Open Canvas Club is a flexible, participant-led art and play experience designed for neurodiverse and neurotypical participants, of learning ages 6 to 12. Each 3-hour session offers the participants the freedom to move between the Workshop Space and our WonderGround Visual Arts Space, choosing how they would like to participate.

Participants may spend the full session immersed in the art activity, move between making and exploring, spend some time playing, or take a quiet break before returning when they are ready.

 The Open Canvas Club sessions will be supported by therapists from Wonderfully You, offering gentle support where needed to help children participate, engage and enjoy the arts experience at their own pace.

Core Objective: Foster organic social interaction, empathy, and peer connection in a low-pressure environment through shared art-making and play. Every person leaves with an individual piece of art or a section of a shared masterwork.

Me, Myself, and More

Who are you? What do you love? What makes you, you?

We begin with a brief, accessible self-discovery activity to reflect on their interests and traits. They then work in pairs or small groups to trace full-body outlines on large paper, filling their silhouettes with colours, patterns, and symbols that represent who they are.

Tracing a full-body outline naturally requires physical assistance from a peer, creating an immediate, non-verbal icebreaker. Neurodiverse and neurotypical persons can work together interdependently, building trust and social connections while celebrating both individual identity and shared similarities.

Let’s Grow a Garden

A big collaborative artwork made up of lots of individual ideas.

A large contact paper surface covers the floor, serving as a collective canvas. Using pre-cut textured papers, fabrics, and natural materials, participants collaborate to build a vibrant, multi-layered "community garden" collage over the course of the session.

This open-ended, non-precious format removes the fear of making mistakes. Working on the floor allows everyone to move around freely, choose their level of physical proximity to others, and contribute to a large-scale project at their own pace. At the end, the giant artwork is cut into distinct panels so each participant takes home a piece of the collective effort.

Potter-ing About

A hands-on session for curious minds and busy hands.

Each participant receives a slab of clay, clay tools, and various sensory embellishments (natural elements, textured tools, spices for scent). Participants can build structured pieces—like vessels or wall hangings—or simply engage in exploratory, process-driven sculpting with no set outcome.

Clay provides rich tactile and sensory feedback, which can be highly grounding and regulating for neurodiverse individuals. Because the task is entirely open-ended, there is no pressure to conform to a specific end product. Sitting side-by-side around a shared table of tools naturally sparks conversation, material sharing, and quiet, parallel play.

A Small, Welcoming Community

Sessions are intentionally kept small, with a maximum of 10 children. This allows our facilitators to get to know each child and create opportunities for genuine connection.

Come As You Are

Children who are ready to enjoy the session independently are welcome to be dropped off. And if a parent or caregiver would prefer to stay, you’re welcome too. You can settle in, hang out with us and enjoy the experience alongside your child. We want everyone to find the experience that feels right for them.

Make a Day of It

For families looking for a longer school holiday experience, a full-day option can also be offered. Children can enjoy a relaxed rhythm of art, explore, lunch, play, and more art making.

What are we hoping children take away?

Perhaps it’s a new friendship.
Perhaps it’s a new material they discovered.
Perhaps it’s the confidence to join a group.
Perhaps it’s the realisation that someone who seems different can have lots in common with them.
Perhaps it’s simply the experience of being somewhere they felt completely comfortable being themselves.
Most importantly, we hope children leave with a growing understanding that everyone has a place in the community.
And that we all have a part to play in making that community welcoming.

Come join us at TAG 2.0 Open Canvas Club.