Professional Development
Flexible, creative thinking can enhance our problem-solving abilities, adaptability and
promote a collaborative workplace culture for your business.
Creative participation can also significantly enhance our overall wellbeing and contribute
to our overall sense of life satisfaction.
Professional Development & Corporate Creative Experiences
Art & Alchemy Gallery & Studio provides a distinctive, experience‑rich environment for corporate teams seeking meaningful, high‑quality professional development. Our boutique gallery and studio in the Dandenong Ranges offers an inspiring setting where teams can step away from routine, reconnect, and engage in creative learning that strengthens communication, enhances wellbeing, and sparks innovative thinking.
Our professional development sessions at the gallery are focused, personal, and hands‑on. Every workshop is shaped around the needs of your organisation, the goals of your team, and the materials and facilitation style best suited to your group.
No artistic background is required — our approach is grounded in accessibility, creative confidence, and the belief that everyone benefits from making, exploring, and thinking differently.
Experience‑Led, Tailored Creative Workshops
Each session is designed in collaboration with the client, any additional facilitators, and the gallery director to ensure a purposeful, supportive, and engaging experience. Sessions are adapted to suit your team’s communication style, learning needs, and desired outcomes — whether you’re seeking stronger collaboration, creative problem‑solving, or a restorative wellbeing experience.
Our sessions focus on:
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Encouraging participation and shared creative exploration
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Strengthening communication and interpersonal awareness
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Supporting creative wellbeing and emotional clarity
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Building confidence in experimentation and new ways of thinking
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Creating memorable, meaningful team experiences in a beautiful setting
Session Options & Formats
We offer three initial options for the focus of the professional development, each available in a range of session lengths (tiers) to help you select the right level of depth and engagement for your team. Bespoke formats can also be developed to meet specific organisational goals, leadership needs, or wellbeing initiatives.
Our Space & Capacity
Our studio comfortably accommodates 10–12 participants depending on the activity. Some mid week sessions may allow for the possibility of booking the gallery space as well as the studio space, allowing for increased capacity and a more expansive creative environment.
Facilitation & Expertise
Sessions are led by Dr Karly Edgar, principal facilitator and gallery director, who brings extensive experience in creative education, adult learning, wellbeing, and group dynamics. Additional artist‑facilitators are selected from our exhibiting artists and teaching team to ensure the most suitable expertise for your session.
Dr Edgar oversees the design and suitability of all workshops, ensuring each session aligns with your organisation’s goals and delivers a high‑quality, professionally grounded experience.
Why Choose Us
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Working, experienced artists as facilitators
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Intimate, high‑quality experiences
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Beautiful, inspiring environment
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Personalised facilitation
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A unique alternative to traditional corporate PD
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Research, evidence-informed creative approaches
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Playful, creative exploration and facilitation
What We Provide
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Private use of our studio space
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All materials
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High-quality facilitation
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Session tailored to your goals
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Access to the gallery for inspiration
Tiers
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Introductory (2 hours): Focused, high-impact introductory sessions for teams wanting a short, energising creative activity, completed either individually or as a team.
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Half day (approx 3.5 hours): Deeper creative experience with time for exploration and reflection.
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Full day (approx. 6 hours): An immersive creative retreat designed for transformation, connection, and renewal.
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Bespoke: A premium session length can be developed to accomodate your company's requirements.
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Off-site: A premium option where we come to you. Cost will depend on aviliability and travel time.
Pricing varies based on:
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Duration
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Number of participants
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Materials required
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Bespoke elements
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Facilitator/s required
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Additional items, such as art packs, catering extras etc.
If you have any questions, are interested in a bespoke session, or another session focus, please get in touch.
Booking & Enquiries
After reviewing the session options, please submit an enquiry with as much detail as possible about your team, goals, and preferred dates. We will then be in touch to discuss tailoring the session and finalising arrangements.
About Our Key Facilitator
Dr Karly Edgar is an experienced teacher and facilitator with a background in education, the arts and aged care and she has a particular focus on engagement with creativity as a means for wellbeing and expression.
Karly has extensive teaching experience at certificate, bachelor and masters levels, as well as facilitating widely in lifestyle in aged care, and in a variety of art classes and retreats. Her PhD research focused on Eastern Palliative Care’s volunteer‑facilitated Biography Program, deepened her expertise in life‑storytelling, person‑centred engagement, and the therapeutic value of creative expression while also expanding her understanding of palliative care.
Her academic background is founded in creative practice, primarily drama, art theory and art and spirituality, and art in community, all contributing to her personal perspective that highly values the continued engagement in meaningful engagement as a vital element to life. She now draws on her academic and research background, combined with her love of creativity and visual art to produce a series of creative professional development sessions based on the latest research about the impact of creativity, inviting people to expand their creativity and to utilise creative practices to enhance their wellbeing.
Read more about Karly background and experience here
Session Options
Creative Wellbeing: expression, wellbeing & quality of life
One page outline
A restorative, reflective session designed to support staff wellbeing, emotional clarity, and creative confidence. This option is designed for organisations that value staff wellbeing, emotional resilience, and the role of creativity in supporting a healthy workplace culture. It includes practical creative activities and practices for wellbeing. No experience is required & all materials provided. Focus areas: - Supporting mental clarity and emotional wellbeing - Encouraging personal expression and creative confidence - Reducing stress through mindful, hands-on artmaking - Enhancing overall quality of life through creative engagement - Providing an inspiring environment away from daily workplace expectations Who it’s ideal for: Organisations prioritising staff wellbeing, burnout prevention, and creative enrichment. Perfect for wellbeing days, leadership retreats, HR-led wellness initiatives, and teams seeking a restorative, meaningful shared experience.
The Creative Team: Communication, collaboration, creative problem-solving
A hands-on, energising workshop blending artmaking with communication, collaboration, and creative problem‑solving. In an age of AI, human creativity and problem solving abilities and creativity is a key aspect to enhance and develop in all staff. No artistic experience is required. Designed for corporate groups seeking a fresh, engaging approach to team building, our Creative Team Development Sessions blend hands-on artmaking with evidence‑informed communication and collaboration practices. Focus areas: - Communication & interpersonal awareness - Collaboration & trust - Creative problem‑solving - Flexible thinking & idea generation - Team cohesion & shared experience Who it’s ideal for: Teams looking to reconnect, refresh their communication skills, or explore new ways of thinking together. Perfect for leadership groups, project teams, and any organisations wanting a meaningful, memorable team-building experience.
Creative Team Building
A highly engaging session where participants are invited to connect with their team and their creativity. No artistic experience is required — the focus is on expression, exploration, and the simple pleasure of creating something by hand. These sessions can engage with a form of process art where exploration and play are a key focus or they can be a set activity where participants are led through how to create a particular artwork. While both sessions result in an artwork to take home, there is a slight difference in how they are facilitated and their engagement level with the team. Session Focus: Encouraging connection, enjoyment and participation Encouraging personal expression and creative confidence Enhancing overall quality of life through creative engagement Providing a creative, inspiring environment away from the day to day workplace expectations Who it’s ideal for: Teams looking to reconnect, and re-engage Corporate groups seeking fresh, engaging approaches to team building. Leadership groups, project teams, and organisations wanting a meaningful, memorable team-building experience.