Can Art Save Us?

Can Art Save Us? – Conversations on Arts, Mental Health, Social Justice & Wellbeing. Tarek Zaidieh is an exceptionally talented violinist and member of the outstanding Orchestra for Syrian Musicians. The orchestra is described as a celebration of Syrian culture with contagious rhythms, soaring vocals and genius musicianship. Tarek has performed with the orchestra across Europe and at major fes...

Can Art Save Us? – Conversations on Arts, Mental Health, Social Justice & Wellbeing. Joe Howell, also known as Maverick Beyond is a photographic artist working with an alternative cyanotype process from which she also creates sculptures. Her identity is firmly rooted in Sunderland, loyal to her working class roots, Jo is standing up to arts elitism by staying put. Despite the barriers against...

Can Art Save Us? – Conversations on Arts, Mental Health, Social Justice & Wellbeing. Maya Youssef is known as the Queen of the Qanun, a virtuoso and composer of this beautiful Middle Eastern instrument described as a flat harp with 78 strings and possibly a descendant of the Egyptian harp. Maya honours Arabic classical music traditions with pathways into Western classical, Latin and jazz music...

Bobby Brown is a creative producer, artist, manager and rising architect of community arts and equal access, based in the city of Brighton. He's a game changer in youth work supporting creative projects, including music and radio that changes the lives of disadvantaged and excluded young people. He describes himself as a dream weaver, a bridge builder, an optimist and as someone who relied on yout...

Dr. Marwa Al-Sabouni is an award-winning architect considered to be one of the top 50 global thinkers around the world. Marwa elevates the critical role architecture has to play in building peace and preventing conflict through segregation and isolation. She is the author of ‘The Battle for Home’ and ‘Building for Hope' and an international speaker. She also recently co-directed the Brighton festi...

Marice Cumber is one of the UK’s most compelling ceramic artists. She presents her own emotions, fears and vulnerabilities in her work and even cowardice shows up, no doubt  kicking and screaming. Her large, over-sized, ceramic cups hold and display her raw  emotions. They share the edgy qualities of German Expressionism by showing inner feelings and embracing the alternative but keeping a healthy...

Can Art Save Us? – Conversations on Arts, Mental Health, Social Justice & Wellbeing. Otis Mensah is the first hip-hop poet to be awarded a poet laureate title in the UK by the City of Sheffield.  Influenced by the expressive freedom of Jazz, Otis documents his journeys of introspection through vulnerable expression that speaks to racial identity, masculinity, loneliness and being othered. He h...

Can Art Save Us? – Conversations on Arts, Mental Health, Social Justice & Wellbeing. Antony Penrose, is the son of extraordinary parents. A photographer, author and rewilder, he is also the Co-director of The Penrose Collection and the Lee Miller Archives at Farleys House & Gallery. At his childhood home in Sussex, Antony conserves and shares the ground breaking work of his parents. His fa...

Can Art Save Us? – Conversations on Arts, Mental Health, Social Justice & Wellbeing. Eve Horne, is a singer, songwriter, producer, author, award winning mentor and activist. Eve's journey is a roller coaster from being in 90s 'girl groups' touring with major boy bands, a No. 1 single and millions of streams on Spotify, to a major life change dealing with depression then re-emerging as a produc...

Can Art Save Us? – Conversations on Arts, Mental Health, Social Justice & Wellbeing. Hala Sabet, changed her life from being the most senior woman in the multinational oil and gas giant, Shell, in Egypt, to becoming a fine artist. Hala draws on her Egyptian roots to express the universe through sculpture and painting. She was selected by the Royal British Society of Sculptors and the Internati...

Can Art Save Us? – Conversations on Arts, Mental Health, Social Justice & Wellbeing. Mohammed Ali, MBE, is a graffiti artist who works internationally and creates immersive events combining theatre, music and poetry too. Mohammed has a deep respect for heritage, community and the arts and his purpose is clear; he wants to empower communities and celebrate multi-cultural stories around faith an...

Can Art Save Us? – Conversations on Arts, Mental Health, Social Justice & Wellbeing. Marije Nie is a classically trained musician and percussive tap dance poet. Marije's Ted Talk features her multi award-winning dance documentary 'One Million Steps’ with Eva Stotz, where she tapped poetic dance steps in the face of an explosive protest with police using tear gas in Gezi Park, Istanbul. Marije...

Otis Mensah, is a hip-hop poet and master of vulnerable expression. Otis became the City of Sheffield’s first poet laureate and his live performances include Glastonbury Music Festival and opening for numerous artists. Otis breaks down barriers of power, elitism and control including stereotyping and branding. He reminds "people that poetry is meant to be for the people.” – The Guardian. We explor...

Can Art Save Us? – Conversations on Arts, Mental Health, Social Justice & Wellbeing. Lady Kitt is a creative activist, artist, maker and drag king, described as ‘an international superstar of feminism.’ You may also encounter Kitt as Captain Privilege or as King Kitt, a terminally confused, toxic male. Kitt’s practice however as a socially engaged artist is crystal clear. From performance art...

Can Art Save Us? – Conversations on Arts, Mental Health, Social Justice & Wellbeing. Barry Gibb is a multi, multi-award winning filmmaker with over 100 science films and a series of powerful shorts about time, life and death. He often films in deeply sensitive and difficult circumstances. His recent film 'The Gift,' follows the artist Barbara Bird's end of life but also her continued journey b...