Reclaiming Our Power

Reclaiming Our Power is the outcome of a collaborative art project which ran from 2024 to 2026 . The Mental Health Foundation worked with the Gallery of Modern Art, various artists, individuals and community groups, to explore the mental health impact of racism through creative workshops.

The project focused on racist microaggressions: everyday words, actions, and experiences that can make people feel excluded, judged, and unheard. Through discussion and artmaking, participants shared their experiences and expressed their feelings using colour, words, images, and creative ideas. A steering group of workshop participants have then co-curated this exhibition with GoMA staff to convey their everyday experience with the most impact.

These artworks share different personal experiences, but together they demonstrate strength, courage, connection, and the power of having your voice heard.

As part of the project, six volunteers from the creative workshops worked with the Mental Health Foundation to co-develop a free, open-access online resource for professionals in education, healthcare, and transport. This aims to equip them to recognise microaggressions, understand their mental health impact, and to take practical steps to prevent and respond to them. You can access this resource here.