First Fortnight Mental Health Art & Culture Festival unveils 2021 programme

First Fortnight Mental Health Art & Culture Festival is back for its tenth year in January – with 70 events taking place predominantly online across the month.

Renowned poet Stephen James Smith, comedian Alison Spittle, bestselling author and comedian Colm O'Regan, and musician and writer Jess Kavanagh are among the names set to feature as part of this year's festival.

The 2021 edition of First Fortnight will "look to explore loneliness, isolation and community".

“2020 has been a year when we have been told to lock ourselves away from other people; to not see our friends and family and in some cases to isolate," says First Fortnight's Programme Co-ordinator Edel Doran. "There has of course been reason for this but the effect has left us lonely, isolated and vulnerable. This is something many people experience when they have a mental health difficulty they feel they can’t share. They feel powerless. When we challenge mental health stigma, we help create a society that is there to help and to listen to mental health discussion. The arts are a powerful tool for this, the nation turned to the arts during this difficult time for a source of entertainment, escapism or enjoyment.

"Whether it was to consume the globally successful Irish show Normal People, dive into a book like Emma Dabiri’s acclaimed Don’t Touch My Hair, listen to a new album from groups like Fontaines D.C. or to actively participate in the arts themselves, the arts demonstrated how important they are for our mental health and wellbeing," she continues. "We invite you to actively participate in the arts festival this year, join our community and power the change for mental health."

Registration is necessary for all events. See the full programme at firstfornight.ie