In Conversation With: Emma Howe, Director of The Minories
- Artlune
- Jun 1
- 3 min read
Artlune is honoured to partner with The Minories for our upcoming exhibition in England this June 2025. We sat down with Emma Howe, Director of the Essex based art gallery The Minories, to discuss the exhibition and project Fragile Strength.
Emma shares how artistic activities impact mental health and why The Minories believes in meaningful collaborations like Fragile Strength.
Q: What is The Minories, and what does it offer?
The Minories is Colchester's oldest art gallery, established in 1956 and owned by the Victor Batte-Laye Foundation. Over the years, it’s been run by various groups, most recently by the charity We Are The Minories. Alongside hosting exhibitions, we organize events, collaborate with local community groups, and house several tenants, including the British Origami Society, the East Anglia Folklore Centre, and Creative Co-op, a graphic design organization. We also have a community-run café and a beautiful garden, making it a welcoming space for all.
Q: What values guide The Minories' work?
Our values center on community, inclusion, and diversity, as well as environmental responsibility. We see ourselves as custodians of this historic building, with a duty to invite people from all walks of life into the space. Historically, the gallery may have been limited to certain groups, but we’re passionate about broadening access and creating an inclusive environment for everyone in our local community.
Q: How does The Minories address mental health through art?
We’ve long recognized the connection between artistic activity and mental health. For example, we’ve worked with individuals in mental health inpatient care, running art sessions that later culminated in exhibitions. These initiatives were designed to build confidence and help participants reintegrate into society.
We’ve also collaborated with Open Road, an organization supporting people recovering from addiction. Together, we ran a 10-week art course for men and women with lived experiences of addiction, helping them express their emotions through art. Another project involved partnering with Healthwatch and their Trauma Ambassador group, resulting in a highly impactful exhibition that drew around 100 visitors.
Q: Can you tell us about your work with refugees and asylum seekers?
We host Boys and Men, an organization that works primarily with refugees and asylum seekers from diverse backgrounds. They offer computer and English classes, and at The Minories, they run art sessions. These classes provide a safe space for participants to connect with others, feel less isolated, and become part of a supportive community.
Q: What is Fragile Strength, and why is it important to The Minories?
Fragile Strength is a project by Artlune that explores mental health issues, particularly within the South Asian community. When I spoke with Vikas from Artlune, I learned that mental health challenges, while universal, are sometimes heightened in certain cultures, including South Asian communities. This project aims to shed light on these issues through art and research.
The Minories will host an exhibition for Fragile Strength, featuring works by South Asian artists who share their struggles and insights on mental health. It also includes an academic element in partnership with the University of Essex, which will gather data to better understand local mental health challenges. The exhibition runs from June 21 to July 27 2025 and will feature various events.
Q: How can people engage with the Fragile Strength project?
We encourage everyone to visit the exhibition and participate in the events happening during that period. Stay updated through The Minories' website, mailing list, and social media channels, as well as Artlune’s platforms, to join this important conversation about mental health.
Artlune is more than a gallery, it's a movement to showcase the vibrant voices of emerging and mid-career artists from South Asia.
For more information, contact us at admin@artlune.com or call +91 798 232 5695 (India), +44 743 693 3096 (UK)
