Connect, create, companion - June 2026

Join us for a relaxed gathering to connect with community and create alongside other art therapists. Each month we visit a new arts-friendly venue in Melbourne, so it's a great opportunity to scope out spaces available to run groups and workshops in.

This month, we are visiting The Nook, Lanie's fabulous yoga and art therapy space in Balaclava. Lanie has very generously offered the space for free for us to meet - thank you Lanie!!

Each gathering take a 'choose your own adventure' approach, where you decide how you'd like to use this time together. You might choose to:

• do some solo making in the company of others

• co-inquire into a shared experience

• form a pair or trio to companion one another

• catch up with other art therapists

• seek input or encouragement for the next steps in your practice

• plan a collaborative project...

What to expect:

• we begin with an Acknowledgement of Country shortly after 2pm

• we do a brief introduction to welcome our new attendees

• I'll ask if anyone has anything they would like to offer to others (e.g. food, materials, supporting someone else's inquiry...), or if there is something they would like to ask of from the group (e.g. talk through a learning edge, test an idea, ask for photo documentation for marketing...)

• From there, we are self-organising. You are welcome to make alongside others in the main group, break out to work more privately, grab a cuppa and catch up... whatever feels right for you

• I'll remind us when we have 10min remaining. As we come to a close, I'll share a little about how you can book this space, and share our plans for the following month.

I will provide:

• tea and coffee

• a few communal snacks

• a small collection of communal art materials

Please bring along:

• art materials you plan to work with

• a water bottle

• any favourite snacks you'd like to nibble on.

Keen to see upcoming dates?

You can find a list of all the dates for 2026, and sign up to be emailed when tickets are released here: https://www.understoryarttherapy.com.au/connect-create-companion