In September 2023, Squiggla team members Clare Brunner and Catherine Thomson will deliver a Squiggla presentation and hands-on making event 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 flexibility and all ages programme in particular, offers access to an open-ended creative process. Through Squiggla, people of all ages can confront cliches like ‘I can’t draw a straight line’ and ‘I couldn’t draw to save myself’ from becoming entrenched. The impact of this can be lifelong.