The city of Haarlem (NL) is currently hosting the third edition of The Madness & Arts Festival (Sept 24 – October 3rd 2010), a festival that focuses on the interaction between art and madness:
Is there a correlation between madness and arts? How do artists acknowledge madness and how does their work influence the way we think about people with psychological disturbances? For ten days, the festival explores these questions within a comprehensive multidisciplinary programme including theatre, dance, film, music, visual arts, literature and poetry. A public meeting and the educational programme open up “madness” for discussion.
The festival site is located next to Het Dolhuys, the National Museum of Psychiatry, and initiator of the festival. There you can meet the artists, drink a cup of coffee with a psychiatrist, eat apple tart from Het Appeltaartenimperium, make your own Rorschach stain, or listen to a daily talkshow with the festival guests. The Dolhuys also offers a series of daily activities and creative workshops designed for children and young people.
To see the program of the festival, click here.
h-madness 
Please see my consideration of Tennessee Williams’ semi-autobiographical play and film, “Suddenly, Last Summer,” here: http://clarespark.com/2010/09/27/cannibals-negro-jazz-and-servile-revolt/. The fascination of romantic artists and post-romantic artists with the subject of madness is endless. It is an impossible discussion without class analysis, modernity, and the fear of servile revolt, the latter identified with the Id forces.
Here’s a film that I have found, just made, really positive story about an artist working out his angst though his art and emerging as one of Canada’s best recognized painters. Had a short but pretty satisfying life after getting through his 20’s crisis.
http://www.themazemovie.com/about-the-film/ and http//:www.kurelek.ca
I’ve been seeking out and screening films like this in my psych hospital venue for 19 years. Pleased to find you!
Bruce Saunders Victoria BC Canada
http://www.moviemonday.ca