Welcome to the Art Therapy in Schools Community of Practice (CoP)!
Strategic Objective
To foster a supportive and collaborative space for school-based art therapists to come together and share their learnings, reflections, and resources in order to better support children’s wellbeing within a school context.
What is a Community of Practice?
According to Wenger-Trayner and Wenger-Trayner (2015), “Communities of practice are groups of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly”. CoPs comprise the following three features:
1. Discipline – an area of interest;
2. Community – a group of people with a shared interest or passion; and
3. Practice – an intent to exchange, refine and improve practical resources.
Context
School-based art therapy can help with supporting children’s wellbeing, social, and emotional needs (BAAT, 2025). Art therapy at schools offers students the opportunity to receive therapeutic service that may otherwise be unaffordable or difficult to access. In Australia, while the Victorian Government has introduced the school mental health menu (which includes art therapy), and some schools employ art therapists in various capacities, there is an opportunity for Australian school-based art therapy practices to further expand and mature.
School, an education setting, presents a unique context for students to receive art therapy support compared with other therapeutic settings. Art therapists have to navigate within the established educational systems and frameworks, as well as implementing new and creative processes that will best support the needs of the students, while balancing competing demands and ethical considerations.
This CoP is established to connect art therapists working within school settings and facilitate the sharing of ideas, resources, learnings and reflections. Ultimately, the underlying goals are to improve the quality of therapeutic support provided to students, and to advocate for the art therapy profession within the school context.
Cost to Participate
Free
Who is it For?
Registered Professional Art Therapists working at schools (direct employment by the school or as an external contractor), as well as Master of Art Therapy Students undertaking their clinical placements at schools. We currently have members from Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Singapore. We would be excited to connect with school-based art therapists from around the world.
What does it Entail?
| Reflective Practice | Periodic reflective and knowledge sharing groups (in person and online) for art therapists to hold the space for each other, check-in, reflect, share and discuss in a supportive and non-judgemental manner. And of course, there will be art making. |
| Resource Centre | A repository to access resources, references to relevant literature, knowledge and ideas. |
| WhatsApp Community | Group chat channels with other members of the CoP |
How to Get Involved?
If you wish to be a part of the community, please apply using our sign up form.
What is Cerulean Space’s Role?
Kanling (Founder of Cerulean Space) is the convener of the Art Therapy in Schools CoP. Her direct experience offering art therapy support to students in various school settings has inspired the establishment of of this CoP in early 2025.
In line with Cerulean Space’s value of focusing on preventative care, and increasing reach and accessibility of mental health services, this community is a part of our contribution to the art therapy community. We are passionate about sharing resources and knowledge, and connecting like-minded art therapists.
We understand that everyone is extremely busy. In addition to initiating and driving the CoP, Cerulean Space plays the role of facilitation, administration and coordination, as well as hosting relevant resources and moderating group forums. In consultation with CoP members, Cerulean Space also supports the establishment and implementation of governance mechanisms. All contributions by members of the community and external sources are acknowledged and/or referenced. Cerulean Space does not hold any financial interest in facilitating this CoP; and there is no potential conflict of interest reported.
Reference
The British Association of Art Therapists (BAAT). (2025). Art therapy with children in primary schools. https://baat.org/art-therapy/evidence/art-therapy-for-supporting-children-in-primary-school/
Wenger-Trayner, E. and Wenger-Trayner, B. (2015). An introduction to communities of practice: a brief overview of the concept and its uses. https://www.wenger-trayner.com/introduction-to-communities-of-practice