Schizy Inc is one of the most trusted and consistent living experience led arts organisations in the world. Established in Melbourne in 2008, our projects and events epitomise professionalism, arts advocacy and empowerment. Schizy Inc adhere to the 'social model' of disability - it's not our illness that disables us, it's the structures and attitudes of society; including that of the medical model of mental health.
Image: Mojo audience winners wearing bright colourful clothes Larissa MacFarlane; Steph; Raphael Kaleb.
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Schizy Inc makes space in the arts for people with schizophrenia and diverse experience of mental health.
We're based in Melbourne (Australia) and currently operate in accessible venues, over digital platform Zoom, Youtube, Facebook and email. |
Image: Lots of people milling around indoors around a table with art. Man sitting at table shaking hands with man in black beanie.
Schizy Inc. is living experience led. We're an incorporated, registered not-for-profit charity organisation with Deductible Tax Gift Recipient status. We align with United Nations social conventions on disability which states people aren't a problem to be fixed or cured, rather society needs to be more welcoming, safe and accessible for diverse bodies and minds.
Schizy Inc dream up and run innovative arts projects. These include expert lived experience forums and creative workshops, and events Mojo Film Festival, Animo festival of illustration and Sanctuary outdoor arts retreat. We are working towards a Healing Farm where people can work with nature and creativity to honour their life journey.
Schizy Inc. works for personal and community pride with genuine connections in our global lived-experience neighbourhood. We do this because we know healing from complex trauma stress comes from being creative, curious and courageous. And being around others doing the same.
Schizy Inc dream up and run innovative arts projects. These include expert lived experience forums and creative workshops, and events Mojo Film Festival, Animo festival of illustration and Sanctuary outdoor arts retreat. We are working towards a Healing Farm where people can work with nature and creativity to honour their life journey.
Schizy Inc. works for personal and community pride with genuine connections in our global lived-experience neighbourhood. We do this because we know healing from complex trauma stress comes from being creative, curious and courageous. And being around others doing the same.
Image: Four happy people standing on staircase wearing vibrant colourful hair and clothes. Duncan C, Ali P, Larissa MacFarlane and Raphael Kaleb.
'Schizy Inc aren't art therapy'
Doing art is healing, for sure!
Yet our power as a modern cultural group is in owning and telling our stories, and
displaying them in professional ways that respect the owner and creator, rather than merely be a painful reality to treat.
Schizy Inc build the kind of spaces that make you proud to have survived your past and now deserve respect as owners of social wisdom.
Doing art is healing, for sure!
Yet our power as a modern cultural group is in owning and telling our stories, and
displaying them in professional ways that respect the owner and creator, rather than merely be a painful reality to treat.
Schizy Inc build the kind of spaces that make you proud to have survived your past and now deserve respect as owners of social wisdom.
Image: Three people on Zoom gallery screen. Woman in grey top top left with thumbs up, smiling man in front of bookshelf top right, smiling woman with long brown hair bottom middle. Text 'Schizy Speaks #1 Heidi Everett, Sandy Jeffs, Greg Ralls.
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Background of Schizy Inc.
Schizy Inc started in 2008 by psychiatric system user, Heidi Everett. Heidi spent many years in psycho-social rehabilitation groups and saw first-hand the need for gathering spaces that respected and empowered people rather than treating people as patients with mental illness needing help to socialise. The first Schizy event in 2010 was a 'Hot Dog Parade' in a Melbourne park during mental health week and featured companion dogs strutting handmade fashions down the runway. |
Image: Smiling woman with light brown hair and grey top in front of tree.
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Image: Two laughing women on stage. Woman in red beanie on left holding a guitar and woman on right in flowery brown trousers talking into a microphone.
Heidi's diagnosis of schizophrenia, initially led to a discovery around the lack of meaningful activities during Schizophrenia Week (May). Heidi was practicing as a musician so the two were put together and Schizy Week Jam was born at a small live music venue in North Melbourne in 2012 with the help from some muso mates, schizy friends and supporters.
The event continued every year and featured bands and performers with living experience of diverse mental health. The 'One Love international Jam' became the most iconic part of the event. Musicians with lived experience from Melbourne, the US, Canada, England, Wales, Northern Ireland and New Zealand, jammed on the big screen with muso's on stage, with a cover of Bob Marley's song One Love.
The event continued every year and featured bands and performers with living experience of diverse mental health. The 'One Love international Jam' became the most iconic part of the event. Musicians with lived experience from Melbourne, the US, Canada, England, Wales, Northern Ireland and New Zealand, jammed on the big screen with muso's on stage, with a cover of Bob Marley's song One Love.
Image: Many people on stage at Northcote Social Club venue. People in audience clapping. Video of Schizy Week Jam on screen.
Since then, Schizy Inc has diversified an arts platform to include all story-arts, including illustration, film, stand up comedy, writing, nature-based creativity, visual arts, as well as personal and community empowerment development.
From 2017, Schizy Inc has delivered the only public schizophrenia week event in Victoria, if not Australia. Schizy Inc now run events and projects all through the year, in real life, online and in collaboration with other arts organisations, and are steered by a committee, large membership base and allied mentors.
From 2017, Schizy Inc has delivered the only public schizophrenia week event in Victoria, if not Australia. Schizy Inc now run events and projects all through the year, in real life, online and in collaboration with other arts organisations, and are steered by a committee, large membership base and allied mentors.
Image: two smiling women standing in front of colourful artworks on black wall.
Schizy Inc is a registered tax deductible charity with the Australian Charities & Not For Profit Commission. We are managed by a committee of lived experience artist advocates, with support from governance mentors and arts sector allies. We are not a mental health support service but do encourage people to seek out medical support.
