Create to Connect
A welcoming, calm, low-pressure visual arts studio to explore creativity, build confidence and feel connected.
Located on Heatherhill Road in Frankston.
Weekly art groups for young people and women.
Kids’ arty birthday parties.
Holiday programs and special occasions.
Christmas Wreath Making.
Whats on….
Wreath Making
Ease into the Christmas season with a relaxed afternoon of wreath making, Christmas drinks and nibbles at Create to Connect.
Starting with a wire wreath base, you’ll build your own beautiful Christmas wreath using an abundant mix of fresh eucalyptus, cypress and seasonal greenery, live and dried flowers, foliage and festive bits and pieces. There’ll be ribbons, berries, ornaments, dried botanicals and plenty of lovely things to choose from as you build your wreath.
Make it traditional and Christmassy, wild and botanical, colourful, simple or completely your own. There’s no set design to follow and absolutely no wreath-making experience needed — I’ll show you how to build your base and attach everything, then you can take it wherever you like.
We’ll have boozy Christmas punch, a non-alcoholic option and plenty of nibbles to enjoy while we work, with Christmas music on and everything you need laid out and ready to go.
Come along, pour a drink, settle in and spend a couple of hours making something beautiful before the Christmas craziness begins — and leave with a gorgeous handmade wreath ready for your front door. 🥂🌿🎄
Saturday 5 December | 3–5pm
Create to Connect, Frankston
$75 per person
All materials, Christmas drinks & nibbles included.
Bookings are now open.
Weekly Art Goups
Our weekly groups are small, calm and relaxed spaces to make art and connect with others. There’s always a project or artwork planned, but there’s plenty of freedom to experiment, follow your own ideas or go a little rogue. No pressure to be “good at art” — just come along, make things and enjoy being part of the group.
6–10 Years | Mondays 5–6pm
A relaxed and welcoming weekly art group where kids can make, explore and connect. Each week there’s a new artwork or project using a variety of materials, with plenty of freedom to put their own spin on it or go rogue with their own ideas. The focus is on enjoying art, building confidence and having a safe, creative space to be themselves.
8 weeks | Starts Monday 12 October
$220 | All materials included
10–14 Years | Mondays 6:30–7:30pm
A low-pressure art group for kids who enjoy creating and connecting with others. There’s a different project or artwork each week, but plenty of freedom to experiment, change things up or work on their own ideas. A friendly space to make art, chat and spend time with other creative kids.
8 weeks | Starts Monday 12 October
$220 | All materials included
Young Creators Club | Wednesdays 5:30–6:30pm
A creative weekly space for kids who love making things. We explore different projects, materials and techniques each week, with lots of freedom for kids to develop their own ideas and style. It’s relaxed, social and all about enjoying the process rather than getting art “right”.
9 weeks | Starts Wednesday 14 October
$220 | All materials included
14–18 Years | Wednesdays 7–8:30pm
A relaxed art space for teens to create without pressure. There’s always a project or idea to explore, but teens are equally welcome to work on their own art and interests. They can chat, listen to music, work quietly and connect naturally while they create. Particularly welcoming for quieter, anxious and neurodivergent teens.
9 weeks | Starts Wednesday 14 October
$250 | All materials included
Term 4 Women’s Groups: Sold Out
Our Term 4 Women’s Art Group is now fully booked!
Five relaxed Sunday afternoons, five completely different ways of making — from clay and mosaics to mixed media, printmaking and textiles.
These aren’t traditional art classes. Each session introduces a new material or technique, then gives you plenty of freedom to experiment, make it your own and enjoy a couple of calm hours creating and connecting with other women.
No art experience needed. You can’t get art wrong.
Missed out this term? Keep an eye out for the next Women’s Art Group, as well as one-off adult workshops and social art events at Create to Connect.
Home and Distance Learners
A relaxed, hands-on creative space for home and distance learners aged 7–15 to explore art, materials and ideas at their own pace.
These are not traditional art classes. There is no pressure to copy an example or make something the “right” way. Each session offers a mix of guided activities and open-ended creative exploration, with opportunities to paint, draw, build, sew, sculpt, experiment and follow individual interests.
Small group sizes allow children to work at their own pace, connect with others and receive support when they need it. It’s particularly suited to creative and neurodivergent young people who enjoy learning through making and benefit from a relaxed, low-pressure environment.
Mondays | 10am–12pm
Create to Connect, Frankston
Ages 7–15 | All materials included
Flexible weekly bookings available — come when it works for your family.
Hello and welcome!
I’m Brooke Ary, a mum of three and an art educator and therapist with a heart for helping individuals, children, families, and groups connect through creativity.
Create to connect was born from a simple but powerful truth I’ve witnessed again and again: when we make art, we find ourselves—and we find each other. There’s a quiet magic in sitting together with colours, textures, and open hearts. It softens us. It reminds us that we belong. My studio is a gentle, welcoming space where people can pause the noise of the world, breathe a little deeper, and reconnect with creativity in a way that feels nourishing and real.
I’ve been a visual arts teacher for over 20 years, and I’ve worked with everyone from tiny preschoolers to teenagers to adults rediscovering their creative spark. I hold a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Baylor University in Waco, Texas, and I’ve completed a diploma in art therapy as well as training in the Berry Street model of trauma-informed practice. I’ve coached basketball for many years too, which has shaped my understanding of teamwork and community. And yes—I'm first-aid trained, because feeling safe is part of feeling free to explore.
My studio welcomes people of all ages and walks of life—preschoolers with their parent or carer, school-aged children, teens, adults, women’s groups, men’s groups, carers’ groups, and anyone seeking a creative space to feel seen, supported, and connected. Whether you want to rediscover your creative voice, find a moment of calm, strengthen emotional resilience, or simply enjoy making art alongside others, Create to Connect is a place where you can show up exactly as you are and participate in whatever way feels right. Here, we make art to reconnect—with ourselves, with others, and with the joy of creating.
Check out our services page for information about our current and upcoming groups.
Why come to Create to Connect?
Create to connect is a visual arts studio where you come when you’re feeling disconnected, overwhelmed, too busy or simply craving a safe place to express yourself. Here, you can slow down, make art without any pressure, and feel genuinely supported. You will leave feeling calmer, more connected, and more like yourself again.
Teens who love to create and want to connect with like minded peers, but maybe don’t love being told how to create or how to connect.
Kids who have tried other after school activities and found they “aren’t quite right.”
Women who need a minute. Who feel overwhelmed or like they have lost part of who they are.
Carers who are burnt out and need space to process, heal, breathe and connect with people in a similar situation.
Parents, grandparents and carers who want to do something with their preschooler before they start their schooling journey.
Mums and Dads who need a break and want to explore their reality, not just ignore it.
Artists who want a space to create….and connect.
Anyone seeking connection and creativity
The Studio
Benefits of Group Art
Group art offers a relaxed way to explore, reflect, and connect through making — without pressure or expectations.
In each session, participants work on their own individual artworks, using materials such as paint, drawing, collage, or clay, while creating side by side with others. The focus is on the experience of making, not on producing a shared or “perfect” result.
Group art can be especially supportive for children, teens, and adults who:
Enjoy hands-on, creative activities
Find connection easier through shared activity rather than conversation
Appreciate space to explore ideas and feelings at their own pace
For many people, art becomes a useful way to express things that are hard to put into words, while still feeling connected to the group.
Simple, creative, and welcoming — and always with the reminder that you can’t get art wrong.
Get in Touch!
Let’s chat about if group art is right for you!
Inclusion Statement
Everyone is welcome here.
Let me know if you have any adjustments required to participate.
Unfortunately the studio is upstairs. I am unable to make it accessible to people who are not able to manage stairs.
FAQ
-
Signing up for group art at Create to Connect is simple!
If you are ready to go, using this link (booking link) to choose your class.
OR
Reach out through the contact form.
-
Group art sessions run for 60-90 minutes, depending on the age of the participants.
-
Group art may be covered by the NDIS if it’s included in your plan under “therapeutic supports.”
If you’re unsure, I’m happy to help guide you through the process!
-
Group art is a therapeutic practice that uses creativity to explore emotions, process experiences, and foster self-expression. Learn more here.
-
You can’t get art wrong!
Not at all! Group Art is about the process, not the product. No artistic skill is required to benefit. Discover how group art works here.
-
Group art uses creative expression to help access and process emotions, thoughts, and experiences in a safe space. Find out more here.
-
Group art is for people of all ages and abilities, from children to adults, seeking support and connections.
-
Group art can support challenges like anxiety, grief, trauma, sensory needs, and more.
Simply making art in the same room as other people can decrease loneliness and help us connect to the world, ourselves and other people.
-
Group art focuses on emotional and mental well-being rather than learning artistic techniques. Its about the process, not the production.
Create to Connect is a place to make art and connect with the people around you.