Movie, art and cabaret: York’s triple celebration of mental health week

York is marking National Mental Health Awareness Week early – with not one but three artistic events.

The week runs from May 16 to May 22, but city-based charities York Mind and Rethink Mental Illness are staging three events at City Screen on Sunday May 8.

There’s an exhibition of art, live performances at a cabaret night, and the screening of a movie that Empire magazine called “original, smart and affecting”.

1. Art exhibition

In the Coney Street venue’s upstairs corridor gallery overlooking the Ouse, an exhibition of painting and artworks will run from May 8 to the end of Mental Health Awareness Week on May 22.

The exhibition explores the theme of Relationships: some of the artworks are reproduced below.

York Mind fundraiser, Holly Pollard told YorkMix: “We asked artists to send us pictures on this theme and we were inundated with excellent artwork.

“All the pictures are on sale, but the artists will remain anonymous until the end of the exhibition. Visitors will be asked to make secret bids for the various pieces, with the winning bids revealed at the end of the event.

“All monies raised from sales will be split equally between York Mind and Rethink, to improve support for people in York experiencing mental ill-health.”

2. Cabaret

In the evening, at City Screen’s Basement venue, the two charities unite again for an Arts Cabaret Night.

This evening of live music, theatre and spoken word performances will showcase acts include the Communitas Choir, SixLips Theatre, and musicians Esther Clare with Andrew Clegg.

Other guest performers from the city’s vibrant arts scene will also be taking part.

3. Movie

City Screen cinema itself will be supporting events with a screening of Love & Mercy, the acclaimed 2014 biopic of the life of Brian Wilson.

The role of the troubled genius behind the Beach Boys is played by two actors, John Cusack and Paul Dano, each reflecting different aspects of Wilson’s character at different stages of his life.

The poignant film captures Wilson in the grip of psychosis while producing some of the greatest popular music ever heard.