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Despite being more “connected” than ever, loneliness is quietly taking a toll on our collective wellbeing.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare found that one in three Australians feels lonely at least once a week. While the Orygen Young People and Loneliness report reveals that younger generations are the loneliest age group in Australia, with two in five people aged 18 to 24 experiencing some level of loneliness.
Loneliness isn’t just a passing feeling, it can have a real impact on our health. That’s why the Australian Government is now treating it as seriously as smoking or obesity.
At ClassBento, we’ve always known creative experiences bring joy, but there's more to our workshops than good old-fashioned fun. Time and again, we see something just as powerful: people connecting.
You’re all a little nervous. You’re all trying something new. Then, before you know it, you’re laughing about your wobbly clay mug or admiring your neighbour’s flower arrangement, and suddenly, you don’t feel like total strangers anymore. And in a world where loneliness is on the rise, that connection might just be the most important part.
Create art together, no small talk required
Group creative experiences offer something modern life doesn’t always make room for: in-person connection. Unlike coffee catch-ups or social dinners that revolve around talking, creative classes invite people to connect through doing. You’re working side-by-side, getting your hands messy and laughing when your paint spills. You feel like you’re part of something.
“It's not about the terrarium, honestly,” says Melbourne-based green thumb Haylee Magendans, owner of The Plant Whisperer. “Like yes, it's the experience of building a terrarium, but really it's about connection—people connecting with themselves and each other.”
This kind of connection is backed by science. Studies from an Australian initiative, Neighbour Day, proved that participating in group activities and connecting with the local community can boost individual wellbeing, particularly a sense of connection and identity. The best part? In this study, the benefits lasted up to nine months after the event.
It’s more than fun, it’s good for your brain!
When you make something with your hands—whether it’s beaded jewellery, a fluffy tufted rug, or a hand-poured candle—you’re not just creating. You’re calming your nervous system, lowering your stress hormone and gently pulling your mind into the present moment.
A nf2024 study found that creative group activities boosted self-esteem, reduced anxiety and built a sense of belonging. The key to reaping these benefits? Focusing on play and process over perfection.
Creativity makes connection easier
For many of us, it’s not easy to walk into a room full of strangers or start a deep conversation. But sitting side-by-side at a craft table? That feels doable. Safe, even. You don’t have to be confident or chatty, you just have to show up.
That’s what makes creative workshops so powerful: they create a space where people can connect without pressure. There’s room to be quiet. To focus. To giggle at your glitter explosion. And in that space, something shifts—you relax, you connect and your week starts to feel a little brighter.
“The whole idea of connecting with people is just so human,” Haylee says. “We crave it and it's so nice as a teacher to see it. At the start, everyone’s shy, and then by the end, everyone's talking and following each other on Instagram or whatever.”
A little making goes a long way
We’re not meant to go through life alone. As humans, we’re wired for community and creativity, two things that can be hard to find in today’s fast-paced world.
We’re here to remind you that connection is still within reach. Sometimes, all it takes is a paintbrush, a potter’s wheel or a bundle of dried flowers.
So, whether you’re looking to meet new people, boost your mood or try something different this weekend, a creative workshop might be the most promising place to start.
And if you leave with a handmade bowl and a new friend? Even better.
A few studies that inspired us…
Australia’s Welfare 2023: Data Insights (2023)
1 in 3 Aussies feels lonely every week, with strong links to mental health outcomes.
Orygen Young People and Loneliness Report (2024)
2 in 5 Australians aged 18 to 24 experience some level of loneliness, making them the loneliest age group in the country.
Evidence that loneliness can be reduced by a whole-of-community intervention to increase neighbourhood identification (2021)
Taking part in local group activities boosted wellbeing, social identity and connection, with benefits lasting up to nine months.
Belonging through Creative Connections: a feasibility study of an arts-based intervention to facilitate social connections between university students (2024)
Creative group activities helped reduce anxiety, boost self-esteem and foster belonging, especially when the focus was on play, not perfection.
