Echo: A Community Arts Programme for Mental Health and Wellbeing

Echo is an ambitious new community arts project by Deorum Studios CIC, launching in Wolverhampton in 2026. Created with the belief that art can be a tool for mental health awareness and social connection, Echo brings people together through a six-week series of inclusive workshops, storytelling, and a co-created public exhibition at the Wolverhampton Arts Centre.

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What is Echo?

​Echo is a multidisciplinary arts programme designed to explore wellbeing, and community through creativity. Across six weeks (April–May 2026), participants will take part in free artist-led workshops in ceramics/Sculpture, painting, illustration, poetry, and photography. Each session is designed to be safe, inclusive, and welcoming to people from diverse backgrounds, from young adults and LGBTQ+ communities to people with lived experience of mental health challenges. The project culminates during Mental Health Awareness Month with a vibrant public exhibition and live performance night at Wolverhampton Arts Centre. The showcase will feature community artwork, spoken word, live music, interactive installations, and reflective social spaces.

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Why Echo Matters

​Wolverhampton faces some of the highest levels of mental health challenges in the West Midlands, with one in five adults experiencing a common mental disorder. Access to safe, creative, and culturally relevant wellbeing spaces remains limited. Echo responds to this need by creating an environment where people can express themselves through art, share personal stories, and connect with others in a meaningful way. This project has been shaped in collaboration with community groups, peer support networks, and local charities, ensuring that Echo truly reflects the voices and needs of Wolverhampton residents. Our partners include China Plate Theatre, Wolverhampton Arts Centre, The Wolves Foundation, Rethink Mental Illness, The Good Shepherd, and other local organisations.

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How It Works

• ​Workshops: Weekly creative sessions led by professional and community artists.

• Preview Night (Winter 2025): A smaller “Identity in Progress” showcase to build momentum.

• Exhibition & Performance: A multi-day event with live readings, community panels, interactive art walls, and an awards moment honouring contributors.

• Extended Showcase: Following Wolverhampton Arts Centre, the exhibition will move to The Hub at The Station with Rethink Mental Illness and then to 01902 Urbanrooms, ensuring wider community access.

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Who It’s For

​Echo is open to everyone, but especially welcomes:

• Young adults (16–45)

• LGBTQ+ and culturally diverse communities

• People with lived experience of mental health challenges

• Early-career creatives and community artists

• Families, carers, and support professionals

 

Our goal is to engage more than 450 people directly, including participants, audiences, and visitors.

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A Safe & Inclusive Approach

​Echo is built on care-led facilitation and inclusivity:

• Wheelchair-accessible venues

• BSL interpreters and neurodiverse-friendly structures

• Quiet breakout spaces for reflection

• Free entry and all materials included

• Trauma-informed delivery with safeguarding policies in place

 

By embedding representation, access, and wellbeing into every stage of the project, Echo ensures that art is not only creative but also healing and transformative.

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Why Now?

After years of social isolation, funding cuts, and rising mental health challenges, there has never been a greater need for inclusive community arts programming. Echo builds on the groundwork laid by Deorum Studios’ past community exhibitions and collaborations with local charities, while also aligning with national initiatives such as Mental Health Awareness Month. As a Community Interest Company, Deorum Studios reinvests in projects like Echo to ensure the arts remain accessible, purposeful, and community-led.

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Get Involved

Echo is more than an exhibition, it’s a collective journey of creativity, care, and empowerment. Whether you join a workshop, attend the showcase, or support us as a partner, you’ll be part of something that celebrates Wolverhampton’s creativity and champions mental health awareness through art. Follow Deorum Studios CIC for updates and find out how you can get involved in Echo 2026.