A creative wellbeing programme based in Southend-on-Sea is marking its 10th anniversary this May, celebrating a decade of supporting residents through art. Connect & Create, managed by Metal Culture, provides free, therapeutic arts sessions at Chalkwell Hall in Chalkwell Park to help people manage mental health challenges, trauma, and dementia.
Since it launched in 2016, the programme has reached 2,194 people in the community. Over the last ten years, the initiative has delivered more than 25,500 hours of support across over 100 different groups. The programme is supported by Southend City Council, which partners with the organisation to ensure these creative spaces remain free and accessible to the public.
The anniversary coincides with two significant national awareness events: Mental Health Awareness Week, which ran from 11-17 May, and Dementia Action Week, taking place from 18-24 May. Organisers highlight these dates as a fitting time to reflect on the programme’s impact. Data from this year alone shows that 49% of participants reported a reduced need for crisis teams or regular NHS and GP mental health services after taking part in the sessions.
Dr Warren Harper has taken over as the new Director of Metal Southend as the programme enters its next decade. Dr Harper joined the team in February 2026 after returning from Canada, where he previously served as the Exhibition Manager at the Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto and lectured at the University of Toronto.
While the organisation is best known to many residents for its large-scale events, such as the Village Green Festival, Connect & Create remains a distinct, long-running project. The festival, which historically drew large crowds to Chalkwell Park, has not taken place since 13 July 2019 due to the impact of the pandemic.
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