School term classes for creatively curious kids!

Each class is held at the welcoming space of the Banana on Cat Studio, West Preston.

$400 per term for 1.5 hour class.

Includes a fruit platter break, and take home journal. Limited 6 spots per class – enrol now! Suitable for 6 - 12 year olds.

Workshops are led by local illustrator Benjamin Allder. He holds a current Working With Children Check, an up-to-date Police Check, and full Public Liability Insurance. All sessions are carefully planned to ensure a safe, inclusive and inspiring environment for every child.

BOOK NOW

“If I had a time Machine… I’d travel back in time to yesterday and do the class again.”

Jonty (Age 7)
School holiday class

“Can we do this every Thursday?”

Eila (Age 7)
School holiday class

“My kids aged 6 & 8 did a holiday art drawing class with Ben and Nichole at Banana on Cat. They absolutely loved it and have been asking if they can do another class next holidays. Would 100% recommend!”

Shahn (Parent)
School holiday class

About the Founder

Hi, I’m Benjamin Allder—illustrator, maker, and father. I started ‘Art Club’ as a weekend activity with my two boys (now aged 12 and 9). Over time, it’s grown into a passionate mission to share the benefits of creativity, foster well-being, and strengthen the sense of community that comes from creating/drawing/painting together.

As a mental health advocate, I deeply value nurturing creativity as a tool for self-expression and connection. Beyond encouraging kids to explore art, I also see this as an opportunity to provide positive male role modelling and, crucially, a break from the constant pull of screens.

As W.E.B. Du Bois said:

“Children learn more from who you are than what you teach.”

Or, in the words of Mahatma Gandhi:

“Be the change you want to see in the world.”

Experts like Maggie Dent and Stephen Biddulph highlight the importance positive male role models play in shaping a child’s development. Through this art club, I hope to be that creative “lighthouse,” offering guidance, support, and a sense of security. This helps children understand and embrace healthy masculinity, fostering positive values and behaviours essential for the next generation.

Banana on Cat Studio

Tucked away in a secure, privately fenced backyard in Preston West, the Banana on Cat studio is a a bright and welcoming space, perfect for hosting small creative group workshops.

Surrounded by a leafy backyard, the studio is a spacious open environment with large windows and high ceilings letting in natural light year round. Complete with plenty of room to move, art supplies, bathroom facilities and small food preperation area it’s an inspiring place for kids to spread out and dive into their creativity without limits.

The studio includes:

• A secure, enclosed backyard setting
• Open studio layout with bright natural lighting
• Large activity table for up to 8 students
• Age-appropriate art materials and tools
• Internal bathroom facilities
• Leafy garden for fresh air breaks
• Safe side gate entry for easy drop-off and pick-up
• Heating and cooling for year-round comfort
• First aid kit

“The space you work in should invite you to make things.”

– Austin Kleon

Embracing Mistakes and Learning

A child’s imagination is a limitless playground, especially in their younger years when creativity knows no bounds. Art provides a space to experiment, express, and create freely—without fear of failure. Sadly, as kids grow older, many become self-conscious about “mistakes,” feel pressured to conform to peer expectations, or struggle with technical skills that inhibit their creativity.

I’ve often found inspiration in my own kids’ sketchbooks. This unfiltered imagination and unique perspective remind me that art is about self-expression, not perfection.

“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.”

– Pablo Picasso

At the Banana on Cadets art club, I aim to:

• Facilitate loosely structured creative play.
• Set no hard rules in making art.
• Reframe “mistakes” as happy accidents.
• Remove technical skill barriers.
• Embrace ‘fanning out’
• Encourage kids to explore, take risks,
and colour outside the lines.
• Encourage recycling and reuse

These principles help build creative confidence while fostering flexibility, inclusivity, and collaborative problem-solving.

Building a Creative Community

I’m excited to grow Banana on Cadets into a space where young artists and those young at heart can experiment, share ideas, and develop their creative voices. Together, we can nurture a generation of confident, imaginative thinkers ready to make their mark on the world.

“The world always seems brighter when you’ve just made something that wasn’t there before.”

– Neil Gaiman