Blooming Minds showcase celebrates youth creativity and mental health in Louth

The Creative Spark Downtown Hub recently hosted the Blooming Minds showcase and evaluation launch, which was an event that brought together young people, artists, mental health professionals, and community members to celebrate the powerful impact of creativity on youth mental health.

The event, which tool place on Monday, September 15th, marked the official launch of the evaluation phase for the Blooming Minds Club (BMC), a youth-led, artist-supported creative arts hub designed for young people experiencing mental health difficulties.

Based at Creative Spark Dundalk, with outreach workshops held in Drogheda, Co. Louth, the project provided a space where participants could co-design and engage in a wide range of artistic activities—fostering self-expression, connection, and wellbeing.

The showcase featured an impressive array of artwork created by the young people over the course of the programme, highlighting the transformative power of creativity in their lives.

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Attendees also had the opportunity to learn more about the programme's goals, its journey so far, and future steps as part of its formal evaluation process.

Blooming Minds Club was one of just nine projects selected nationally for support through the Creative Ireland Nurture Fund, an initiative from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.

Over a two-year period, the project aimed to empower young people who were attending—or have attended CAMHS to collaborate in building a sustainable creative space tailored to their needs and interests.

Placing the voice of the young people at its core, the BMC offered a unique, innovative and dynamic model where creativity became a vehicle for emotional expression, healing, and community building.

Through regular workshops and art sessions, participants explored a variety of artistic forms in a safe, inclusive and supportive environment.

The Showcase & Evaluation Launch not only celebrated the artistic achievements of its young participants but also served as a powerful reminder of the importance of investing in youth-led, mental health-informed creative initiatives.

The event concluded with heartfelt reflections from participants and facilitators, all of whom underscored the lasting impact that the BMC experience had on their lives.

The Evaluation Report and a short video documentary capturing the journey of the Blooming Minds Club are now available to view on the Creative Spark website.