Healing in Colour: How a New Art Circle is Changing Lives One Brushstroke at a Time

Something beautiful happened in Canberra over the weekend. Thirty women gathered in a warm, welcoming space not just to paint, but to reconnect. To themselves, to each other, and to something deeper that often gets lost in the chaos of daily life.

This was the launch of ArtFullness & Educacion Diversa’s Monthly Women’s Art Circle, a new initiative blending creativity, conversation, and community healing. Held in a room buzzing with colour, kindness, and curiosity, the event was more than just a workshop. It was a moment of collective exhale.

For some attendees, it was the first time they’d picked up a paintbrush in years. For others, it was the first time they’d felt seen in weeks.

“Before coming here I was in a dark place… now I feel good, like I feel great and I can’t wait for the next one,” said one participant.

Another shared, “I’ll be coming again and buying an extra ticket to ensure more refugee women can come too.”

The workshop is run by ArtFullness, a new social enterprise created to support Educacion Diversa’s mission of building inclusive, healing spaces through art. Together, they’re not only making art more accessible—they’re making connection more possible.

Why Art?

Because art speaks when words can’t. It doesn’t require perfect grammar, confident conversation skills, or even shared language. It simply asks us to show up, with our emotions, our stories, our silence, or our spark and create something from it.

In fact, research increasingly shows that art is one of the most powerful tools we have for connection and wellbeing:

• 🎨 Art reduces stress and anxiety by offering a form of emotional release and expression that doesn’t rely on verbal communication.

• 🧠 It improves mental clarity and mindfulness, helping people stay present and grounded through the focused movements of painting, drawing, or crafting.

• 🤝 It builds trust and connection, especially when done in a group setting. Creating alongside others opens up room for conversation, vulnerability, and genuine relationship-building.

• 💬 It lowers social pressure. You don’t have to “network” or “perform” you just have to show up and create. The art does the talking.

• 🌱 It boosts self-esteem. Making something, especially something colourful or personal, can reignite a sense of pride and agency, especially for people who’ve been through hardship.

That’s exactly what ArtFullness taps into. It’s not about artistic skill, it’s about art as a language for healing. And when it’s paired with diverse women, shared experience, and a commitment to cultural safety, something truly special happens.

A Bigger Purpose, A Broader Reach

While the benefits for women here in Canberra are immediate and real, the ripple effect of these workshops extends much further. A portion of proceeds from every Art Circle goes toward supporting Educacion Diversa’s vision to build an art centre for Indigenous women in southern Colombia, a safe haven for those escaping gender-based violence.

It’s a reminder that healing isn’t just personal, it’s political, cultural, and collective.

In the spirit of that mission, ArtFullness also offers free places to refugee women and women facing financial hardship, making sure no one is left out due to barriers beyond their control.

“No woman should miss out on a safe and healing space,” says the ArtFullness team.

This initiative is led by the founder of Educacion Diversa, Canberra’s current ACT Woman of the Year Lauren Cannell, who is calling on women across the city to take a step back from the busyness and reconnect with the “old school” way of healing.

“I’m inviting all Canberra women to take two hours a month to take away the stress. Using art, conversation, and a bunch of amazing diverse women, I guarantee you’ll be left feeling grounded.”

Come for the Art. Stay for the Connection.

The next Monthly Women’s Art Circle will take place in July, and all women are welcome, whether you’ve never picked up a paintbrush or you’ve been craving a creative outlet that actually fills your cup.

💌 To enrol, email info@educaciondiversa.com for the form.

This isn’t your average art class. It’s a gentle revolution. A circle of women reclaiming time for themselves, finding power in colour, and learning (or remembering) that healing can be joyful, creative, and shared.

So go ahead, paint outside the lines.
You might just find yourself in the process.