Artist Shawn Sharpe is behind the mural for the 'So Let's Talk' campaign
This year's World Mental Health Day takes place on Sunday 10 October and never has a campaign warranted more attention than in COVID-19 times. In Liverpool, not-for-profit platform 'So Let's Talk' will unveil its second mural in the city centre, raising awareness of mental, physical and financial health inside of the UK hospitality industry.
The project aims to trigger a much-needed change of attitude towards hospitality workers
The street art outside Modo on Fleet Street sees the return of artist Shawn Sharpe of Good Good Graffiti, supported by artist Richard Preston. During his ten-year career, Sharpe has painted classic graffiti, portraits, type and anamorphic pieces, and previously worked for the likes of Corona, Smirnoff and Revolution Bars.
Sharpe's latest mural will look to bring to the forefront specific issues that workers in the hospitality industry face, while the money raised throughout the campaign is set to help run crucial sessions for hospitality professionals, aiming to make a much healthier and happier industry.
So Let's Talk will use the mural to highlight that health comes before anything else, and that prioritising individuals is key to creating a healthier industry. Occupying the entire side wall of Modo, the mural is a powerful and large-scale piece of work set to spark important conversations to trigger a much-needed change of attitude towards hospitality workers.
The project has received sponsorship from Modo, Carlsberg, Liverpool Cocktail Week and Love Lane Brewery.
Patrick Howley, founder of So Let's Talk said, “The idea behind these murals was to raise awareness about mental, physical and financial health in the hospitality industry, but also, what we do here at So Let's Talk.
“It’s so great to see our second mural in Liverpool, we’re so grateful to Modo for gifting us the space, to Shawn for doing such an incredible job again, to Richard and to Carlsberg, Liverpool Cocktail Week and Love Lane Brewery for their sponsorship.”
Patrick spent well over a decade in the hospitality industry, where earning his stripes led to a destructive cycle of long hours, disrupted sleeping patterns, poor nutrition, high alcohol consumption and recreational drug use.
The So Let’s Talk project was launched in January 2020, inspired by Patrick’s experiences and lessons learned in not having an avenue for help during his time of need. He hopes to support others in a similar situation.
The mural outside Modo is scheduled to be completed on Friday 9 October. Alongside Liverpool, So Let's Talk has previously brought the mural project to Manchester’s Northern Quarter - with plans to take the campaign to other major UK cities, including Glasgow, Birmingham and London.
For more information on the So Let's Talk campaign visit the website or give them a follow on Instagram.
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