About the project
What is INSPIRE?
INSPIRE (INclusive arts for Social Participation, Integration, Resilience and well-being in Europe) is a European project, co-funded by the Creative Europe programme, that aims at improving the well-being of people with and without mental health problems, i.e. all of us, through arts and culture.
Combating stigma and exclusion, INSPIRE promotes open communication to help enable us to feel better and live in a better world. It supports important festivals that connect music, theatre or dance with interest in mental health and humanistic values and with integration of those to whom society pays little attention. INSPIRE includes performances, concerts, exhibitions and happenings, as well as debates, seminars and workshops on important topics. The project involves famous artists and amateurs, handicapped artists, mental health professionals, major personalities from various fields, as well as so-called ordinary people.
INSPIRE educates us and makes culture accessible to all, including people with mental or physical disabilities. It creates new types of artistic events with both professional and non-professional artists, promoting social inclusion through culture and within cultural events.
INSPIRE involves collaboration and exchange of experience between three main partners: Sdružení pro bezbariérovou kulturu Nedomysleno, which organizes Prague’s popular Mezi ploty festival, Associació Sociocultural l’Altre Festival, which organizes the l’Altre festival in Barcelona, and Fundacja Varsztatovnia, a Polish foundation responsible for a wide range of socially beneficial activities.
A key part of the INSPIRE project is the web platform you are currently on.
Who is behind INSPIRE?
Nedomysleno and Mezi ploty
Nedomysleno (the INSPIRE project coordinator) is the organizer of the original music and theatre festival Mezi ploty (Between the Fences), which has been held on the grounds of the Bohnice Psychiatric Hospitals in Prague since 1992. The initial impulse to found it was an attempt to open to the public a psychiatric institution that used to resemble a prison or a dumping ground for useless individuals. Originally a small event, the festival gradually developed into one of the most sought-after cultural events in the Czech Republic.
The Mezi ploty festival regularly features artists with various physical or mental disabilities, who perform on the same stages and to the same audiences as famous professionals. Since 2014, the event has also been attended by mental health experts who engage in face-to-face communication with festival goers. The festival thus no longer just removes barriers – it also offers help to its attendees. It is the only major cultural event in the Czech Republic that is completely alcohol-free.
Mezi ploty is the largest culture and mental health festival in Central Europe. It attracts dozens of bands and theatres, non-profit organisations and professionals– and of course thousands of festival-goers.
Visit www.meziploty.cz
Associació Sociocultural l‘Altre Festival
A Barcelona-based NGO that, like the l’Altre festival itself, was founded in 2015. It works for inclusion and to improve the well-being of people with mental health problems, as well as everyone else, through the arts. It raises public awareness of mental health and finds original ways to enrich cultural offering.
The international l’Altre festival, which annually takes place in Barcelona (but also boasts an offshoot in Argentina), combines performing arts with awareness raising and support in the area of mental health. Consisting of professional, amateur and mixed performances and concerts, its programme is created based on regularly published calls – l’Altre thus not only presents art but also stimulates artistic creation, including the work of the mentally ill or intellectually disabled. Annually, the event is attended by some 35 theatre companies and over 4,500 spectators.
Fundacja Varsztatovnia
The Varsztatovnia Foundation, which was established in 2018 but is already active in eight major Polish cities, focuses on supporting independent art and community initiatives through workshops and many other activities. It is the largest organizer of singing and creative writing workshops in Poland and a leader in other artistic disciplines. It also combines art with psychological methods in workshops on art therapy, drama therapy, intuitive dance and neurographic therapy.
Thus, Varsztatovnia has extensive year-round activities in the field of culture and art, where it is also involved in international initiatives and public projects. Moreover, it is active in the field of education, community building and socially responsible business. And as of 2024, it even runs a mental health counselling centre.
The Foundation’s multifaceted activities are united by its values of authenticity, freedom of expression, social responsibility, diversity and free creativity.
Visit www.varsztatovnia.pl
When the soul needs help
All of us occasionally encounter the shadows of mental difficulties that do not escape anyone by virtue of their position or age. The INSPIRE project was born out of a desire to provide a space to share, support and understand these experiences. And it all started at the Mezi ploty Festival, which has been raising awareness about mental health and providing a space for the open sharing of personal stories for thirty years.
It was there, among hundreds of visitors and an inspiring atmosphere, that the idea for INSPIRE was born. We wanted to create a place where no one felt alone and could find understanding and support. INSPIRE is a platform where you can feel free to share your thoughts, feelings and experiences, draw on advice and inspiration from others, and connect with people who have similar experiences.
The project bridges the real and virtual worlds, bringing together ordinary people and celebrities from the worlds of art, science, and politics who are not afraid to talk about their experiences of mental health. We’re breaking down the stigma and prejudice that often surrounds mental illness, and showing that it’s something that can touch all of us.
At INSPIRE we strive to create a place where everyone can feel safe, heard and inspired. Because mental health is never just about one of us, it’s about all of us together.
Who's behind it: A team that believes in change
The INSPIRE project is no accident. It is the brainchild of a team of experts and enthusiasts who share the common goal of bringing light into the lives of people struggling with mental illness. Our members come from a variety of disciplines, from psychology to art to technology, allowing us to approach the topic of mental health from many angles.
Klíčoví členové týmu
They support us
EU statement: funded by the European Union. The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the EACEA is responsible for the views expressed.
They said about us
INSPIRE is where understanding meets the reality of mental health difficulties. As a psychologist, I see daily how important it is to have a space for sharing and peer support. This platform is exactly what many of my clients need so they don’t feel alone in their struggle.
psychologist
Creativity and mental health are closely linked and INSPIRE understands this link perfectly.The platform has given me the opportunity to be heard and inspired by others who have gone through similar experiences.It is a space where art and healing go hand in hand.
artist
In INSPIRE, I found a community that helped me understand that my pain is something I can share without fear.Thanks to the open stories and support I found here, I began working on my recovery with new hope.
schoolteacher
Terms, rules and GDPR: Everything under control
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