An Arts Centre as a Garden

Forgan Arts Centre’s activities and operations are conceptualised as An Arts Centre as a Garden, a methodology rooted in permaculture principles. This is an experiment: imagining an art centre as a garden where a multisensory and sentient ecology of plants, people, and creatures support one another through mutually beneficial relationships and reciprocity.

Children’s Art Club: Autumn

Children’s Art Club is back for two weeks during the October holidays and open now for booking.

Join artist Jeanne Hamilton on week one to see The Garden as a Visual Story, finding inspiration and building “creature” characters, sets and stories for film.

Week two is lead by artist by Sam Harley. The week’s activities are inspired by transformation, of ourselves, our surroundings and our future.

Samhain 2026

On Saturday 31 October, delve into the biodiversity of edges, the care needed to keep a hedge from becoming a forest, the border-crossing figures of Celtic mythology, and the migration stories of our more-than-human kin.

This is a family friendly event. Tickets include access to all activities as well as delicious food from Marwick’s Vegan Kitchen.

Small Acts Mending Circle

This is a new fortnightly meetup that brings people together to sit and and work on mending moth eaten or worn-out clothes. Led by facilitator and textile artist Rhona Jack, we’ll focus on repairing holes and creating visible repairs that celebrate the history of the garment. Everyone is welcome, and there is no charge for participation or booking required.

Interested in coming? Click the button below for more information.

Kidical Mass!

Join us on Saturday 10 October for our first ever Kidical Mass family bike ride to celebrate the opening of our new green-roofed bike hub.

Fueled by hot-chocolate mid-way through the cycle and finishing with a bring-your-own community picnic in the gardens of the art centre. This event is for all ages, children must be accompanied by an adult.

Connecting Voices

Connecting Voices is a place to sing together.

It’s a group where people come together to use their voices, singing, making experimental sounds, and playing with vocal exercises. The group meets twice a month on Coorie Saturdays.

Everyone is welcome. Anyone who wants to use their voice, from complete beginners to regular singers and performers. It’s a space to meet others, enjoy time together, build confidence, and develop awareness of others through close listening and vocalising.

Gardening for the Future

Every 1st and 3rd Saturday we host an open volunteer meet-up in the gardens at the centre. Everyone is welcome, no experience necessary. The meet-up is led by gardener, grower, and environmentalist Dr Helena Simmons who will support people to get involved.

The activities include building raised beds, learning about ‘no-dig’ growing, planting vegetable and flowers, harvesting, and the never ending weeding and pruning to keep the gardens tidy. All activities relate to the sustainability, improving biodiversity, and tackling the climate emergency.

Coorie Saturdays

Coorie Saturdays are a blend of lots of different activities at that you can get involved in. From drop in crafting, singing workshops, learning about gardening and food growing, and workshops and classes. There’s free tea, coffee, juice and snacks available all day, free of charge.