A Different Light

UK art collective WE ARE WILLOW present a 'A DIFFERENT LIGHT' in collaboration with Manchester and Stockport Mind mental health charities, contributing to continued awareness of male mental health.

'A Different Light' aims to immerse, challenge and inspire the audience, whilst celebrating the makers involved. It demonstrates how mental health issues affect us all, directly and indirectly, within our circle of family and friends, ourselves or strangers we encounter briefly.

Apparent in the projects' creative outputs, is the central question of what it means to "man up". Boldly, and bluntly, shunning the idea that simply acting more 'like a man' will conquer mental health issues. Instead the message which can be heard at times quite loudly, but also more subtly, states that 'being a man' should not be a barrier to finding a healthier, happier self.

At its core are four songs by WE ARE WILLOW. Taking this starting point, emerging and established artists were invited to respond to the music, working with no restrictions to "take the music and do what feels right". This resulted in four spoken word works and four remixes, encouraging us to think about how we can challenge misconceptions around mental health and engage more openly with one another - to embrace and support the topic of male mental health in 'a different light'.

WE ARE WILLOW is a UK based multidisciplinary arts collective collaborating on commercial and self initiated projects for national and international audiences. Through a passion for visuals and sound with over twenty years experience in the arts and creative industries We Are Willow strive to produce unique and challenging work which embraces the talents of their collaborators.

DEDICATED TO
THE DADS AND THE LADS
THE MUMS AND THE SONS