Founder and Creative Director, Michael Lockwood has lived experience with mental illness and says the competition helps people with mental illness feel seen, heard, and valued.
‘Over a decade ago, I was diagnosed with treatment resistive Major Depressive Disorder and stopped being able to work. Even to this day, I have regular hospital visits for ECT to keep it under control.’’
“Often people with a mental illness feel alone and isolated. You go through life without having your thoughts and opinions valued. To be accepted into a competition and have your work shown is a way of validating that yes, you’ve got a powerful story to share with the world.’’ Michael says.
This year, Out From The Mist is introducing a new prize in honour of a 2022 entrant Cherie Brodie, who sadly died from an aneurysm. Through her photography, Cherie sought to overcome her complex PTSD, drawing on her love for her children for strength and hope. The Cherie Brodie Award will be judged by Brodie’s family.
Entries are now open for artists, creatives, and musicians across the world to submit their work. Whether you’ve been directly impacted by mental illness, or indirectly impacted through a friend or relative, this is your chance to share your experience in the form of art, film, music, and photography.
Entries close September 1st and the awards night will be held in Brisbane on World Mental Health Day, Tuesday 10 October 2023. To enter the competition, see last year’s entries, or view the incredible prizes up for grabs, visit outfromthemist.com.
Winners will share in prizes from competition partners Australian Asia Film, Princess Pictures, Micah Projects, Mental Health online, Steve Parish Nature Connect and Affinity photos.
Out From The Mist is run in partnership with the Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia (MIFA). If you would like to support the competition by becoming a sponsor, contact Tony Stevenson at MIFA at tony.stevenson@mifa.org.au, Michael Lockwood at michael@outfromthemist.com or visit outfromthemist.com.
