Connect, create, companion - September 2026

Art therapists are invited to 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 CAYA Art Space, an art therapy practice in Brunswick West that is loaded with materials ready for us to use. They are trialling a pilot program where you can rent the space for a 3 month trial at a deeply reduced rate - this could be a good place to begin building your own practice.

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 will begin with an Acknowledgement of Country shortly after 2pm

• I'll invite everyone to introduce themselves - our little community is growing and we often have a mix of familiar and new faces around the table

• 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 the plans for the following month.

I will provide:

• tea and coffee

• a few communal snacks

• CAYA Art Space are providing a full range of communal art materials for the day

You might consider bringing along:

• a water bottle

• any specific art materials you want to be sure are on hand

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

Want to stay in the loop?

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