Figments: Madness, Health and Creativity
University of Glasgow
15 June 2026
An excess of the imagination? The source of unique insight? Mental illness? The price of creative genius? A disease of the brain? A rebellion against social norms? A part of being human? Refusing to obey strict definitions, experiences of madness problematise meaning itself. They demand to be expressed on their own terms and in many voices – through exercising the imagination, challenging the boundaries of language, and recognising unexpected opportunities for connection and empowerment. In this conference, we will explore what these stories of madness might sound like.
A collaboration between the Medical Humanities Research Centre at the University of Glasgow and the Centre for Mad Culture UK, this event will bring together academics, mental health and Mad Pride activists, and medical professionals to explore the role of creativity in experiencing and understanding madness from cultural, historical, social, medical, artistic and philosophical perspectives. We invite proposals for twenty-minute papers, panels of three papers, roundtables and other formats (please get in touch to discuss your ideas) on topics such as, but not limited to:
- Creative representations of madness and their role in shaping attitudes and practices
- The interpretation and appreciation of Mad art and literature
- Re-imagining madness and care: the role of creativity in mental healthcare and Mad Pride activism
- The construction of narratives about madness and illness / Narrative Psychiatry
Keynote: anna six (Professor of Medical Humanities, University of Warwick): ‘Abolishing Regulation: Creativity, Education, and the Youth Mental Health Crisis’
Submit your proposals by Friday 12 December 2025 via the form: https://forms.office.com/e/igVs6UJuDF
Contact: Mila.Daskalova@glasgow.ac.uk
Registration fees to be announced. Discounts and fee waivers will be available, if needed.
You can also download the poster.
