Art and Mental Health Festival Agenda 

The proceedings of the 4th Festival “Art and Mental Health” concluded with absolute success, taking place from May 21 to May 24, 2026, on the island of Aegina. Organized for the fourth consecutive year by the Greek Carers Network EPIONI, the festival successfully achieved its goal of transforming the island into a creative “Bridge of Therapy and Art”. The diverse events and workshops were hosted at the LaLiBay Resort & Spa, the Capralos Museum, and the Historical and Folklore Museum of the Municipality of Aegina.

International Support and the Role of Arts in Well-being

The opening of this year’s event was honored with greetings from Ms. Elsa Dimopoulou on behalf of the Deputy Governor of Attica, Mr. Thanos Askitis , the Deputy Mayor of Culture of the Municipality of Aegina, Mr. Michalis Spyridakis , and the World Health Organization (WHO) office in Athens. Representatives of the Organization, including Jennifer Hall and Dr. Anastasia Giannaki, actively participated by presenting scientific data on the therapeutic value of the arts in improving health and mental resilience. At the same time, executives from the Nordic Wellbeing Academy (Nina Sønderberg, Lars Münter) developed innovative approaches regarding creative thinking in political leadership and the use of journaling as a gentle path to recovery.

Art as an Antidote to Trauma: The “TRUST Art Therapy” Program

At the center of attention was the pioneering program “TRUST Art Therapy”. The festival welcomed with deep emotion thirty participants from Ukraine who are experiencing the trauma of war. Through specialized workshops in ECO ART THERAPY, collage, and writing, the participants utilized the natural environment of Aegina as a field for psychological healing. Furthermore, the public had the opportunity to watch a moving participatory video-poetry performance by the Ukrainian team.

Pathways to Recovery and World Schizophrenia Day

The exchange of experiences and the effort to eliminate stigma were strengthened through European projects:

  • “Pathways to Recovery” (Erasmus+): Mental health service users and their families from Sweden, Portugal, and Greece came together to share lived experiences that promote recovery and social integration.

  • “MENTAL-CARE” (Erasmus+): The final day of the festival (May 24) coincided with World Schizophrenia Day. On this occasion, a special workshop was held focusing on the value of meaningful communication between users, health professionals, and informal carers.

Rich Cultural and Experiential Activities

The four-day program included a wide range of artistic and therapeutic activities:

Theatrical and Musical Performances: The audience enjoyed the theatrical performance “A Crazy, Crazy Athens” by the PESOPSY Families Association , as well as an atmospheric Sunset Music Concert by the Estudiantina of Aegina.

Film Screenings: The award-winning short stop-motion animation “Psychonauts”, co-created by patients of the forensic psychiatry clinic of the University Psychiatric Hospital Vrapče in Croatia, was screened.

Experiential Workshops: Workshops on dance and movement therapy (“Emotion in Motion”) , a pottery and sculpture workshop (“Molding the Inner World”) , as well as experiential workshops on art therapy and dramatherapy were organized.

Presentations & Exhibitions: Highlights included the presentation of the autobiographical book by Vassilia Anastasaki about her personal battle with schizoaffective disorder , and the photography exhibition “Our Images, Our Voices” by the Les Échelles group of the French Red Cross.

Precious Supporters, Sponsors, and Auspices

The successful implementation of the festival was achieved with the co-funding of the European Union and was held under the auspices of the following important bodies:

  • The Region of Attica

  • The Municipality of Aegina

  • The Hellenic Psychiatric Association

  • The Hellenic Brain Council

Warm thanks are extended to the Embassy of Belgium, Saronic Ferries, KRITIKOS supermarkets, the Michaela’s goods store, as well as all collaborating entities and volunteers who contributed decisively to the realization of this celebration of art and mental health.

The 4th Festival clearly proved how creation can be the most powerful and bright path to healing, recovery, and mental balance.