Arts and mental health charity, Ōtautahi Creative Spaces, is fundraising to create a book to celebrate the first ten years of its' trailblazing creative community.  

The book will amplify the voices of artists with experience of mental distress and trauma, and showcase their artwork. Their diverse and compelling stories will express the transformative power of creativity.  

“After almost 10 years of getting creative with mental health, one thing’s for sure: art not only has the power to change lives, art saves lives,” says Kim Morton, Director. 

“The stories of our artists matter – but they fly under the radar. We want to see the artists get the recognition they deserve in the mental health and creative spheres.  This is critical at a time when our mental healthcare system can’t keep up with demand, and medication and counselling can only go so far.  

 “We’re framing this as a protest, because we mean business. Artists are at the forefront of this movement, and we need the community to come in behind it.” 

“This book will spread the word about an alternative approach to mental health that’s proven to work.  We want it to be taken seriously and funded properly. Because through the power of creativity, people don’t just survive, they thrive.” 

“We’re fundraising $15,000 towards the book. We need to raise the full amount, otherwise donations are returned to donors. It's all or nothing, so every donation counts.”  

To donate to the campaign:   www.boosted.org.nz/projects/10-years-of-thriving-through-creativity 

Ōtautahi Creative Spaces 
Ōtautahi Creative Spaces is a specialist arts and mental health initiative in Christchurch. It works in partnership with whānau, mental health agencies, and cultural facilities to create exciting artistic opportunities for more than 100 people with experience of mental distress and trauma. Part of a movement ‘to re-imagine our mental healthcare system’, Ōtautahi Creative Spaces dreams of a world where access to creativity is an integral part of the support that’s available for mental distress and trauma. 

Boost Ōtautahi  
Boost Ōtautahi sees 15 projects running crowdfunding campaigns on The Arts Foundation's Boosted platform to ignite art, culture and creativity in Ōtautahi. Matched funding up to $5,000 is generously provided by the Rātā Foundation, Creative New Zealand and Christchurch City Council. Boost Ōtautahi runs from 1 – 30 June 2023.  

For more information: 
Kim Morton, Director  
kim@otautahicreativespaces.org.nz 
0220647963