Blog

Read the latest news and views from the Art with Heart team and our collaborators.

Elder participants working together in a workshop

International Day of Older Persons

Happy International Day of Older Persons! To mark this important day we are sharing a behind the scenes video from ‘Old Stock, New Stock’

An older person stands in the doorway of a caravan that has been decorated with colourful bunting. They are smiling at someone standing outside the caravan.

Meet the ‘This is Our Time’ film squad

Find out all about the brilliant team of older neighbours from the Manchester Cares network behind short film ‘This is Our Time’.

A student sticking his equalities pledge sticky note to his school uniform

LGBTQIA+ Equality Today- Alice’s reflections

Alice reflects on how we can continue to learn and be a better ally to the LGBTQIA+ community.

Chelsea stands at the front of a classroom, reading from a sheet of paper as she delivers a workshop.

LGBTQIA+ Equality today – Chelsea’s reflections

Chelsea Morgan has been supporting us to deliver our Equalities Workshop for LGBTQ+ History Month. We asked her to reflect on her time in schools with us.

An illustration of a brain projected in Declaration

The Positivity of Difference – Cellist Jo-anne Cox on Declaration

Jo-anne Cox, a cellist with a passion for inclusivity, creative interaction and cross art form collaboration came to watch Declaration at Stratford Circus.

Sarah performing Declaration

ADHD Norfolk CEO talks Declaration and the importance of representation

Andrea Bell, founder of ADHD Norfolk shares her experiences of watching Declaration and joining our workshop for ADHD young people. 

Sarah with a group who participated in a workshop on ADHD

Lifting the weight of shame- Reflections on Declaration

Priscilla Eyles shares her experiences of Declaration and our ‘Coiled Spring Club’ workshop at Stratford Circus Theatre.

Sarah performing Declaration to an audience

Sarah Emmott talks Declaration and creating autobiographical work

Co-creator and performer Sarah Emmott sat down to tell us all about what you can expect when you come to watch Declaration.

Rachel facilitating a workshop

Q&A with Declaration Director Rachel

If you follow us on social media, you’ll have seen a lot of stuff about our play Declaration,a frank, funny and fearless journey through ADHD and mental health.

Sarah holds a loud hailer and outstretches both her arms above her head. Her teeth are gritted, as she performs in front of an audience in a darkened studio theatre.

Declaration set to tour this Autumn

We’re super excited to be taking our Award-winning theatre project Declaration back on the road this Autumn.

Sarah and Rachel speaking to an audience while a BSL interpreter translates

Sarah Emmott on looking after ourselves whilst making work

Stan Writer/Director Sarah Emmott discusses learning curves, mental health and burn-out during a creative process.

Rachel Moffatt-Feldman interpreting Stan

Rachel Moffatt-Feldman offers tips for working with a BSL interpreter

Meet Rachel Moffatt-Feldman, a wonderful British Sign Language Interpreter. We asked her to offer her top tips for working with ‘terps.

Vilma playing with dinosaurs in a performance of Stan for schools

Performer Vilma Jackson on children reacting to BSL in Stan

See brilliant performer Vilma Jackson, who was cast in the role of ‘Girl’, share her experiences about Stan and the reaction to the use of BSL.

A group of students work on their equalities activity

30 years since Section 28: Our LGBTQ+ History Month Equalities work

This Hate Crime Awareness Week within LGBTQ+ History Month has felt pretty significant. Read our reflections on discussing LGBTQIA+ history in schools.

Sarah acting in a performance with another actor

World Theatre (Birth)Day!

World Theatre Day coincides with Belgrade Theatre, Coventry‘s 60th birthday! Sarah reflects on how an early experience at the Belgrade helped shape her career.

Sarah talks to a group of secondary school students who are sitting together.

Art with Heart join GMCA Culture and Social Impact Fund portfolio

It’s fun to be in the G.M.C.A. We’ve secured funding to help aid positive social change across Greater Manchester communities.

Peter Holden riding a bicycle in the Northern Quarter

So we told ’em about the wonder of Peter Holden

We are saddened to hear of the loss of Peter Holden. In Peter, Manchester has lost one of its finest creatives, and one of the warmest, most generous men we had the pleasure of meeting.

A board that reads 'what do I need?' where participants have pegged up notes

#TimeToTalkDay: Theatre and Mental Health

Today is Time To Talk Day, a day dedicated to encouraging people to talk more openly about mental health. We’ve put together a collection of our reflections on mental health to mark the occasion.

Sarah taking a mirror selfie and grinning

World Mental Health Day: Touring a play about your own mental health

Today is World Mental Health Day, so after spending three months on the road with Declaration, Sarah shares her experience of touring a production which speaks so honestly about your own.

Sarah receiving her commendation with a group behind an LGBT Foundation banner

Sarah makes The Purple List!

Sarah has been listed on Biscuit’s Purple List, recognizing Bisexual achievement. Biscuit is a bi advocacy group that works to support the bi+ community.

Sarah reaching to the sky in Declaration, stood above a box filled with things

Declaration Guest Blog 3: Gill Powell, Oldham Library

Gill Powell shares her experiences of working with parents to support children with ADHD in a time before diagnosis.

Two participants enjoy a hot drink and participating in an activity for SPACE

Do we need ‘SPACE’?

Mental health Practitioner Steph Walker reflects on the need for space and time to take care of ourselves and how it informed the wellbeing room she curated to accompany Declaration on tour.

Sarah running around in a superhero costume Declaration

Declaration Guest Blog 2: James Woods, Ellesmere Port

Our second guest writer is James Woods who shares his experiences of living with ADHD, advocating for mental health awareness and seeing himself in Declaration.

Sarah speaking into the microphone of a child's till Declaration

Declaration Guest Blog 1: Ben Foreman, Brentwood

Guest writer Ben Foreman shares his experiences of life with ADHD; growing up with labels, being misunderstood and finding places where you fit in.