Chennai’s Multi‑Art Workshops: A Growing Creative Haven for All Ages

When B. Vijaya, a 60‑year‑old former accountant, stepped into a bustling room on a Saturday afternoon, she didn’t expect to leave with a tiny Thai‑style tote bag in her hands. The room was a kaleidoscope of activity – tufting, crochet, pipe‑cleaner flowers and a punch‑needle table – all happening at once under the roof of Magizh, a community studio run by former IT professional turned artist, Shree Vidhyaa.

“I quit my IT job because I wanted to make art my full‑time job,” Vidhyaa explains, a hint of pride in her voice. “Most people thought I was being reckless, but Chennai embraced the idea. Folks of every age now show up, curious to try something new, all in one place.”

For Vijaya, the workshops are more than a hobby; they’re a reclamation of a part of herself she hadn’t touched in two decades. “I used to knit and do glass‑painting when my kids were small,” she recalls. “Now I’m learning punch‑needle, Thai bag‑making – things I never imagined trying at my age.”

She isn’t alone. K. Jayalakshmi, 58, who lives with a physical disability, now treats the monthly sessions as a cherished ritual. “I came for a journaling class and never left,” she says, smiling. “Here, no one judges what you create – it’s pure freedom, and it gives me that much‑needed ‘me‑time.’”

The magic, Vidhyaa believes, lies in the blend of generations. While many participants are seniors rediscovering creativity, the facilitators are often Gen‑Z artists bringing fresh techniques and trends to the table. Maydhini R.C., a punch‑needle instructor, notes, “The art scene in Chennai has shifted. It’s no longer just a pastime; it’s a sanctuary where people unwind and reconnect with themselves.”

Magizh’s model—offering a mosaic of workshops in a single space—has sparked a quiet revolution across the city. Residents no longer have to hunt for separate studios; they can hop from crochet to canvas, from journaling to bag‑making, all within an hour.

As word spreads, the demand for such communal creative hubs grows. For many, these multi‑art workshops have become a lifeline, a place to laugh, learn, and, most importantly, feel alive again.