Fairhill Shopping Centre will transform into an artist’s paradise this Saturday as it prepares to create Ballymena’s first ‘Mood Mosaic’.
Families are invited to come along and let their young people express their inner artist as they create a ‘mood masterpiece’ using an abundance of art supplies, which will then be displayed within the centre.
Natalie Jackson, Fairhill Shopping Centre, Centre Manager explains more, “It has been well documented that art therapy can have many positive benefits for young people, including stress relief, easing anxiety and helping to relax both the body and mind. As our charity of the year is Aware NI we want to do what we can to help boost mental health in the Ballymena area.
“Each year, we welcome young people from the local community to get creative and this year is no different, apart from the canvas they will be using. Rather than paper, we will be using stone and asking everyone to decorate their stone to reflect their current mood.
“To see the thoughts and feelings of our young people expressed through art and displayed proudly within the centre will be a fantastic sight and enable anyone who may be struggling to see that they are not alone. It will also be a very enjoyable activity for the children.”
John Shannon from Sx3 Shannon Site Solutions Ltd who donated the stones to the Fairhill Shopping Centre for this event, said; “When the management team told me about what they were doing within the Centre, it was an easy decision for the company and I to make and get involved by donating the stones for this project.
“This is a fun and creative way to engage kids as well as be mindful of our mental health.”
This latest initiative from Fairhill Shopping Centre forms part of the ongoing drive to reach out to and engage with the local community. Previous activities have included a road safety event and exploring the benefits of reading via a story wall competition.
The ‘Mood Mosaic’ fun will begin in the Mall on Saturday 31st August, and again on the last Saturday of September, October and November, with the Mood Mosaic being unveiled in 2020.
AWARE is the depression charity for Northern Ireland and is the only charity working exclusively for people with depression and bipolar disorder, delivering mental health and wellbeing programmes into communities, schools, colleges, universities and workplaces.
Visit fairhillshopping.co.uk for more details.
Pictured are Natalie Jackson, Centre Manager and John Shannon, Sx3 Shannon Site Solutions Ltd
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