Competition: Scottish Mental Health Arts & Film Festival launch new Awards for writing

Feature by News Team | 19 Mar 2014

The Scottish Mental Health Arts & Film Festival takes place in October, with a series of events, screenings and exhibitions happening at venues throughout Scotland. This year's programme has yet to be announced, but today the organisers have unveiled a new prize for writers, asking for submissions on the topic of 'Power.' The organisers have let the brief remain quite open, to allow writers to address the theme in any way they see fit – or as the organisers put it: "We are interested in your interpretation of the theme and encourage innovative and diverse perspectives – the limit is your imagination."

The awards, led by mental health charity Bipolar Scotland, will be split into five categories – poetry, short stories, newspaper articles, diary or blog entries, and letters, with awards given for each at a special ceremony during the festival in October. Entries will be accepted until Friday 25 July at 5pm. Visit the SHMAFF website for more details, and download the application form here.  

Alison Cairns, Chief Executive of Bipolar Scotland said: "Bipolar Scotland is delighted to be a partner in the 2014 SMHAFF. The Festival is now an established fixture in the Scottish cultural calendar and we are proud to play our part. This writing competition has grown from smaller Bipolar Scotland events and we know how creative writing can be a powerful tool in someone’s mental health recovery. We are anticipating some excellent and inspiring pieces of writing and are very excited about this." 

Sheena Blackhall, current Makar of Aberdeen and North East Scotland and previous winner of a Bipolar Scotland led competition said: "In brief, writing for me is power, real power, the power of the puppet master to direct and guide his own inventions. It is healing, therapy, play, enjoyment all rolled into one. Re-take power today. Write your own entry to this year’s Bipolar Short Story Competition. You may win, you may not, but at least for a time you’ll be the one in charge as you enter the lure of the page."

http://mhfestival.com