15-05-2025
3rd edition of 'Freud Got Talent' set to boost mental awareness
May is the Mental Health Awareness Month, with the objective to educate the public about mental health, treatment, and research, and in the process, remove the stigma, making sure no one suffers in silence.
Coinciding with the month of mental awareness, the Not Alone Campaign is holding the third edition of Freud Got Talent, a creative arts competition that celebrates artistic expression as a voice for mental health awareness.
The founder of the Not Alone campaign, HH Sayyida Basma Al Said, speaking to Observer, said, 'The initiative is about how we can spread awareness through arts because a lot of people can express through art instead of talking. So we are using a lot of ways, such as music, writing, acting, painting, etc.
The competition is for different age groups and all nationalities. We are very excited, and at the same time, we are also trying to explain to people that art is not just about paintings,' explained Sayyida Basma.
The event will be held across two dates, with semifinals on May 17th and the finals on May 22, 2025, at Downe House School Muscat, bringing together amateur and professional artists of all ages and backgrounds from across Oman. The event is an inclusive platform for all, as art transcends boundaries. According to the organizers, when paired with the power of mental health awareness, it becomes a transformative force for healing, expression and advocacy.
The Freud Got Talent competition is open to kids from ages six to eleven, teens from twelve to seventeen, youth from 18 to 25, and adults 26 and above. The competition is open to local and international artists residing in Oman, including students, hobbyists, and professionals alike.
The initiative aims to use creative expression as a tool for emotional release and storytelling by providing a safe, inclusive space for artists to share personal journeys related to mental health and encourage public dialogue to reduce stigma and promote psychological well-being.
Artists may submit work in a wide range of formats, including visual art, digital media, performance art, literary works, photography, videography, and handmade creations, provided the piece connects meaningfully to themes surrounding mental health. Each participant can only submit one entry.
Entries will be evaluated by a panel of artists, mental health advocates, and creatives across the following categories such as Traditional Visual Arts: Riham Al Zadjali, Matti Sirvio, Dr Mona Ismail; Architecture: Sami Al Siyabi, Rihab Al Zakwani; Fashion and Handmade Creations: Sayyida Hakima Al Said, Ibtisam Al Said, Radhika Hamlai;
Literary Arts: Turki bin Ali Al Balushi, Aisha Al Saifi, Sayyida Amal Al Said;
Performance Arts & Make-Up: Jihad Al Raisi, Aishwarya Hedge, Hayan Allamki (Alden Theatre), Hager Sami; Digital Visual: Safiya Al Bahlani, Sara Al Mukhaini; Photography and Videography: Abdullah Al Sulaimi, Dalia Al Bassami, Salem Sawakhroon.
Dr Abdul Monem Al Hassani, Sarah A. Farid Al Aulaqi, Amal Al Raisi, Hassan Al Meer, Sayyida Afra Al Said, Taresh Quton are the judges for the finals, which will be held on May 22, 2025, from 7pm to 9 pm at Downe House Muscat, Al Bandar, Seeb
