In September 2023, Squiggla team members Clare Brunner and Catherine Thomson delivered a Squiggla presentation and hands-on workshop at the New Zealand Association of Gerontology Conference, Rethinking Ageing, at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland.

Research is being done around the role of the arts as a consistent and intentional part of our lives, and there is growing evidence that arts participation improves the wellbeing of older adults, supports good health, strengthens social connectedness, and helps people live more fulfilled lives.

Squiggla’s process-driven approach and judgement-free philosophy allows people of all ages to confront entrenched views like ‘I can’t draw a straight line’ and ‘I couldn’t draw to save myself’. Through inventive mark making, everyone can start to understand themselves as a creative person and experience the joy of making.