SMHAF Writing Awards Come to Aberdeen for First Time
Writers wrestle with comfort and discomfort around mental health in this collaboration with Wayword
The SMHAF Writing Awards are coming to Aberdeen for the first time this October. On Wednesday 29 October at Cowdray Hall, the event brings together writers, musicians and spoken word artists in a collaboration with the University of Aberdeen’s WayWORD Festival. The awards have been running since 2007.
This year’s theme is Comfort & Disturb, asking writers to explore the tension between seeking comfort and sitting with discomfort when it comes to mental health. Shortlisted entries in poetry, fiction and creative non-fiction will be read aloud, alongside performances from local and visiting artists.
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Who’s performing
Local poet Jo Gilbert hosts, and the line-up has been put together by Ica Headlam, who founded We Are Here Scotland. Aberdeenshire folksinger Iona Fyfe performs, along with spoken word artist Mae Diansangu and Nuna, a genre-crossing musician who moved to Aberdeen from Indiana.
“The theme of Comfort and Disturb resonates very deeply with me as a folksinger,” Fyfe says. “Cowdray Hall is a beautiful place to get to perform and I’m excited to return to a home audience.”
Spoken word artist Mae Diansangu looks forward to the new work form shortlisted writers
For Diansangu, the appeal is partly about how "the creative arts can really impact mental health positively. The lineup is a great mix of established performers, but what I’m most excited for is to hear the new work from the shortlisted writers.”
Writers from Aberdeen’s creative community will read their work too. The shortlisted pieces will be published in a collection illustrated by local artist Rosa Eisenberg, and there’s a reception afterwards.
Why this year feels different
The involvement of WayWORD, the student-run festival, shifts things in a more experimental direction. It’s bringing a different energy to the awards and centring Aberdeen voices in a programme that’s been part of the wider Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival for nearly two decades.
Rob Dickie, Arts & Festival Officer at the Mental Health Foundation, says: “Our annual writing awards is one of our most enduring successes and we’re looking forward to combining this with a live literary showcase, featuring some of the city’s most talented artists.” He adds that they hope “these events will lead to a thriving local programme in the future.”
Tickets are free but you’ll need to book in advance through the SMHAF listings page. It’s worth going if you’re interested in how writers are working through mental health on the page, or if you just want an evening of good readings and folk music. The mix of established and emerging voices should make for an interesting night.
