Community Art Therapy
Building Connection and Wellbeing Through Shared Creative Experiences
At Mindkshetra, we believe creativity is a powerful pathway to healing — not just for individuals, but for entire communities. Our Community Art Therapy and community-based art therapy programs in Sydney bring together people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities to explore emotions, share experiences and build mental wellbeing through art.
Grounded in cultural inclusion, trauma-aware practice and accessible mental health support, these programs offer a safe space for individuals and groups to connect through creative expression. Whether someone is navigating migration, trauma, intergenerational challenges, or isolation, community art therapy provides a meaningful way to express, reconnect and heal.
How
It All Began
Mindkshetra’s journey into community art therapy began during the COVID-19 lockdowns. When mental health services became harder to access and people felt disconnected, our founder Rupa Parthasarathy began hosting virtual creative gatherings to help people “meet in the moment”. These sessions sparked emotional resilience and demonstrated the power of collective healing through art.
Over time, this grew into a structured community art therapy program, designed in collaboration with Cumberland Council. Together, we have transformed community stories into powerful public art installations across local spaces, making wellbeing visible through creativity.
Why Community
Based Art Therapy?
Art therapy in a group setting does more than encourage creative expression — it creates belonging. In these shared spaces, participants feel seen, heard, and supported through collective experiences.
Our workshops help communities:
- Process shared challenges such as grief, migration, or cultural transition
- Celebrate identity, culture, and diversity
- Build resilience through reflection and creativity
- Reduce isolation and reconnect with others
Is art therapy covered by NDIS?
Yes, NDIS may fund art therapy if it supports participants’ health and wellbeing goals. While our community art therapy programs are not always formally categorised under NDIS therapy services, individuals may request inclusion or seek funding under Increased Social and Community Participation. Contact us to discuss options.
What
Is Community Art Therapy?
Community Art Therapy is a creative therapy approach where people engage in shared art-making to support mental health, resilience and connection. Unlike individual therapy, this group-based therapeutic process focuses on collective experiences and emotional healing.
It combines elements of art therapy, group-based reflection and community engagement. Participants may use visual art, storytelling or symbolic expression to explore lived experiences. Community-based art therapy helps people feel seen and heard while fostering a sense of belonging.
What is an example of community art?
Examples include collaborative murals, mosaic installations, group textile work, Knitting for Wellbeing or Kolam projects—where individual pieces become part of a shared artwork presented in public spaces.
What is the meaning of community-based art?
It refers to creative practices developed with community members, often reflecting their stories, emotions or cultural identity. In therapeutic settings, it promotes wellbeing through collaboration, reflection and shared creativity.
What
Our Programs Include
Each program is designed to be safe, inclusive, and empowering, with a balance of individual expression and collective creation. Workshops may include:
- Thematic activities such as Knitting for Wellbeing, Kaleidoscope: Mosaic to acknowledge community, or Kolam-making to celebrate Tamil Heritage Week
- Guided expressive art sessions using drawing, painting, collage, or mixed media
- Group reflection and storytelling in a culturally safe environment
- Collaborative projects that transform personal experiences into public art installations
- Community space activation, turning libraries, halls, or outdoor areas into places of expression and healing
Who
We Work With
Our community art therapy programs are ideal for:
- CALD communities seeking culturally affirming mental health spaces
- Migrant and refugee support groups
- Schools and youth programs
- Women’s collectives and intergenerational circles
- Local councils, neighbourhood centres, and community organisations
Real-World
Impact
We’ve seen first hand how these workshops help participants reconnect with themselves, their culture, and their community. Through our ongoing partnership with Cumberland Council, collaborative artworks have been transformed into powerful public installations, reflecting the rich cultural and emotional landscape of the local area.
These aren’t just workshops — they are experiences that leave a lasting mark on people and places.
Let’s Create
Something Together
If your organisation, school, or community is looking to strengthen wellbeing through art, we’d love to collaborate.
Contact us today to bring a creative wellbeing workshop to your space or to learn more about our community art therapy programs in Sydney.