In the era of rolling news, much of it anxiety-inducing by design, Analog Art Club is giving Victorians a chance to slow down, switch off their phones and connect with art – and each other – in a meaningful, screen-free way.
‘There are no ice-breakers – people are just making conversation, and it’s happening naturally,’ says Maroondah City Council Arts Development Officer Jo Harkin.
Jo has been involved in delivering Analog Art Club for Arts in Maroondah, Maroondah City Council’s arts program, which runs public events and programs and manages the council’s three public gallery spaces.
She’s seen first-hand how the invitation to switch off the phone and participate in something creative – whether it be a workshop, a tour or an artist talk – has sparked conversation between strangers, young and old.
‘Our most popular event was the Troppo Print Studio workshop,’ says Jo. ‘As soon as it went live, the booking sold out in a couple of days.’ The workshop, Future Foundations: Poster as Protest was run by Troppo Print Studio, an open access screenprint studio and educational space based in Coburg.
Held in ArtsSpace at Realm, surrounded by a gallery exhibition of screenprint works by Troppo Print Studio, the 20 Analog Art Club participants got their hands dirty cutting up material for bunting and learning to screenprint T-shirts.
‘Everyone was just so collegiate and wanted to be there. You know that atmosphere that’s really unique when you get a space of people, and everyone is really keen to be in the room? That’s that feeling. It’s so good.’
Analog Art Club: engaging in person
Arts in Maroondah is one of ten Victorian metropolitan and regional galleries that run an Analog Art Club, a state-wide initiative of the Public Galleries Association of Victoria, to encourage people to disconnect from devices, and engage, in-person, in activities in galleries and creative spaces.
And it’s clear that it’s working. Analog Art Club attracts around 100 participants each month, 80% of participants report improved mental wellbeing from doing the program, and nearly a quarter are visiting their gallery for the first time – helping to break down institutional barriers to entry, and build new communities.
‘We’re using technology all the time at work, at home, for everything,’ Jo says. ‘It’s really hard to find time to disconnect. Personally, I sometimes replace reading a book with doom scrolling at night and I never would have done that 15 years ago.
‘So, for people to make the time, through a program like Analog Art Club, where you’re doing something else that’s more engaging, like an activity, meeting other people, I think that’s really valuable.’
For Jo, and for the lucky participants, it goes without saying that Analog Art Club sessions at this time of year, as much as any other, offer an ideal opportunity to pause, unplug and make space for creativity amid the pre-holiday rush.
Analog Art Club programs running in December 2025 are:
Wyndham Art Gallery
Wednesday 17 December, 10:30am–12pm
Led by artist and facilitator Merryn Trevethan, this hands-on workshop invites you to explore the gallery in playful ways through drawing, collage, mark-making, and more.
Manningham Art Gallery
Wednesday 17 December 2025, 4pm–6pm
A relaxed weaving session set to music, where participants can create a mini tapestry to take home.
Wangaratta Art Gallery
Thursday 18 December, 1pm–2pm
A lunchtime session to pause, reflect, discuss, and experience art together.
Museum of Australian Photography
Thursday 18 December, 6pm–7pm
Create a small block to emboss an image or symbol into paper during this creative session.
Check out the Analog Art Club website for more information and upcoming events.
Analog Art Club events are run at Arts In Maroondah, Bayside Gallery, Manningham Art Gallery, Museum of Australian Photography (MAPh), Noel Shaw Gallery at University of Melbourne, TarraWarra Museum of Art, The Dax Centre, Wyndham Art Gallery and regionally at Ararat Gallery TAMA (Textile Art Museum Australia) and Wangaratta Art Gallery.
