APPLICATIONS CLOSING SOON - 30 August - GET IN QUICK! Changing Minds is running an art initiative called ‘Mental blocks’ funded by the ASB Trust. We are looking for submissions from people who would like to create a piece to be exhibited in Feb next year.

We are looking for ideally 6 pieces and have $6000 worth of grant money to fund artists, people can apply for up to $2000 to fund their work, and we have a group of independent judges who will make the decisions around who gets funding and how much.

Applications close on the 30th August, with works to be submitted by January 2014. Pieces can be any kind of art that makes sense to the artist (which may relate to a personal experience of mental distress, addictions or homelessness, or a family member or friend) – we have been talking about music, writing, painting, photography, sculpture, drama, floral arrangement…anything, the only strict criteria is that entrants must be a New Zealand citizen or resident.

Pieces need to have a relationship with the initiative:

• Redefining the way New Zealanders think and talk about health, wellbeing, addiction, and/or homelessness;

• Broadening or challenging the language and discourse we employ to talk about health, wellbeing, addiction, and/or homelessness;

• Celebrating diverse human experience and encourage self-determination;

• Examining the wider social context of mental health issues, addiction, homelessness. Changing Minds has a mission statement of ‘leading brave conversations in mental health and addictions in Aotearoa New Zealand’ – nothing is too challenging for us, we are an organisation that specialises in strategic advocacy, and this is one way that we are expressing this mission. http://changingminds.org.nz/mentalblocks/what-is-it