Create to Connect
A welcoming, 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.
Holiday programs and special occasions.
Whats on….
Holiday Programs: 8-15 year old
A relaxed creative program for curious kids who love to make, explore, and connect. Each day includes three art-making sessions using different materials and themes, with games and gentle mindfulness woven throughout.
Wednesday April 15th: 10am-2pm
Paint & Play: explore colour, experiment with paint, and create expressive artworks.
Collage & Construct: cut, layer, build, and experiment with collage, recycled materials
Story Worlds: design characters, illustrate scenes, and create imaginative worlds inspired by stories.
Term 2 Groups: Creative groups that support connection, curiosity, and wellbeing.
Create to Connect offers small creative groups for children, young people, and adults who want a calm space to make art, connect with others, and explore creativity without pressure. Sessions are facilitated by Brooke Ary, art teacher and art therapist, and no art experience is needed.
Our weekly timetable includes groups for home and distance learners, children, teens, young adults, carers, and women. Each session uses simple creative activities to support connection, expression, and curiosity in a relaxed and welcoming environment.
Bookings can be made online, and you can find more details about each group on the Services tab.
Creative Gatherings & One-Off Events
Looking for a creative way to bring people together?
Create to Connect offers one-off creative sessions designed for connection, celebration, and shared creativity. These gatherings are relaxed, welcoming, and suitable for a range of ages and groups.
We offer:
Mothers Day: Paint your Mum
Birthday parties
Creative workshops
Make-and-mingle events
Carer and community groups
School holiday or special interest sessions
Private group bookings
Each session is tailored to the group and may include painting, collage, simple craft, or other creative activities designed to help people relax, connect, and enjoy making something together.
Interested in hosting a creative event?
Get in touch to discuss ideas and availability.
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
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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.
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Group art sessions run for 60-90 minutes, depending on the age of the participants.
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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!
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Group art is a therapeutic practice that uses creativity to explore emotions, process experiences, and foster self-expression. Learn more here.
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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.
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Group art uses creative expression to help access and process emotions, thoughts, and experiences in a safe space. Find out more here.
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Group art is for people of all ages and abilities, from children to adults, seeking support and connections.
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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.
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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.