Originally started back in 2019, expanded from a small London-based festival to across the U.K., National Creativity and Wellbeing Week takes place from the 16th - 22nd May 2022. Put together by the partnership between London Arts in Health Forum and the Culture and Health & Wellbeing Alliance, the festival encourages everyone to embrace the transformative effects of creativity and how being creative can have a positive impact on both our physical and mental wellbeing.

If you're finding yourself feeling skeptical about the positive effects of creativity, then think about the last time you listened to music, did some crafting, or visited an exhibition; you might have already experienced your mood and wellbeing improving thanks to the arts! This year's theme is "Get Creative, Get Outside", encouraging everyone to get creative whilst embracing nature.

Read along as here at Obby we round up our top 8 picks for classes and workshops to enjoy during Creativity and Wellness Week 2022.

Our 8 Activities To Help You Enjoy Creativity and Wellness Week are:

Art Journalling Workshop with Blue Palette Art Studio

Location: Kingston upon Thames | Price: from £55pp

Art journalling is a great way to incorporate creative wellbeing into your day-to-day life, and this workshop with Blue Palette Art is a great place to start your journalling journey! Started by Dr. Sai Banerjee, an experienced teaching artist, art historian and calligrapher, she's committed to promoting creativity as a wellness practice through her art and calligraphy workshops.

In this workshop, Dr. Sai will introduce the concept of Art Journaling, run you through some warm-up and mindfulness practices, before getting stuck into your new journal; with everyone receiving a curated Beginners Art journaling kit filled with everything you need. Each workshop has a different theme, so you'll get to try something new using different media and art techniques, and carry on exploring at home.

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Make Your Own Kokedama (Japanese Hanging Houseplants) with Floral Merchant

Location: London Bridge | Price: £65pp

If you're looking to embrace this year's Creativity and Wellbeing Week theme of 'Get Creative, Get Outdoors', then this Kokedama workshop can still help! Even if it doesn't take place outdoors, this masterclass from Floral Merchant London can help you connect with nature!

Kokedama is the traditional form of creating Japanese hanging gardens, where you use wrapping techniques and soil combinations to create wonderful pot-less hanging plants; like the one above. Your teacher Hayley McDonald will walk you through the tradition of Kokedama making and how to support and maintain your new hanging garden.  You'll get to choose from a range of plants and coloured string, so you'll get to express your creative in whatever unique way you feel.

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Embroidery for Beginners with Make Town

Location: Hackney Central, London | Price: £35pp

Looking to pick up some needle and thread in Creativity and Wellness Week 2022? This Embroidery for Beginners workshop from Make Town is a great place to start if you're looking to take your design from paper to textile art.

In this group workshop, you'll get to work with other creative people as your teacher Brooke walks you through the basics of embroidery - from your basic stitches to terminology - to help you embrace your creativity. From traditional patterns to more modern twists, what you create is up to you, and you'll be provided with all the materials needed to finish your piece at home!

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Aromatherapy Candle Making Workshop with Yougi

Location: London | Price: £45pp

This class from candle-makers Yougi, led by their founder Emily Lynam, is perfect if you're looking to combine your senses and creativity! Emily is a self-confessed candle fanatic, and she established Yougi with the aim of bringing the beauty of fragrance and self-care to every moment at home; making this workshop perfect for combining wellbeing and creativity.

In Emily's masterclass, you'll learn all the key aspects of candle-making. You'll learn how to create a natural fragrance, blend your choice of essential oils with the soy-wax, set up your wick, and pour out your candle ready to take home. Everything in Emily's workshops are vegan, cruelty-free and ethically sourced; with everything you need included in the ticket price.

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Coached Painting Experience with MasterPeace

Location: Belgravia, London | Price: £45pp

If you're looking for a mindful approach to your Creativity and Wellness Week, then MasterPeace's Coached classes are a great option! The Belgravia-based studio practice 'mindful painting', focusing on the power of creativity to help people relax and unwind.

In their 90 minute class you'll get to paint a picture of your own from your phone; projected onto your canvas with the help of a personal projector. Your painting doesn't need to be perfect, or even finished during your session, you'll be given all the tools and materials you need to go away and finish your piece in your own time. Or you have the option to return to their beautiful studio in Eccleston Yards for just £10 during a Freestyle session, where you'll have 90 minutes of independent painting time. Either way, their Coached sessions will help give you the mindset and skills you need to go away and start practising mindful painting yourself.

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Make Your Own Ceramic Teapot with Decima Studios

Location: Borough, London | Price: from £80pp

Why not combine a creative craft with something lots of us associate with our wellbeing: a warming cup of tea! With this Teapot crafting pottery workshop from Decima Studios, a Borough-based studio of ceramic artists, you'll learn the ancient tradition of Yixing Teapots from your teacher Irina; where the two ancient crafts of clay and tea meet.

In the 3 hour workshop, you'll be introduced to the history of the style of ceramics, the pottery hand building techniques that will help you shape your teapot, and all the techniques you need step-by-step. You can work from one of the examples carefully curated by Decima Studios or, if you’re feeling inspired, create your own design a unique shape and finish!

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Mindful African Self Portrait Art Workshop

Location: London | Price: £39pp

If you're worried to tap into your creativity because you feel you lack the talent to create something 'good', then this class from Birungi Kawooya will help you let go of the perfectionism and embrace getting creative for you!

As a self-taught artist, Birungi will teach you her technique and help you to work through anxiety, focus your mind and create freely. Each Self Portrait session starts with a check-in, mindful breathing and warm-up drawing exercises which helps to relax, create wellbeing and improve your confidence; perfect for Creativity and Wellness week! Birungi will walk you through step-by-step how to use her unique paper cut and textile collage technique so you can create a collage portrait of yourself or a loved one.

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Vintage Furniture Upcycling Workshop

Location: Streatham, London | Price: £120pp

Use your creativity to bring life to something old with this Upcycling workshop by Touch Wood Vintage! You'll learn how you can use natural ethical paints, accent colours and waxes to bring a whole new layer of creativity to your repurposing and upcycling projects.

Lynda, your teacher, will provide everything you need for the workshop - even a piece of furniture if required -  and you'll be introduced to colour trends and how to mix your own unique natural colours, and don't forget a few tips and tricks to help you along your way!

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Need more advice?

Hopefully, these ideas on how to get the most out of Creative and Wellness Week 2022 have helped you! If you're still stuck for the perfect class for you, be sure to take a read of some of our other amazing guides and best round-ups below. We're sure you'll find something useful, oh - and don't forget to share the love.