An introduction to Balmy Army | Factory+

What is Balmy Army?

Balmy Army is Manchester’s movement for youth-led mental health – think art, activism and mutual care. Started by artist the vacuum cleaner, Balmy Army took over HOME for MIF23. Since then, young people have continued to meet in Manchester.

Every week, these young people gather to vent, laugh, plan, protest and share their feelings about the state of the world. Elliott – a young person and member of Balmy Army – sums it up best as ‘craziness’.

The conversation flits between jokes and serious topics, covering everything from the latest video game to the failure of mental health services. After a catch up, Balmy Army channel their feelings into workshops exploring DIY art forms.

'My favourite thing about coming here is meeting new people, speaking about my mental health, actually relaxing and getting to eat all the snacks I can!'

Elliott

Balmy Army wall text introducing the project during the MIF23 exhibition at home

Hang on, who is the vacuum cleaner?

the vacuum cleaner is an artist and activist based in the UK whose work is rooted in madpride and disability justice.

With no formal training, the vacuum cleaner began experimenting on the 00s street art scene. The name comes from an early stunt on Wall Street where he took a hoover into a bank to, literally, clean up after capitalism. He tackles big social issues with a little silliness.

the vacuum cleaner using a hoover on Wall Street wearing a hi vis jacket — cleaning up after capitalism. the vacuum cleaner.

A bin on a street in Hackney with the word 'loony' on it. There is rubbish falling out the bin. — The City and Hackney Centre for Mental Health. the vacuum cleaner.

An ark created out of cardboard as part of an outdoor installation — The Cardboard Ark. Peacock Visual Arts.

A colourful model of a designer hospital on display in an exhibition

Take me back to the beginning…

Balmy Army started at MIF23 when the vacuum cleaner invited a bunch of young people to take over HOME for the festival. Visitors could drop in and watch Balmy Army making placards, performing poetry or screen-printing t-shirts. The takeover culminated in a march through Manchester City Centre powered by equal parts love, rage and laughter.

When I create art, I feel a relief of getting something out of me and on to a page. I always feel better for it afterwards. It makes me feel good about who I am as a person.

Harriet

Now Balmy Army is back!

For MIF25, Balmy Army are taking over Contact where you can pick up a copy of their edition of Asylum Magazine or read their demands on a huge banner drop.

Enjoy relaxed, messy, cabaret-style evenings where Balmy Army will voice their demands (and talents). Balmy Army: A Contact Takeover mixes poetry, song and protest. Jay is planning an ASMR retelling of the DSM-5 contents list (aka The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders). Elliott is launching their bid for Lord Mayor of Manchester. Who knows what might happen?

A member of Balmy Army shouting into a megaphone during the march

A cardboard sign which reads 'Maybe just listen to me?'

A member of Balmy Army shouting into a megaphone during the MIF23 march

Not every person who is autistic is obsessed with trains… trains are nice, but some people like Taylor Swift to a certain degree…

Jay

This is also Ukraine

While Balmy Army have been planning their Contact takeover, a group of wonky young people on the other side of Europe have been busy, too.

Balmy Ukraine consists of ten teenagers living near the front line of the Russian invasion: Daria, Hanna, Kira, Olexa, Rost, Sasha, Vlada, Vlada, Vesna and Zakhar.

For MIF25, they’ve directed a short film This is also Ukraine supported by a team of Ukrainian and British artists, psychologists, and producers. The result is an extraordinary, patchwork film about their everyday lives in Ukraine where teenagers are just trying to be teenagers against a backdrop of war.

A black and white photograph of young people with their arms around each other in a group cuddle

This is also Ukraine | trailer

Balmy Army x Balmy Ukraine

Balmy Army x Balmy Ukraine shines a spotlight on these two groups of young people from Manchester and Ukraine – each with their own hopes, dreams and demands. The project asks: What is it like to be a young person today? Are you ready to listen?

Balmy Army: A Contact Takeover runs at Manchester International Festival 2025 on 9 and 10 July. Balmy Ukraine: This is also Ukraine is showing on 13 July. Find out more here.