Out of Sight Out of Mind is in its 12^th year and is Scotland’s biggest mental health art exhibition. It takes place this October at Summerhall in Edinburgh, as part of the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival (SMHAF).

Sprawling three floors of Summerhall, artworks made by more than 300 people who have experience of mental health issues. It will include films, paintings, sculptures, photography, installations and more. Each expression beautifully unique.

All of the artworks are made by people with experience of having a mental health issue, they will explore many topics: mental health, a joy of making, a personal story of another sort and others. Many have responded to the SMHAF theme of In/Visible, and express the tension between being seen and unseen. One exhibitor said:

“I am both visible and invisible. I am ignored unless people know me. White people are not overlooked, but I am. In a pub, I’m incredibly visible because of my skin color. The same goes for mental health: it’s invisible unless under certain circumstances.”

There is a real joy that can be experienced in both having a voice and being witness to someone using theirs. For three weeks in October this exhibition brings 300 voices together and makes the experience of mental health issues more visible for us all.

The exhibition is a celebration of diversity, personal strength, and the power of community. This year it is also an invitation to explore the nuances of visibility and invisibility in all our lives.