Over five lively days at the National Museum of Australia, 616 sock puppets came to life! Families joined Marianne Mettes for hands-on creative workshops filled with colour, laughter, and puppetry magic — proving once again that everyone can be a puppeteer with just a sock and a spark of imagination.

A burst of colour, cake, and community — see the unique creations from our Floriade-themed Make Art – Eat Cake workshops at the Front Gallery & Café!

Make a paper marionette with me! Free downloadable template and video tutorial to make your own puppets at home!

Clay, creativity, and cake! 🍰 Our Make Art – Eat Cake: Sculpture Edition workshops were such a joy — participants turned photos of their pets into treasured clay sculptures!

I was invited to perform puppet shows and workshops at the Turner School’s Artist and Writer’s Festival this August and facilitated programs to over 250 students as well as a teacher program!

This school holidays, kids can create their own sock puppet characters at the National Museum of Australia! Ages 5–12 | 29 Sept–3 Oct.

Radio is alive and well in Braidwood! Each second Monday, I’m guiding young people through the art of radio production, helping them create content for Youth Hour on Braidwood FM.

Over four weeks, our first Paint & Chat course saw beginners grow in confidence as they explored brushwork, colour, and composition — all while bonding over music, tea, and conversation.

I’m so excited to be part of Floriade About the Town! Come create your own flower-inspired artwork at my Lyneham & Gungahlin painting workshops.

On Thursday 7 August, I joined fellow puppeteer Kay Yasugi at a special event celebrating Norman Hetherington’s remarkable career and met with daughter Rebecca and grandson Tom.

On 23 July, I kicked off my first art session at Gungahlin Community Centre, guiding participants as they explored abstract painting and created their own unique masterpieces.

My sold-out puppetry workshops at the National Museum of Australia during the July school holidays were pure joy — over 200 kids made and performed their own puppets to celebrate Mr Squiggle & Friends exhibition.

Art, coffee, cake, and connection — my Make Art – Eat Cake workshops were a sell-out success, with every participant leaving proud of their finished piece.

Nine young creatives, two days, countless puppets! From learning marionettes and glove puppets to crafting their own characters from recycled materials, the July holiday workshop in Braidwood ended in a heartwarming performance for family and friends.

I attended the opening of Mr Squiggle and Friends at the National Museum of Australia — a powerful and emotional celebration of puppetry, legacy, and childhood wonder. Surrounded by my heroes, I was reminded exactly why I’ve chosen to return to puppetry and the arts full time.

There’s so much happening this winter at Access Art Academy – from delicious art nights and puppetry adventures, to cosy Dutch classes online. Whether you’re keen to pick up a brush, build a puppet, or learn a new language, now’s the time to jump in!

Yesterday I had the absolute joy of chatting live with James Findlay on ABC Radio Canberra—and what a treat it was! We talked all about Make Art, Eat Cake, the power of creativity, and why making space for joyful, pressure-free art is something we all need a little more of.
Watch the full ABC Canberra interview

The lovely folks at HerCanberra captured the heart of what this workshop is all about—creativity, connection, and a generous slice of something sweet. The article highlights the joy and intention behind this unique experience, and I couldn't be more grateful.

Shadow Puppetry PD Workshops – In-Person & Online! Learn how to create expressive puppets and bring storytelling to life using simple materials—perfect for literacy, drama, and visual arts.

We’re excited to announce new Dutch language courses! Taught by native Dutch speaker Marion Verbruggen, these online classes are designed for adult learners for a range of levels—from complete beginners to intermediate speakers.