First Fortnight Mental Health Art & Culture Festival is returning at the end of this month, along with the celebrated Therapy Sessions.

For the festival's full in-person return, renowned poet Stephen James Smith will once again MC at Workman's, Dublin on Friday, June 24th and The Duncairn, Belfast on Saturday, June 25th.

Tickets are now on sale for both events (Dublin here, Belfast here), which display a collective of spoken word and music to alight the senses and evoke a strength of togetherness.

The music for the Dublin edition will be curated by thrilling Nigerian-Irish singer-songwriter Tolü Makay; featuring soul songstress Toshín, Dublin-based alternative/neo-soul artist Tomike and Nigerian-born, Cork-raised conceptual act Salamay.

Stunning writer and performer, Chandrika Narayanan-Mohan, and Scottish poet Iona Lee also join attendees at the Dublin edition of Therapy Sessions.

In Belfast on June 25th, Stephen will steer the event for its second time at the beautiful venue. Artists on the night include poet Nandipha Jola, spoken word poet Peter Murphy (Cursed Murphy and exquisite musician, Ciaran Lavery.

“It was lovely to be able to present Therapy Sessions online in 2021, but anyone who has ever been to Therapy Sessions, will empathise that the event is not just about the artists, but very much the connection between the artists performing and audience," Stephen James Smith explains.

"Therapy Sessions is a powerful, moving, reciprocal dynamic of connectivity. A very special bond that cannot be emulated online and I am very excited for us all to be able to witness once again, the special moments this event gifts us all.”

First Fortnight is a charity that challenges mental health prejudice through arts and cultural action. The organisation's vision is for a society where mental health is discussed freely and where mental health supports are accessible to those who need them.

First Fortnight festival has become a fixture in the cultural calendar and synonymous with mental health awareness, challenging prejudice and ending stigma. The organisation also runs a Centre for Creative Therapies which provides creative therapies (art, music, drama) to the homeless, or those at risk of experiencing homelessness.

“First Fortnight 2022 was designed as a hybrid online/in-person festival," Maria Fleming, CEO of First Fortnight, told Hot Press. "We chose the theme ‘Open’ because we knew we’d need to be open to all eventualities. The agility we built into the programme stood to us and we are thrilled Therapy Sessions will still take place in 2022.”

“This June as part of First Fortnight, The Grand Stretch, being able to gather for this exceptionally personal event; in person for the first time in over two years, adds to our summer in a beautiful way."

For more information, visit firstfortnight.ie.