The Big Anxiety Festival in Sydney aims to challenge and re-imagine the state of mental health in the 21st century.
The festival will be combining innovative experiences including the world's highest resolution 3D cinema with international art exhibitions, theatre and contemporary dance, public forums and interactive media events.
Like the name, The Big Anxiety Festival brings to life and raises awareness of how big anxiety and mental health issues really are in our society today. Anxiety is the most common mental health condition in Australia with one in four people experiencing it at some points of their lives.
The festival's main vision is to create opportunities for meaningful encounters that promote curiosity and empathy, decrease stigma, support neurodiversity and promote emotional well-being in our society.
Executive and Artistic Director of the Festival, Professor Jill Bennett (UNSW) says “there is resounding evidence that arts can contribute to our mental wellbeing in really sustainable ways. Far beyond simply promoting awareness. We want to transform the way people think, feel and connect.”
The festival is based around five main themes: Awkward Conversations, Lived Experiences, NeurodiverseCity, Power, Politics and Institutions and Mood Experiments.
