The Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival (SMHAF) is seeking proposals for five small artist commissions in response to their 2026 theme of Reflections, plus a new young artist commission.

The fee for each commission is £1,000, inclusive of materials. The application deadline is 5pm, Fri 8 May 2026.

SMHAF’s artist commissions are open to artists based anywhere in Scotland and working in any discipline – music, film, visual art, performance etc. – as long as the work addresses mental health and responds in a creative way to this year’s theme of Reflections.

Their artist commissions were originally designed to generate new work that can be presented online at www.mhfestival.com, but they are also open to proposals that can be shared in festival venues during the 2026 programme.

They will not prioritise applicants who are able to make work more quickly and they are flexible around access needs. Commissions should ideally be presented during this year’s festival dates, 19 October – 8 November 2026, but they are also open to presenting work later if this would make the opportunity more accessible.

All applications received will be considered for the regular commission. If you are eligible and would also like to be considered for the young artist commission, choose the option in the application form on the festival website and enter your date of birth.

If you have any questions about the commissions, please email us at smhaf@mentalhealth.org.uk.

For further information, please contact smhaf@mentalhealth.org.uk (Andrew Eaton-Lewis), or visit https://www.mhfestival.com/2026/04/smhaf-2026-commissions-call-for-artists-to-respond-to-theme-of-reflections/.