Artsenta is a Dunedin based creative wellbeing space for people accessing support for their mental health or addiction. We provide materials and equipment for a range of creative activities within a safe and supportive environment. We present a wide variety of creative opportunities, including arts and crafts, music and creative writing. See Join Us to find out how to get involved.

We run regular beginner sessions, group activities, events and exhibitions. Materials and equipment are provided and our talented staff have a range of skills to share. You don’t have to be ‘artistic’ to attend - everyone can benefit from immersing themselves in the creative process!

Our creative space is accessible and non-clinical. A referral isn’t required, but attendees must be receiving support for a mental health or addiction issue.

As well as Artsenta, we also coordinate creative wellbeing programmes in regional Otago. See our Regions page for more details.

Artsenta is run by a non-profit charitable trust called the Creative Arts Trust. Our mission is “Wellbeing through creativity and community”.

Artsenta was founded on the belief that creativity and artistic expression is an essential part of every person's health and wellbeing, and that people experiencing mental health challenges should have opportunities to realise their creative potential.

As an organisation we have a commitment to te Tiriti o Waitangi and that includes normalising the use of te reo Māori and tikanga Māori in our space and in the way we work. We use the holistic model of wellbeing called Te Whare Tapa Wha developed by Sir Mason Durie. It incorporates Tinana (physical health), Hinengaro (mental and emotional health), Whānau (social health) and Wairua (spiritual health). All these elements of wellbeing are equally important, and they are woven into our creative work and our creative community.