There’s a fine line between hilariously fun team-building events and yawn-worthy cringe co-working moments. You can probably recall a few team-building exercises that you felt were kind of a drag. Forced small talk. Awkward icebreakers. That one guy who turns everything into a competition. You’ve seen it all.
But here’s the good news: team bonding doesn’t have to mean trust falls and matching t-shirts. If you want your group to actually connect (without eye rolls and fake enthusiasm), give them something creative to do. Something a little weird. A little messy. Maybe even involving glitter.
Enter: the artistic collaboration.
Whether it’s painting a mural, writing a song, or building a weird sculpture out of recycled cardboard and pipe cleaners, creative group projects can do what no ropes course ever could. These kinds of get-togethers can inspire teams to open up, collaborate, and actually enjoy themselves in the process. As an event professional, these are the kinds of connections you want your events to make.
Why creativity brings people together
You know what happens when people make art together? They stop posturing. They stop performing. They get a little vulnerable, a little silly, and a whole lot more real.
That’s where connection starts.
Creative projects break down barriers. Your guests aren’t “managers” and “junior account reps” anymore. They’re two people trying to figure out how to make a papier-mâché dragon’s head look less terrifying. When people get out of their heads and into their hands, they start communicating differently. More naturally. Less guarded.
It’s one of the few team-building formats where it’s not about who's the loudest in the room. It’s about who’s willing to play.
What artistic collaborations can look like
You don’t have to throw your guests into an improv class (though, hey, that could work). There are all kinds of creative group experiences that work for different vibes and comfort levels:
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- Mural painting or community art walls
- Collaborative songwriting or beat-making workshops
- Themed collage projects (vision board energy, but cooler)
- Group sculpting with clay, wood, recycled materials—you name it
- Interactive theater or storytelling with professional facilitators
The more offbeat, the better. When the project doesn’t feel like “work,” people show up as themselves.
And no, they don’t need to be “artsy.” Most of these experiences are designed for beginners, requiring zero drawing skills. In fact, the less polished, the more fun it usually is.
It’s not about the masterpiece
Nobody’s walking away from this with a gallery-worthy painting (though if they do, amazing). What they will walk away with is a shared experience.
Creating together builds trust. It gives people a chance to solve problems in new ways, lean on each other’s strengths, and see their coworkers as, well… humans. The kind with ideas, frustrations, inside jokes, and maybe a surprisingly strong opinion about glitter glue.
That kind of connection doesn’t come from PowerPoint decks and quarterly check-ins. It comes from doing something new together.
How to make it work (without making it weird)
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- Work with a real artist or creative facilitator. Someone who knows how to guide the experience, not just throw paint supplies on a table and hope for the best.
- Pick a format that matches your team. Not every group wants to do interpretive dance. (Some do. Respect.)
- Set the tone. If leadership treats it like a joke, the team will, too.
- Give people a heads-up. Surprise art time is not everyone’s dream scenario. Let them mentally prepare.
Ready to ditch the awkward icebreakers?
Team-building doesn’t have to feel forced. With the right creative project, it becomes something people actually talk about later, for the right reasons.
Want to see how other planners are bringing artistic collaboration into their events? Come to The Event Planner Expo 2025. Learn from the most artistic and creative event professionals. Get your tickets! This is the premiere conference where the best of the best in events come to share ideas and find their inspiration. Where will you be this October?
