Breaking down walls; the power of creativity to change lives is explored in ‘City in a Citadel’ – a new exhibition at the Mental Health Museum

In his first solo exhibition ‘City in a Citadel,’ local artist and expert by experience R.R. looks back at his time accessing in-patient mental health services.

‘City in a Citadel’ shows the frustrations and hard realities of long-stay hospital admissions, as well as the stigma some people can experience when accessing mental health services.

After initially feeling lost and isolated, R.R. found refuge in creative activities provided on the wards. Art therapy and creative writing proved lifelines, as R.R. writes “in many ways I believe these practitioners helped revive something that I thought I had lost.”

‘City in a Citadel’ invites its viewers to look beyond the day-to-day routine and asks what can be created when people are encouraged to dream. This intriguing exhibition is testament to the power of creative health to change lives and help people reimagine their futures.

Jane Stockdale, curator of the Mental Health Museum said: “This is a powerful exhibition from R.R. with a deeply personal insight through extraordinary words and images.

"It is also testament to the power of creativity to enable us to communicate experience and find new ways of being.”

‘City in a Citadel’ is on display from now until the end of May 2026. The Mental Health Museum is free to visit, and everyone is welcome. It is open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 1-4pm. For more information and to plan your visit, contact the Museum team by emailing [email protected], calling 01924 316360 or visiting www.southwestyorkshire.nhs.uk/mental-health-museum.

R.R. is a local artist who recently had work included in a Creative Minds curated collective exhibition. His work often includes illustrated art with accompanying lyrics, bringing together visual images and the written word for a multi-layered ambient experience.

The Mental Health Museum’s remarkable collection explores mental health treatment and experiences in Wakefield and Yorkshire from the early 1800s to the present day.

The Museum exists to promote understanding, empowerment, and respect; to combat social inequality, prejudice, and stigma through collective learning.