SICK Festival

Name: SICK Festival
Address: Red 3, The Sharp Project, Thorp Road, Manchester, M405BJ, GB
Telephone: +441616966410
Price range: £
Rating: 5

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SICK Festival

SICK Festival A festival activating new narratives and beginnings.

Confronting the physical, mental and social challenges that we face in our individual and collective lives, the festival will present an outstanding international arts programme, weaving in perspectives from academic research, clinical practitioners, public health professionals, charities and those with lived experience of the issues we address.

10/01/2025

❤️ 🎩 Magical🪄 opening for tonight. Congrats, all involved 👏

23/12/2024

🌟 North Manchester Talking Circle 🌟

Mandem Meetup Manchester are continuing their collaboration with SICK! to sustain their North Manchester Talking Circles into 2025!

💡 Mandem MeetUp Talking Circles
Mandem MeetUp offers space at the Harpurhey Neighbourhood Project - The Centre to explore how we can support each other as a community and learn what true brotherhood feels like. 🖤

Join us for a talking circle and a brew—Mandem talk! Let’s connect, share our stories, and build together.

👥 Who’s it for?
The North Manchester Talking Circle is a safe, welcoming space for conversations that matter, open to all those who identify as men. Whether you’re here to connect, share, or just listen, you’re welcome!

🗓 When?
📅 Every 2nd & 4th Tuesday, 6-8pm
🗓 Starting Tuesday 14th January 2025:
• 14th January
• 28th January
• 11th February
• 25th February
• 11th March
• 25th March

📍 Where?
Harpurhey Neighbourhood Project, Conran St, Harpurhey, M9 5PR

📩 Need more info?
Drop us a line at:
📧 [email protected]
📧 [email protected]
📞 0161 696 6410

20/12/2024

Last but definitely not least for our December opportunities!

📢 Calling All 18–25 Year Olds in North Manchester!

Are you curious about your community’s history and passionate about bringing it to life? Join the NOW Fellowship, a 6-month paid programme with SICK! Productions, and explore the incredible heritage of Moston, Harpurhey, and Charlestown.

✨ What’s in it for you?
*Hands-on experience in community history research, oral histories, and public engagement
*Collaboration with mural artists to create new artworks for the Shared Heritage Murals Programme
*Training, mentoring, and networking opportunities to build your career in heritage, culture, or research

💰 What You’ll Get:
£300 monthly stipend
Lunch and travel expenses covered
Access to materials and equipment if needed

📍 When & Where:
Programme: 24 February – 24 August 2025
Flexible scheduling to fit your commitments, but have availability to attend a community event at Boggart Hole Clough on 17 May 2025

🗓️ Key Dates:
Application Deadline: 27 January 2025
Interviews: W/C 3 February 2025

This opportunity is open to young people living in North Manchester, with a particular focus on those who would define themselves as working-class. No prior experience is needed—just bring your curiosity and enthusiasm!

👉 How to Apply: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yrbSDB-3tHpOwX4VDXZO-KlkLujJOZad/view

📢 Share this post and tag someone who might be interested!

20/12/2024

Yet another opportunity from SICK! this December for Artists to mull this winter...

🌟 Artist Call Out! Shared Heritage Murals 🌟

Are you a mural artist passionate about community, history, and co-creation? SICK! Productions is seeking artists to design and paint three new shutters on Moston Lane, North Manchester, celebrating its rich heritage and dynamic community.

🖌️ What We’re Looking For:
*Artists experienced in mural work for shutters/outdoors
*Interest in co-creation and working with local businesses
*Enthusiasm for platforming local history and stories

Artists with working-class backgrounds or connections to North Manchester are encouraged to apply!

✨ What’s Involved:
*Collaborate with our Now Fellows to explore the history of Moston Lane
*Work with shop owners to develop your design
*Complete your mural by the end of May 2025

💰 Fee: £1,750 (including meetings, design, and production) + £200 for materials

🗓️ Important Dates:
Application Deadline: 3 February 2025, 10am
Interviews: W/C 10 February 2025

With support from Historic England, this is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to the growing gallery of street art in North Manchester!

👉 Apply Now: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ngyKxTrQLVZVpg44mv7rb0u5RL9LX7gj/view

📢 Spread the word and tag artists who’d love to be part of this project!

20/12/2024

🌟 Exciting Opportunity for Artists in the North-West! 🌟

As part of our award winning SMASH! programme, SICK! Productions is on the lookout for artists with lived experience of mental health to lead creative workshops and open conversations for participants referred through mental health services.

✨ Opportunities Include:

🎨 Participatory Workshops (CREATE):
Lead 2-hour sessions exploring creativity and personal stories.
Fee: £200 + £40 materials per session.

🗣️ Creative Conversations (CHAT):
Facilitate intimate discussions about your work, challenges, and mental health journey.
Fee: £200 per event.

📍 Where: No.93 Harpurhey Wellbeing Centre, Manchester
📅 When: February 2025 – February 2026
💬 Travel budget available for artists from outside Manchester!

🗓️ Important Dates:
Application Deadline: 13 January 2025
Interviews: W/C 27 January 2025

👉 More info and application details here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_rAku6lbB6u3zsR3MyR3MRxsJJjZnjgR/view

📢 Please share this with your networks and help us find amazing artists to support this work!

20/12/2024

🚨 Job Opportunity Alert! 🚨

SICK! Productions is hiring an Administrative Producer to join our small but high impact team. If you’re super organised and passionate about supporting creative teams, this is the role for you!

✨ What You’ll Do:
✅ Oversee project management systems and schedules
✅ Manage contracts, budgets, and logistical support
✅ Coordinate venues, travel, and artist needs
✅ Ensure smooth day-to-day operations

📍 Location: The Sharp Project, Manchester
💼 Hours: 3–4 days per week (part-time)
💰 Salary: £26,000 FTE, pro rata

🗓️ Key Dates:
Application Deadline: 15 January 2025 at 5pm
Shortlisting: 17 January 2025
Interviews: 22–23 January 2025

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a vibrant organisation making a real difference in arts and mental health.

👉 Learn more and apply: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oBOv4IlxmSRuvMdLjYqMeoeYXjSkrHLr/view

📢 Share this post and help us find the perfect candidate!

12/12/2024

Thanks and all those who nominated SICK! and support our work. We're super proud of our SMASH social prescribing programme - supporting the mental health of North Manchester residence year round through the arts!

Congrats again to all the other winners and those nominated too. A special shout out to all those also working in the North of the city💪🏾X

This Manchester Culture Awards are an annual celebration of all those who have contributed to Manchester's creative buzz!The winners were announced at a spec...

25/11/2024

We’re very pleased to share with you that we have WON the Manchester Culture Award in the Health and Wellbeing Category for SMASH!

Thank you to the SICK! Team, our Mental Health Practitioners, SMASH artists, No 93 Wellbeing Centre, Manchester Youth Zone and all the participants who make this amazing project what it is!

SMASH! is SICK!’s first arts based social prescribing project that has run from Harpurhey since 2021 and has supported hundreds of local people to improve their mental wellbeing through a curated programme of regular artist talks, cultural visits and creative sessions.

We’re very proud of the SMASH Programme and delighted that it has received this recognition. We now run a growing Creative Health programme in North Manchester including SMASH!, Women & Girls, Mandem Meet Ups and Mindgames.

10/10/2024

Today is World Mental Health Day and we wanted to take this opportunity to talk about our current project MINDGAMES.

In this short video, we look at how Games Design can be used as a tool to explore and deal with mental health, discuss the positive impact the programme is having and what you can expect if you come down to Harpurhey Neighbourhood Project - The Centre and get involved.

If you're age 16-30 and not in education or employment, find out more or get involved, contact Grace: [email protected]

Thanks so much to Grace Harvey, Mikey Wools, Courtney Hayles (CourtsWrites), John Cooper, Stacey Wearmouth for taking the time to speak to us.

This project was made possible by funding from Greater Manchester Combined Authority (Greater Manchester Combined Authority) and Arts Council England (Arts Council England).

09/10/2024

We are delighted to share with you that we have been nominated for the category of the Promotion of Health and Wellbeing at the Culture Awards 2024 for our work on the SMASH programme!

08/10/2024

Join the Board of Trustees at SICK!

Are you passionate about art, creativity, and driving social change? SICK! is looking for forward-thinking individuals to join our Board of Trustees and play a key role in shaping our future.

As we develop our 2025-2030 business plan, your expertise will be crucial in guiding strategies that advance our mission. With an unwavering focus on mental and physical health, disability, and inequality, our work is more relevant than ever.

We are looking to welcome 3 new Trustees with skills in one or more of the following areas:
- Finance/accountancy.
- Legal knowledge, ideally in employment law.
- Safeguarding policies and practices.

As an organisation, we are committed to ensuring our Board reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. We are actively encouraging applications from people facing racism, those who identify as LGBTQIA+, individuals from lower socio-economic backgrounds, and those with disabilities. We would also welcome applications from people with connections to Moston, Harpurhey, and Charlestown in North Manchester.

Join us in shaping SICK!'s future and making real change.

Find our Board Recruitment Pack including details of how to apply: https://sickfestival.com/news/opportunity-join-our-board/

There’s a Light, Brightlight. SICK! Festival 2022. Photo Credit: Trevor Coe.

08/10/2024

Want to know more about the North Manchester Talking Circles with Mandem Meetup?

We’ve got you covered!

Here’s Mandem Meet Up attendee and neighbourhood organiser for Moston, Paddy sharing his experience with the North Manchester Talking Circle.

Open to all men, you’ll find a welcoming space to explore how to support each other as a community and learn what true brotherhood feels like. The North Manchester Talking Circle takes place every 2nd and 4th Tuesday (that’s tonight!) of each month.

📍: Miners Arts and Music, 63 Teddington Rd, Moston, Manchester M40 0DJ

⏰: 6pm - 8pm (every 2nd and 4th Tuesday)

‘Come as you are, you’re welcome here’.

07/10/2024

A bursary opportunity that our friends at Something To Aim For are offering is now open to any resident in the borough of Manchester to support with accessing training, events or resources needed to develop their artistic or creative practice.

Artists and creatives working in all areas of the arts are welcome to apply — from actors and playwrights to painters and musicians. Whether you are starting out in a creative profession or see yourself as a non-professional creative the Manchester Artist Bursary is open to all.

Applicants are welcome to apply for a bursary of up to £100.

There will be two opportunities to apply, with Round 1 which is open now and Round 2 opening in early 2025.

DEADLINE 20TH OCTOBER - MIDDAY

Head over to Something To Aim For for more details

02/10/2024

On Tuesdays at Harpurhey Neighbourhood Project - The Centre we are continuing with our gaming workshop sessions for Mindgames introduction to games design.

TUES 8 OCT, 12-2pm - Gaming Workshop: Intro to Character Design

TUES 15 OCT, 12-2pm - Gaming Workshop: Intro to Audio Design

TUES 22 OCT, 12-2pm - Gaming Workshop: Intro to Audio Design

TUES 29 OCT, 12-2pm - Gaming Workshop: Intro to Coding

At each session, we will also have Stacy, a mental health practitioner to lend support, and a creative & safe space to connect with others and gameplay sessions. Lunch & refreshments are provided and there is an access fund for travel.

If you're age 16-30 and not in education or employment, find out more or get involved, contact Grace: [email protected] / 07565355951

01/10/2024

ARE YOU A MALE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 15 - 20?

Join our friends Malandra Jacks at the Miners Arts and Music for SCULPT, a weekly session for lads between the ages of 15 - 20 where there will be chatting, eating pizza, making some art and having weekly pool tournaments.

They will be joined by comedian, story teller and SICK! 2024 artist Smug Roberts who will be running four storytelling workshops to explore identity and personal stories. Following this artist Louis Beckettof the Miners will be hosting four sessions where he will be working with attendees to create life-size sculptures representing you and your stories.

If this sounds like something you’d be interested in, then head over to the Malandra Jacks page to sign up to attend the Monday sessions.

20/09/2024

We sat down with Courtney Hayles aka Courts Writes, artist facilitator for ‘Mindgames: Intro to Games Design’, who explored story design & character development after the first of 2 sessions with the young people at Harpurhey Neighbourhood Project - The Centre last week.

🎮 There are places for upcoming sessions, if you’re 16-30 and not in education or employment, and love gaming, then get involved. Lunch provided & travel budget available. 🎮

Contact Grace for more info & to reserve your space:
📧: [email protected]
📱: 07565355951

11/09/2024

Meet the artist for SMASH: Dawinder Bansal: an immersive installation artist & story teller, who is informed by her British and Indian-Kenyan heritage & identity, using her lived experiences of being a carer for a parent with mental illness, and finding support in the world of self-help.�

Join us & Dawinder at the first session in the September schedule of our mental health & arts programme: ‘Confessions From My Teenage Bedroom’, where Dawinder will read from her own diary, share her story and lead an activity where you can explore mental health, look to your own future, instead of where you are now.��

📍: At No.93 Wellbeing Centre on Friday 13th Sept at 10:30am - 12:30pm
🍴: Hot lunch & refreshments provided.
📧: Email [email protected] to reserve your free place.

09/09/2024

As well as their scheduled 10:30am Moston Brook Social Walk next Tuesday 10th September meeting at Failsworth Town Hall, our friends at Moston Matters are inviting you to join their Local History Get Together later that afternoon, with a picture show of Failsworth, curated by historians and locals, a brew and a chat, at St. John’s Church, at 2pm.

You’re welcome to bring your own pictures, and share your own memories.

For more info email Ann: [email protected]

Address

Red 3, The Sharp Project, Thorp Road
Manchester
M405BJ

Telephone

+441616966410

Website

https://linktr.ee/sick_festival

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Videos

Today is World Mental Health Day and we wanted to take this opportunity to talk about our current project MINDGAMES. In this short video, we look at how Games Design can be used as a tool to explore and deal with mental health, discuss the positive impact the programme is having and what you can expect if you come down to Harpurhey Neighbourhood Project - The Centre and get involved. If you're age 16-30 and not in education or employment, find out more or get involved, contact Grace: [email protected] Thanks so much to Grace Harvey, Mikey Wools, Courtney Hayles (CourtsWrites), John Cooper, Stacey Wearmouth for taking the time to speak to us. This project was made possible by funding from Greater Manchester Combined Authority (Greater Manchester Combined Authority) and Arts Council England (Arts Council England).

We are delighted to share with you that we have been nominated for the category of the Promotion of Health and Wellbeing at the Culture Awards 2024 for our work on the SMASH programme!

Want to know more about the North Manchester Talking Circles with Mandem Meetup? We’ve got you covered! Here’s Mandem Meet Up attendee and neighbourhood organiser for Moston, Paddy sharing his experience with the North Manchester Talking Circle. Open to all men, you’ll find a welcoming space to explore how to support each other as a community and learn what true brotherhood feels like. The North Manchester Talking Circle takes place every 2nd and 4th Tuesday (that’s tonight!) of each month. 📍: Miners Arts and Music, 63 Teddington Rd, Moston, Manchester M40 0DJ ⏰: 6pm - 8pm (every 2nd and 4th Tuesday) ‘Come as you are, you’re welcome here’. #mensmentalhealth #community #talkingcircle

Mindgames Intro to Games Design: Court Writes Talks Story Design

We sat down with Courtney Hayles aka Courts Writes, artist facilitator for ‘Mindgames: Intro to Games Design’, who explored story design & character development after the first of 2 sessions with the young people at Harpurhey Neighbourhood Project - The Centre last week. 🎮 There are places for upcoming sessions, if you’re 16-30 and not in education or employment, and love gaming, then get involved. Lunch provided & travel budget available. 🎮 Contact Grace for more info & to reserve your space: 📧: [email protected] 📱: 07565355951

Mindgames: Harpurhey Neighbourhood Project Venue Guide

Ahead of the first weekly Mindgames intro to games design workshops and exploring mental health, starting this Tuesday 3rd Sept, Alfie went down to Harpurhey Neighbourhood Project - The Centre to get all of the info about the building as it’s being painted before things start next week. If you're age 16-30 and not in education or employment, find out more or get involved, contact Danielle or Grace: Danielle: [email protected] / 07949546135 Grace: [email protected] / 07565355951

North Manchester Talking Circle

Want to know more about the North Manchester Talking Circles with Mandem Meetup? We’ve got you covered! Here’s Mandem founder Jamie sharing about what to expect in sessions and more information about Mandem Meet Up. Open to all men, you'll find a welcoming space to explore how to support each other as a community and learn what true brotherhood feels like. The North Manchester Talking Circle takes place every 2nd and 4th Tuesday (that’s tonight!) of each month. 📍: Miners Arts and Music, 63 Teddington Rd, Moston, Manchester M40 0DJ ‘Come as you are, you’re welcome here’.

SICK! x The University of Manchester Creative Track Internship Reflective Documentary

At the end SICK! Festival 2024, we teamed up with students from The University of Manchester who created a reflective documentary over 2 weeks, about the festival. They produced, filmed & edited by the documentary, guided by our Communications team. The 6 social studies students worked on developing skills in forming a narrative & script writing, filming, interviewing, and editing to make an engaging & authentic documentary, platforming the voices members of the community, and looking into behind the scenes at SICK! Watch the full 15 minute film on staflive.com

We couldn’t have done it without you!

Our aims for SICK! Festival 2024 were to deliver a diverse & innovative arts programme in Moston, Harpurhey & Charlestown, co-creating the programme with the community and inviting in local, national and international artists exploring issues impacting the health & wellbeing of North Manchester.� We’d like to thank the people of Moston, Harpurhey & Charlestown, and beyond, and look forward to working with you going forward. We’d also like to thank all of the artists, creatives, mental health practitioners, funders & partners, volunteers and technical teams who were part of SICK! Festival 2024. We couldn’t have done it without you!

Thank you, SICK! Volunteers & YMCA

Working behind the scenes we wanted to extend the warmest of thank yous to our volunteers who supported many of our events, and to YMCA chairty shop in Harpurhey Shopping Centre who hosted us as our community hub during the festival.

Thank you, Festival Hosts Poor Lass

It was a privilege to have Poor Lass on the ground talking to the artists, participants, audiences & people in the community, going live behind the scenes of SICK! Festival 2024. Thank you to Em & Seleena for being festival hosts, and to all who stop for a chat with them.

Thank you - SMASH! Open

Our SMASH! Mental Health & Arts programme runs throughout the year, and during the festival, we had a series of taster workshops where you were invited into art & creative activities to explore improving mental health & wellbeing. We’d like to thank artist Steph Wild for the GROW session, Susana Amato for 'Landfill of Memories/Hoarding', Lauren Yvonne Townsend for the OCD session, Vijay Patel for ‘Create Your Own Access Rider’ and Professor Jackie Smith & Ellen Dowell for immeserive audio experience 'Let's Talk About Cough/One In Ten'. We’d also like to thank Age UK in Harpurhey Shopping Centre, North City Library and No.93 Wellbeing Centre for hosting us. Find out more about SMASH! here: https://shorturl.at/2PEB0

Thank you - In The Community

SICK! Festival 2024 was chockfull of events & performances, that involved you, the people of Moston, Harpurhey & Charlestown. Thank you for working with us in the community, with artists, performers, at workshops & creating the art with us. Thanks to all involved in In Our Nature including the people of Moston, Charlestown & Boggart Hole Clough and all the artists who joined us, No Us & Them with Company Chameleon & the participants, The Launderette Sessions at Amazing Grace with Merel Smitt, and the North Manchester Film Festival at Miners Arts and Music.

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About SICK! Festival...

SICK! Festival places art at the heart of positive health and health at the heart of outstanding art. Through creation, presentation and public conversation, we empower diverse communities to confront the physical, mental and social challenges that we face in our individual and collective lives.

We deliver an outstanding international arts programme, weaving in perspectives from research, clinical practitioners, public health professionals, charities and those with lived experience of issues addressed – culminating in a high-profile, biennial international festival. Themes are explored through many art forms – dance, theatre, public installation – and through lectures and debates.

SICK! takes the conversation into the heart of the communities where the subjects matter most and to major cultural centres, providing common ground where differing perspectives come together in shared exploration. The issues we examine are difficult: sexuality, identity, mental illness, ageing, death – the very stuff of being human. They are also deeply personal and often kept away from public debate. We exist to change that.

Dream days - Minister/ Officiant
Ornate Deco & Event Planners
3 Alcester Walk