Artist as Changemaker: MelVee X
The artists participating in the Artist as Changemaker Residency and Fellowship Program have been diligently immersed in their projects, and we are thrilled to take a peek at their creative endeavours in anticipation of the upcoming final showcase scheduled for May 2024.
MelVee X - Artist as Changemaker Resident
Partner: Action Dignity
How Might We: How might we transform the mental wellness of BIPOC communities through arts and culture in healing and constructive ways?
Who’s involved - Action Dignity, Community Participants
Purpose: MelVee worked with Action Dignity on her project Living in our Skin - a deep dive into the mental health of racialized people. Part reflection, part toolkit, Living in Our Skin explores how art and creativity are tools to understand our mental health and empower racialized communities to express themselves outside of oppressive systems that do not reflect our communities and concerns.
Project Description:
During her residency with the Arts as Changemakers program, MelVee delved into the intricacies of mental health within racialized communities, drawing inspiration from her personal experiences as a Black queer neurodivergent woman. She utilized various artistic mediums to shed light on the challenges faced by racialized individuals, particularly focusing on the intersectionality of mental health and systemic barriers. Through initiatives like the short film "Deep in Our Minds: Isolation, Racism and Mental Health," created in collaboration with fellow artist Tito Gomez, they explored the nuanced impacts of racism and isolation on immigrant families in Canada. Additionally, her participation in the Systems Change Knowledge Mobilization event provided valuable insights into addressing systemic barriers in mental healthcare for racialized communities. Building on this knowledge, she organized creativity workshops. She implemented the innovative Photovoice method to amplify participants' voices and empower them to express their mental health experiences through art. Her commitment to challenging systemic injustices and amplifying marginalized voices underscores the transformative potential of art in fostering social change. Through collaboration with Action Dignity, an organization dedicated to supporting racialized communities, they forged partnerships to create meaningful impact and address urgent societal issues. This intersectional approach reflects her dedication to advocacy and social change and exemplifies her commitment to inclusivity and equity within the artistic and activist spheres.
How would you describe the impact of this work?
The impact of this work cannot be understated. The mental health of racialized people can be a life-and-death concern. For example, there is considerable disparity in how racialized people access mental health care.
According to the Mental Health Commission of Canada: 38.3% of Black Canadian residents with poor or fair self-reported mental health used mental health services compared with 50.8% White Canadian residents. 60% of Black Canadians said they would be more willing to use mental health services if the mental health professional were Black.
The gap in mental health care for racialized communities will not be addressed overnight, and this is where projects like Living in Our Skin come in. In addition to raising awareness of these gaps in mental health care for leaders, decision-makers and policy experts, projects like Living in Our Skin equip those not well served by current mental health systems with tools to express and advocate for themselves.
When we take charge of how we express our mental health, we empower others to do the same and provide a lifeline to those feeling isolated.
