPACE was well received by our audiences of all ages. We were regularly asked if it could return again, so we decided to test it as a stand-alone event. We realised very quickly how needed SPACE was, both in the context of our performance work, but also as a free access point for communities to have space to ground themselves. Thanks to support from Young Manchester, Z-arts and GMCA we are able to bring SPACE to children, young people and families and are so excited to bring this show to Z-arts! It’s really important that everyone feels welcome, whether you stay with us for a few minutes or the whole day. We’re really looking forward to sharing SPACE with you all at Z-arts.

Our SPACE mental health practitioner, and curator Steph Walker wrote a brilliant blog about the importance of well-being and SPACE which you can read here: http://www.artwithheart.org.uk/do-we-need-space/

SPACE will be at Z-arts on Friday 1 November, 12pm – 4pm.