Looking for an art block antidote?
You've come to the right place. 2 Halves as A Whole is passionate about beating-the-block and having a whole lot of fun while doing so.
Browse our Art Block Antidote workshop program below.
Meet your facilitators Paige & Ali
Before we were 2 Halves as A Whole, we were two Fine Arts students who spent way too much time talking in class. Those endless conversations quickly turned into a friendship, built on a shared love of maximalist aesthetics, internet space junk, and Gen Z humour. In 2023, we held our first exhibition together under the name 2 Halves as A Whole and realised we make our best work when we’re making it together.
Since then, we’ve continued to present solo exhibitions across Melbourne, build collaborative projects, and work with local artists and musicians including Nabii and The Vovos. Between the two of us, we have approximately 700 tabs open at all times, and somewhere between the glitter, Google Docs, and mildly chaotic brainstorming sessions, our ideas come to life.
P.S. our past participants will tell you that Ali loves a good ice-breaker question...but don't let that put you off! Paige will be there to back you up on whether you think a straw has one hole or two.
How it all started
As part of our twelve-month artist residency at Yarra Youth Centre, we created Art Block Antidote—a 10-week art program for young people aged 15–25. We wanted to connect with young artists in a meaningful way by cultivating a space that welcomed two-way exchange—of ideas, questions, musings—and gently nudged participants outside their comfort zone to build creative confidence through the magic of give-and-take. Across the program, we explored visual art, performance, poetry, research, and so much more. Each workshop sparked inspiration, fostered collaboration, and ensured that participants felt seen and celebrated. We built reflection and dialogue into the structure of every session, inviting young artists into our way of working. As 2 Halves as A Whole, with community at heart, we firmly believe there is only one way of making—and that is together.
So, what now?
We loved running workshops so much that we never wanted it to end...and it turns out, it didn't have to! In July 2026, we launched our first workshop outside of our studio at ACU Gallery and had a blast.
If you work in a school, university, TAFE, library, community organisation (or you're another keen bean!) and are interested in booking a workshop with us:
- Check out our 9 unique session outlines
- Read our FAQS
- Submit an enquiry via the form below
Our Workshops
Who Are You?
Whether you paint, write, perform, make playlists, doomscroll, sew, take photos or don’t think of yourself as “creative” at all, you already have a practice. This workshop is about figuring out what that is. Through playful exercises and self-portrait making, you’ll explore identity, habits, and values, connect with like-minded people, and leave with a self-portrait that defines you as an artist.
Appropriation
Explore how artists find inspiration in the work of others. In this hands-on workshop, you’ll dissect artists’ works, remix and appropriate ideas using your own materials, and map out inspiration visually. By the end, you’ll create an original artwork, discover new ways to generate ideas, and develop your own artistic approach.
Writing and Poetry
Develop your poetic skills and explore writing as a medium in this multidisciplinary poetry workshop. Through visual making and timed writing exercises, you’ll play with words, build confidence in experimental poetic techniques, and leave with original pieces of writing inspired by both your own ideas and the work of others.
Place and Space
Explore how the places and communities around you shape the way you make. In this workshop, you’ll reflect on where you live, the spaces you move through, and the people you connect with, then turn those experiences into art. Through discussion, mind-mapping and making, you’ll create a work inspired by your own sense of place, identity and community.
Form and Materiality
Explore how the materials and forms you choose can completely change the meaning of an artwork. In this workshop, you’ll experiment with turning one idea into multiple artworks using different mediums, then reflect on why each choice matters. You’ll leave with a deeper understanding of how artists use form and materiality to communicate ideas with intention.
Collaborative Art
Discover what happens when creativity becomes a group effort. In this workshop, you’ll experiment with making alongside others, explore the strengths and skills each person brings, and create collaborative artworks that couldn’t be made alone. Through shared drawing, discussion and large-scale making, you’ll learn how collaboration can build stronger ideas, connections and communities.
Passion and Politics
Explore how your passions can become a form of political expression. In this workshop, you’ll begin with something you care deeply about and uncover the wider social issues, values and ideas connected to it. Looking at artists who use their work to challenge, question and create change, you’ll create an artwork that transforms personal passion into something powerful.
The Visual Diary
Join us for a mindful workshop where we bind our own visual diaries and come together as a community of practice. Over shared snacks and conversation, you’ll discover new ways of making, connect with yourself, write weird collaborative poetry, and leave with both a full book and a full heart.
Cost-Free Making
Creativity doesn’t have to come with a price tag. In this workshop, you’ll experiment with found, unconventional, or extremely low-cost materials, making art with what’s around you and your own skills. You’ll see how artists turn resourcefulness into meaningful work and learn to create powerful art without spending a cent.
A note to young people...
If you're looking to make art, meet new people, or simply try something new, our workshop program gives you the chance to do exactly that! Led by professional practicing artists 2 Halves as A Whole (that's us!), our workshops offer a supportive, welcoming space to build your skills, experiment with different ideas and materials, collaborate with other young artists, and create work that matters to you. Whether you make art all the time or have never thought of yourself as “creative,” our workshops are a chance to explore, have fun, and make something meaningful together. Check out what we've got on offer!
Book a Workshop
We loved running workshops so much that we never want it to end!
If you work in a school, university, TAFE, library, community organisation (or you're another keen bean!) and are interested in booking a workshop with us:
- Check out our 9 unique session outlines
- Submit an enquiry via the form below
We cannot wait to hear from you and look forward to dreaming up something beautiful with your community.