Hands On Studio - Finalist for the 2019 Chief Minister’s Inclusion Awards

Hands On Studio is finalist for the Excellence in Inclusive Services and Disability Support award at the 2019 ACT Chief Minister’s Inclusion Awards!

CatholicCare's Hands On Studio is a space in which people with an NDIS plan can come for art classes that spans a three hour period. It is not an Art Therapy environment, instead each student is approached about their goals as an art maker and these goals shape what they do during class times.

Hands On Studio holds an annual exhibition at the M16 Artspace in Gallery 3, this exhibition is a huge draw in the community and attracts a large crowd every year. All sales go directly to the artist

They also organize exhibitions at other prominent Canberra galleries such as "Meet Makers" recently at Australian National Capital Artists (ANCA) in Dickson. (Read about this fascinating collaboration between artists in this RiotACT article.) 

Hands On Studio contributes to inclusive arts culture within Canberra, starting within the classroom. Students are listened to, respected and encouraged to produce the art they want to make, and this art is then given a platform to be seen and appreciated.