Cultural Art Therapy Workshops
Reconnecting With Ourselves Through Cultural Creativity
Hi, I’m Rupa, founder of Mindkshetra — and if you’ve ever found comfort in ritual, colour, rhythm, or pattern, you’ve already experienced the healing power of culture.
I grew up in a South Indian household where I watched my Patti, Amma and Attahis draw Kolam designs outside our doorstep every morning — delicate rice flour patterns created with patience and grace. It wasn’t just decoration. It was rhythm, focus, and beauty in motion. Back then, I didn’t have the words for it, but now I know — it was mindfulness in action. It was art therapy before I even knew what that meant.
As an Art Psychotherapist, I’ve come to deeply understand how our cultural practices shape identity, belonging, and emotional balance. At Mindkshetra, we don’t just honour these traditions as heritage — we celebrate them as living tools for healing and mental wellbeing.
My journey into art therapy began long before I studied therapy. I started out as a Henna artist, drawn to the quiet rhythm of intricate patterns and the way people would open up as their hands were being adorned. Those moments — connecting through art, culture and presence — became the foundation of Mindkshetra.
Why Culture and Mental Health
Are Deeply Connected
Culture shapes how we express emotion, grieve, celebrate, connect and heal. For many of us — especially in migrant or bicultural communities — our culture can sometimes feel distant, or fragmented.
When we reconnect with cultural practices in a safe and creative space, we reconnect with the parts of ourselves that feel whole and rooted. Art-making becomes a bridge — between past and present, generations and identities, emotion and expression.
That’s why cultural art therapy can be so powerful for wellbeing — especially for people navigating change, identity, or disconnection.
Cultural Art
for Wellbeing Workshops
Every January, Mindkshetra hosts Cultural Art for Wellbeing Workshops — creative and reflective sessions inviting people of all ages and backgrounds to experience the joy, focus and emotional grounding of traditional Indian art practices.
We collaborate with local South Asian and multicultural artists, bringing their stories and techniques into each session. Together, we explore:
- Kolam – meditative line drawings made with rice flour or chalk
- Rangoli – colourful symmetrical floor designs that celebrate beauty and emotion
- Lippan Art – tactile mirrorwork clay art from Gujarat, rich in symbolism and pattern
- Indian Folk Arts – such as Warli, Madhubani, and Gond, telling ancestral stories through lines, nature, and colour
These workshops are not just classes. They are creative rituals for self-expression, community connection, and cultural pride.
Who
These Workshops Are For
Our Cultural Art Therapy Workshops welcome:
- Anyone curious about Indian cultural art and mindfulness
- Adults or families wanting to reconnect with their roots
- Teens and young adults from migrant backgrounds exploring identity
- People seeking hands-on wellbeing practices grounded in creativity
- Art lovers looking for something deeper than just technique
No art experience is needed — only an open heart and curiosity to explore.
Join
Our Cultural Art Waitlist
Our workshops take place every January in Sydney, with limited spots to keep each group intimate and nurturing.
Sessions include all materials, guided storytelling, reflection, and space for mindful art-making. Workshops are held in Wentworthville, Sydney, with online versions and Cultural Art Kits coming soon.
Be the first to know when enrolments open and experience the calm, creativity, and connection of cultural art therapy.