One of the short cuts to lifting your mood is to spend some time getting creative. More and more people now appreciate that arts and culture can play a valuable role in managing mental health.
Taking up a new creative hobby can provide valuable alone time when life gets a bit hectic. Engaging in arts activities within a social setting can help with major challenges such as ageing and loneliness.
It boosts your self-confidence and enables you to connect with others while helping you relax and become more resilient. If you’re going through a particularly difficult time, research suggests it can alleviate anxiety, depression and stress.
On this page you’ll find lots of ideas to help you enjoy the arts in your own home or out and about in the borough.
Museum of Wigan Life
Discover the people and places of Wigan Borough both past and present at the Museum of Wigan Life. Alongside their collections, the Museum also runs lots of informative sessions and workshops. Current exhibitions include:
Gerrumonside
This brand new exhibition celebrates rugby league past and present in the borough and internationally. Follow our local teams’ trophy-filled histories and learn how Wigan, Leigh and Tyldesley broke away from the Rugby Football Union in 1895 and formed the Northern Union. Learn about the early game, the rise of women in the sport, disability rugby, grass roots rugby, the international game and the all important fans! See original memorabilia never seen before, and more unusual items including the original turnstile from Central Park.
Rebels, Radicals, Reform: The Fight for Better
The freedom to protest has been a way for people to get their voices heard throughout history. The reasons for protests have been varied, but whatever the reason, it has been the catalyst needed for the growth of freedom and change. From the Jacobites, Diggers and Peterloo, to the miners strike and recent movements about the environment and racial equality, this exhibition brings to life the many causes the people of our proud borough have campaigned and fought for over the past 600 years, ultimately making it the amazing place it is today.
Permanent Collection
As well as temporary exhibitions, the Museum of Wigan Life has displays on Romans, Egyptians and Wigan’s trade and industry. Get up, close and personal with ancient coffins and grave goods in their Ancient Egypt Rediscovered display. This amazing collection covers over 3000 years of Egyptian history.
Wigan STEAM
Wigan STEAM is a creative organisation based in the Galleries in Wigan town centre, which aims to nurture creativity in people of all ages and backgrounds. They offer free rolling exhibitions, workshops, creative projects, and a community makerspace where for a small membership fee you can drop in and work on your own projects using their facilities.
They also have a small shop where you can treat yourself or others to unique gifts.
Umbrella Arts
Based in Leigh, Umbrella Arts have just opened their new space on Bradshawgate. They operate a number of projects in the community which focus on arts for health and wellbeing, for leisure, for the community and for skills. They also have an art gallery and shop featuring the work of local artists.
You can take a look at their current programme of classes and sign up for updates on the Umbrella Arts website (external link).
Photography tips
If you don’t think of yourself as an arty type, photography can be a great way of expressing your creative side. It’s easy to combine this hobby with existing interests and it’s a great excuse to get yourself out and about, paying real attention to your surroundings.
To help you along your way, our resident photographer Dave Green has put together some handy tips and tricks to help you capture more professional and creative shots.