Why you should do the same art project again

As an activity professional, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking you constantly need to reinvent the wheel. We often put pressure on ourselves to scour the internet for new projects to keep our participants engaged.

But what if the secret to a highly successful art program isn’t something new, but something familiar?

Repeating an art project, perhaps once a season, eases the heavy lifting of calendar planning and brings back the magic your participants already love. You don’t have to find something new every time! Here is why doing the same art project again is a win-win for both you and your makers.

It’s easier for everyone

Let’s face it: leading an art activity is always easier the second time around. As a facilitator, you’ve already been through the process. You know exactly what to expect, what the pain points are, and how to lead the group more smoothly than the first time.

It’s easier for your participants, too! Familiarity takes the intimidation out of the creative process. Because they already know the basic steps, they are more willing to jump right in, reducing hesitation and encouraging active participation.

Confidence builds

When participants revisit a project, they aren't starting from scratch. They get to build on the skills they acquired the first time around. This prior experience gives them a boost in confidence. Instead of using all their energy to understand the instructions, they can focus on playing with new ways of doing it.

Room to evolve

Doing a project again doesn't mean doing it exactly the same way. The second time around is your opportunity to experiment!

Because you’ve learned from the first round, you will feel braver as a facilitator to push the boundaries. You can invite your group to experiment with different shapes, introduce a new color palette, or try out different tools. This evolution allows everyone to think outside the box, ultimately resulting in a much greater variety of finished artwork.

A case study in repetition: pour paintings

If you're worried your participants will get bored, don't be. People love returning to projects they enjoy.

For example, one of our most requested repeat projects ever was pour paintings. They were so popular we ended up doing them almost every month! To keep it fresh, we simply evolved the canvas. We poured paint on rounds, squares, and eventually small wooden shapes to make ornaments. Participants loved getting to choose their own colors and watching entirely new patterns emerge with every pour. It never got old.

Rethink the re-do

The next time you are planning your activity calendar, give yourself permission to look backward instead of forward.

At Art with Everyone, we believe so strongly in the power of repetition that in every single one of our project guides, we include inspiration for doing the project again in new ways. We want to encourage everyone to see what they can make from the same concepts and materials.

Don't be afraid to bring back the favorites. You might just be surprised by the magic that happens the second time around!