Ashford Place is proud to unveil the next chapter of its Mental Health Music & Arts Festival—a vibrant celebration of creativity, resilience, and community.
Building on the resounding success of our September 2025 festival, which brought together over 200 attendees for an inspiring day of performances and dialogue, this February 2026 edition will go further: reaching a broader audience and showcasing an even more diverse range of performers and art forms. Our ambition is clear—to set the standard for how arts can transform mental health and wellbeing.
As a recognised leader in this space, Ashford Place champions the arts as a transformative pathway to mental health recovery—equal in impact to clinical care. Through creativity, we inspire individuals, support families, and influence decision-makers toward a holistic, community-driven approach that addresses the urgent gaps in statutory mental health services.
This year’s festival, funded by the Government of Ireland, will feature a distinctive Irish flavour—through music, spoken word, and cultural themes—while remaining open and welcoming to all communities across Brent and beyond. It is a space where Irish heritage and global voices converge to celebrate the shared human experience of art and wellbeing.
Hosted once again at Kiln Cinema, the programme will include spoken word, poetry, live music, and other art forms that illuminate the healing power of creativity. At its heart are artists with lived experience of mental health challenges—voices that challenge stigma and open new conversations about recovery and resilience.
Lived experience does not preclude achievement or a fulfilling life. Art, in all its forms, offers a powerful medium for expression, healing, and personal growth. Whether through painting, music, writing, or performance, creative expression provides a meaningful outlet and a pathway to self-discovery.
Performances will be followed by interactive Q\&A sessions, where artists share how their creative practices support wellbeing and offer practical advice for others navigating their own mental health journeys.
Whether you are an artist, a mental health advocate, or simply curious about the intersection of creativity and care, this festival promises to be a space of connection, inspiration, and hope. Join Ashford Place in leading the movement for Wellbeing through the Arts.
