By Emily-Rose Toohey
Supporting and facilitating the arts on the Southern Downs is an important initiative due to the benefits participating in visual art, drama, and dance (to name a few) has on mental health.
Whether it’s building self-confidence, a remedy for loneliness or even an outlet to express oneself, the arts play an important role in team building and uniting a community with similar interests.
For instance, Warwick Art Gallery director Karina Devine said the real question should be ‘why isn’t the arts important?’.
“For me, it’s been important all my life, that’s why I’m doing my job – I’m trying to share the significant contribution it can make to a community,” Karina said.
“We (Warwick Art Gallery) exhibit local work but also bring in outside exhibitions to broaden people’s minds.
“Visual art is very much about telling human stories.”
However, she said that while the gallery would be considered of value to most locals, being able to visit it was often difficult.
“It’s a valid and important part of people’s lives, it’s just trying to make time for it as everyone’s so time-poor,” Karina said.
But the community of artists in the region is a strong one and the gallery director explained that there was a network of individuals who have an interest in art as their common grounding.
“People of all ages like to get together and experience art,” Karina said.
“If they’re feeling lonely in town, maybe art’s the way out – there’s a mental health benefit.”
Similarly, Stanthorpe Little Theatre’s secretary and youth theatre leader Annie Mitchell said drama forms the basis of communication.
“What we’ve found through Covid is that communication keeps us connected and drama allows you to explore your emotions and that’s important for mental health,” Annie said.
As the only active theatre on the Southern Downs, she explained that drama is also a form of escapism while also helping to develop imagination, creativity, teamwork and an appreciation of the whole community pitching in for one goal.
“Our society tends to be individualistic and all about ourselves – the theatre’s about community,” she said.
From the perspective of a teacher, Annie said seeing what her students accomplish is every teacher’s goal.
“Drama gets people who wouldn’t normally speak out to do so, developing self-confidence,” she said.
Furthermore, Karina also started out as a high school teacher before moving into the art space full time by travelling to Warwick for the gallery director position 15 years ago.
“We do 16 plus exhibitions a year and are booked into 2024 – there’s definitely a demand for it,” she said.
But with the organisation’s AGM that occurred in late August, Karina wanted to remind the community that the gallery is member-run.
“We’d like to have more members and people being involved not just as a visitor,” she said.
Furthermore, Stanthorpe Regional Art Gallery director Mary Findlay said that the arts have the propensity to break down barriers and differences and bring people together.
“The thing with art is that it’s available to everyone,” Mary said.
“In a time like this, the arts can break down barriers, include people and throughout isolation and uncertainty the arts – every type – are important.”
Moreover, she said that people often find solace in it and has found that even throughout the Covid-19 shutdown, individuals were still finding time for it online.
“Art is about making meaning of your life and what’s happening around you,” Mary said.
“Stanthorpe has a very strong arts culture and the gallery is here because the community wanted one of their own.”
Mary also echoed the sentiment that art is beneficial for mental health.
“By investigating how you’re feeling through creating art, it’s profound because feelings are so strong and art comes out of that,” she said.
