Fourth Wall Folkestone CIC
People: Improving people’s mental wellbeing
We aim to bring the community together to talk about mental health. We will offer free, open to all creative workshops using clay, printmaking, collage and photography, culminating in an exhibition.
About this cause
Fourth Wall Folkestone CIC is a creative space focused on all things art and mental health. Open to all, the space shifts between a non-traditional gallery, an open studio and a research space. Fourth Wall invites the local community to reimagine the art world, the role of an artist and the role of art in society by holding accessible events and workshops. Fourth Wall is transparent about what it means to be an artist with mental illness, and provides a nurturing and safe space for opening up dialogue through making. The space facilitates creative thinking and connection by focusing on process, play and experimentation. Fourth Wall actively breaks down barriers between academia and creative arts by sharing work happening within mental health research.
How this cause brings people in the community together
During this difficult time with the cost-of-living crisis and at a time when mental health services are scarce and difficult (if not impossible to access), we will be offering a lifeline for some of the people we support. As we are situated on The Old High Street, people access our space who may not ordinarily engage with community activities or the arts. The project will therefore continue to support everyone in our community and have a broader reach. We will be breaking down the stigma surrounding mental illness by engaging in conversations with those in hard to reach places. Our workshops and exhibition will provide distraction, self-soothing and build confidence and self-esteem within the local community, putting everyone on an equal footing no matter their background.