Led by local musician Mary-Ann Wright, the Wellbeing Choir Cowra is open to everyone, of all experience levels, who’d like to sing.

The 10-week program runs on Sunday afternoons, from 2pm till 3.30pm at St John’s Church Hall at 98 Kendal Street Cowra.

It starts on Sunday, June 11, running through to August 13.

Participants can join at any time.

Regional arts development organisation Arts OutWest has set up this and eight other local programs across the region on behalf of House with No Steps, who have provided the funding.

“Arts is a great vehicle for assisting people with their mental health wellbeing, particularly when we’re able to strengthen these projects through relationships with the health sector,” Arts OutWest executive director Tracey Callinan said.

Arts OutWest has built this program in close consultation with mental health and disability support services across the region.

Health professionals will attend some of the choir sessions.

Arts OutWest has many years’ experience running arts projects with health outcomes and is regarded as a regional leader in the arts and health field. 

Other workshops and programs, across music, visual arts and drama, will run in Orange, Lithgow, Bathurst, Forbes, Parkes and Grenfell.

Different artforms will be used in different locations, ranging from a choir with musicians Smith & Jones in Bathurst, manga cartoonist Matthew Lim working with young people in Lithgow, and workshops at Bloomfield in Orange with mosaic artist Catherine Bennett.

Each of the programs specifically targets particular groups, including adults living with a variety of mental health challenges; adults with learning disabilities; and carers.

Some of the programs will be for existing groups, others are open to the public.

Projects that people can sign up for include:

To sign up to the Wellbeing Choir Cowra call Arts OutWest on 6338 4657 or email artsoutwest@csu.edu.au