April Update
Creative Balance Project Update: Moving Forward with Our Research
We're excited to share the latest developments from the Creative Balance project as we continue to explore mental health and wellbeing for Black and Global Majority creatives across Scotland's cultural sector.
Our Journey So Far
Since launching in December 2023, we've established a Steering Group of 10 professionals from across Scotland and conducted detailed case studies to better understand the challenges facing BPOC creatives. From this work, three central themes have emerged:
The need for safe, BPOC-led spaces where creatives can connect without tokenism
Systemic change in creative industries and mental health services is required
Economic pressures significantly impact mental health for BPOC creatives
New Developments
We're thrilled to announce that Creative Scotland has provided an additional £5,000 in funding to support our ongoing research, complementing our existing support from The Baring Foundation and Equal Media and Culture Centre.
We've welcomed Loa Pour Mirza as our Research Assistant, who brings extensive experience working with migrant and diasporic communities along with expertise in creative research methods.
This week, we held important language sessions with our Steering Group to explore appropriate terminology around both "mental health" and racial identity, recognising the complexity and importance of how we frame our research.
Focus Groups & Community Engagement
We're now preparing to launch focus groups across Scotland. These groups will use creative methods to explore experiences of mental health in the creative sector.
We will provide more information on this in the coming weeks.
Looking Ahead
As we move forward, we remain committed to research that is led by and for our communities. The findings will contribute to building the first comprehensive evidence base about BPOC creative spaces and mental health in Scotland, informing policy recommendations and practical frameworks.
If you'd like to learn more or get involved, please contact us at hello@creativebalance.scot.