Entries for $20,000 global arts competition closing soon
Entries for the 4th annual global film, photography, and music competition close on 19 August. The aim of the Out from the Mist competition is to help break down the stigma associated with mental illness by sharing the stories and experiences of those with lived experience.
Winners across 20 categories will share in $20,000 worth of prizes, and selected entries will be featured in exhibitions throughout Australia, including Perth, Brisbane, Gold Coast, NSW locations, Townsville, and Rockhampton.
Founder and Creative Director, Michael Lockwood has lived experience with mental illness and says the competition helps people with mental illness feel seen, heard, and valued.
‘’Ten years ago, I had a nervous breakdown and stopped being able to work. Even to this day, I have regular hospital visits for ECTs to keep it under control.’’
“Often people with a mental illness feel alone and isolated. You go through life without having your thoughts and opinions valued. To be accepted into a competition and have your work shown is a way of validating that yes, you’ve got a powerful story to share with the world.’’
‘’It helps people understand that they’re not alone and helps them feel heard and valued.’’
“While the focus is on mental illness, Out from the Mist is about so much more. Harnessing the power of storytelling, it looks at mental illness through the lens of art.”
Hannah Brooke, a competition winner from 2021, says the competition showcases and celebrates the real and raw emotions and challenges people face with their mental wellbeing. “Very often, photography and photography competitions can represent the most wonderful things in life. There are even editing tools to remove imperfections and make everything look brighter and shinier. Whilst these photos are always beautiful to look at, they often don’t represent what we see in everyday life.’’
“This competition allows people to express life as they experience it, or as someone they know experiences it,” Brooke says. “Not only is that a valuable opportunity for the person creating the photo or vide, but it’s also an insight for the viewer to see the things they may not experience themselves, or to realize they are not alone in what they are going through.’’
Entries close 19 August and winners will be notified by 10 October 2021. To enter the competition, see last year’s entries, or view the incredible prizes up for grabs, visit outfromthemist.com.
The awards night will be held in the Gold Coast at 19Karen on 10 October 2022 during Mental Health Week where the first exhibition will run until 17 October.
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