Hey creatives: be part of our art exhibition focusing on mental health and wellbeing
Here at Deakin we want to talk about mental health and wellbeing, and put it at the centre of all we do. It’s important to know that mental health is a broader concept than just dealing with any problems you may face. It’s also about helping you to feel your best, cope with stressful situations and contribute to your community, whatever your personal situation.
Mental health and wellbeing should be a priority for all of us, not just those who experience mental illness.
You’re more than a student to us
Research indicates that rates of distress and vulnerability to mental health problems is higher in university students than the general population. That’s why our commitment to you extends beyond books, assignments, labs, exams or grades. As part of our Student Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy, we want to help you to not only reach your academic potential, but also ensure that you enjoy your university experience – and become more resilient, confident and joyful along the way.
Mental illness can significantly affect a person’s cognitive, emotional and social functioning. One in five Australians experience a common mental illness in any year. In Australia, half of all people who experience a mental illness have their first episode by age 18 and three-quarters by age 25.
Showcasing mental health and wellbeing through art
As part of our focus on mental health and wellbeing, we’re calling on students to submit a work of art for our exhibition that:
is inspired by or reflects on your mental health and wellbeing
is influenced by a personal mental health journey
comes from caring for someone with a mental health issue.
Art can be such a fantastic form of therapy, either to deal with personal struggles or to share feelings of joy, love, stress and despair. We want to showcase the amazing creative talents of our community in a space that helps to destigmatise mental health and inspires positive action.
Don’t be intimidated if you don’t paint or draw – we know that creativity comes in many forms. It might be a digital piece you’ve created, a poem you’ve written or a photo you’ve taken – we’re interested in any piece that inspires you to think about mental health, or brings comfort or hope.
It might take you a few weeks to complete an in-depth artwork that’s deeply personal, or two minutes to snap a scene that speaks to you without you even knowing why – we want it all!
To be part of our art exhibition, all you need to do is take a photo of a piece of your own artwork, complete the below entry form and upload by 5pm, Wednesday 22 September. Read on for the selection criteria, artwork specifications, and terms and conditions.
Photos of selected pieces will be published on a Deakin Gallery blog and displayed across our campuses during Mental Health Month in October.
Not all submitted entries may be included in the exhibition – a selection panel will determine the suitability of each piece. We will be using the following criteria to assess which pieces are included:
How well it gives voice to living with your own mental illness or caring for someone who has a mental illness.
How well it conveys the process of managing mental wellbeing.
How evocative and thought-provoking it is, without being offensive or distressing to the viewer.
If your artwork meets the above criteria but the number of entries we receive means it is not displayed due to space limitations, we will instead publish it on Deakin Life.
Artworks can be in any medium – for example, painting, drawing, mosaic, photo, computerised image, the written word (poem) or other art media that is suitable for photographic reproduction on a poster to be hung for the exhibition.
Original pieces of art will not be accepted. Submissions must be in the form of a high-resolution (300 dpi) photo of the artwork, with a file size of 9MB or less.
Submissions can be existing pieces or be created especially for this exhibition. You can choose to have your work displayed anonymously, although you will need to supply your name when you submit your art.
As part of the submission form, you will need to include a short statement (400 characters or less) that explains your overall vision and how it connects with the concept of mental health. It should include the medium/process used. This statement may be edited for clarity, length or tone.
Applicants can submit more than one submission, provided each entry has its own individual application form.
All entries must be suitable for publication; the design must not include any defamatory, offensive or unlawful content.
Entries must be entirely the applicant’s own original work and must not breach any copyright or third-party rights. Deakin will not be made liable for any non-original work submitted by the applicant.
How to submit
Eligible participants are required to complete the application form located on this page and to submit their artwork as outlined above.
Entries close 5pm, Wednesday 22 September 2021.
Selection of artwork
Artwork will be selected by a panel of four independent people – two managers, Counselling and Psychological Support Services; Manager, Digital Presence and Communication, Division of Student Life; and Visual Arts teacher, Faculty of Arts and Education – based on the selection criteria listed above.
Deakin’s decision is final – no correspondence will be entered into. Deakin accepts no responsibility for late, lost or misdirected submissions or other communications. Submissions will be deemed void if forged, manipulated or tampered with in any way.
By submitting their artwork, applicants who meet the selection criteria consent to their artwork being published on the Deakin Gallery blog or social media channels if required.
Deakin reserves the right to cancel this expression of interest at any stage, or change any of the rules or procedures for any reason.
Applicants will be deemed to have accepted these rules and to agree to be bound by them when making a submission.
Privacy collection, use and disclosure statement
Personal information provided to Deakin University by entrants will be used to notify the winner of the competition and to publish their name in accordance with the terms and conditions of this competition.
Deakin University complies with the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 (Vic.) in its treatment of personal information. Entrants have a right to access their personal information held by the University. Requests for access to personal information are managed under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic.).
