Saturday 31 January to Saturday 14 March 2026
“Art has become my way of choosing healing over harm.”
FELT is a collection of artwork that shares lived experience of mental health through the eyes of people aged 18 to 30.
Blending fine art, textiles and sculpture, FELT showcases the voices of Greater Manchester-based artists born within the lifespan of Arc, Stockport’s arts and mental health charity based at Hat Works. These artists have turned their lived experiences of mental ill health into something you can see, touch and share.
While many of the works touch on anxiety, anger and uncertainty, they also leave space for softness, humour and hope. For some of these artists, creating is grounding and healing; for others, it’s a way to reach out and say: “This is how I FELT.”
The exhibition brings together 22 artists with totally different styles and stories, and invites viewers to recognise a part of themselves — or simply walk away with a little more empathy for the people around you.
Featured artists
FELT features work by the following artists. Click on the links to follow and view their work on Instagram.
- Arts & Carbs for Care Leavers: @makebuildgrow_cic
- Haleema Aziz: @aleema.arts
- DJ Chadman: @djchadmanart
- Stella Collier: @imartyfarty
- Mars Cort: @marsipants_art
- Bailey Creates: @baileycreatesart
- Emma Cusworth: @celestials.phase
- Lucy Follon: @fucy.lollon.studio
- Izzy Hellam: @izzyhellam
- Elsie Hughes: @elsie_hughes_textiles, @tenderhooksstudio
- Alexandra James: @lexcreatestudio
- Jess Kia
- Alvin Lam: @alvins_art
- Hannah Millington: @bearlyhannah
- Jonny Nolan: @jonny_nolan_
- Georgia Scholes: @morn.ing.gloryy
- Yiru Sun: @ytalkingnonsense
- Aamina Tahira: @_.aamina_.t
- Anna Tateson: @annatateson
- Bird Taylor: @birdtaylorarts
- Vaibhavi/V: @vaibhavi_dhankhar
- Chloe Watts: @chloeyasart
About Arc at Hat Works
Arc runs a varied programme of art exhibitions displaying traditional and contemporary visual arts, multimedia arts and arts for wellbeing programme celebrations. They run monthly family-friendly Saturday Art Clubs, art fairs, drop-ins and socials, and other fun events throughout the year at Hat Works and across Greater Manchester, allowing anyone who takes part to create, connect and feel better.
You can find out more about Arc at Hat Works on the Arc website.