SANTA BARBARA — The Mental Wellness Center will host its 23rd annual Mental Health Arts Festival at De La Guerra Plaza on Saturday, July 15 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., honoring the work of local artists living with mental illness and celebrating the power of creative expression.
In addition to live music and poetry readings, local artists will display their paintings, drawings, sculptures, jewelry and crafts.
The free community event aims to raise awareness and reduce the stigma of mental illness, while showcasing the talents and identities of people affected by mental health diagnoses.
“The Mental Health Arts Festival is a special event that our artists look forward to all year and is a wonderful opportunity for them to display their creativity for the community,” said Annmarie Cameron, CEO of the Mental Wellness Center. “The Arts Festival also serves as an important reminder that mental illness is not who you are; it’s something you live with. We are proud to recognize the talented individuals in our community who are as diverse and beautiful as the art they create.”
The Mental Wellness Center is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to meeting the needs of individuals and families affected by mental illness through support, education, and direct services.
For more information about the Arts Festival, please contact the Mental Wellness Center at (805) 884-8440 or visit www.mentalwellnesscenter.org.
About the Mental Wellness Center: The Mental Wellness Center is a private, non-profit organization that recognizes that mental illness is a community matter that affects us all. The Mental Wellness Center is dedicated to meeting the needs of individuals and families affected by mental illness, through support, education, and direct services.