Culture Work Through the Arts -

Culture Work Through the Arts

Art reveals what policies overlook. Let’s get to the heart of how your team really works.

What Is Culture Work?

Culture is more than mission statements and values posters — it’s the unwritten rules, the power dynamics, the unspoken assumptions, and the ways people respond under pressure. It’s the vibe in the room when a tough decision needs to be made, and the behavior that shows up when no one’s watching.

At Oya Arts, we help organizations see and shift their culture using collaborative, hands-on art experiences grounded in behavioral and social science. This isn’t about performance or play — it’s about surfacing insights that matter.

Why Use Art to Explore Organizational Culture?

When people paint, they slow down. They reflect. And they begin to see — not just the canvas, but the dynamics beneath the surface.

Painting gives shape to what’s often left unsaid. It bypasses jargon and performance, helping teams express the real story: how they work, how they feel, and what they need to thrive.

Through guided, hands-on experiences — from collaborative murals to layered reflections — teams uncover the patterns that shape culture:

The unspoken norms
The way decisions really get made
Where power flows, and where it stalls
What belonging looks and feels like

Every brushstroke becomes a data point. And by the end, the painting often reveals a story the team didn’t even realize they were telling.

Built on The Oya Method™

Our culture workshops are designed using The Oya Method™ — a systems-based, trauma-informed facilitation framework rooted in sociology and behavioral science. Developed over years of working across corporate, nonprofit, and community settings, it’s a method that helps teams:

Uncover hidden dynamics
Explore values, roles, and relationships
Navigate complexity and change
Create new ways of working — through shared insight and visual metaphor

What Culture Challenges Can We Support?

Navigating Growth or Change

Make sense of new dynamics after a merger, restructuring, or leadership transition

Uncovering and Shifting Unspoken Norms

Reveal patterns in decision-making, inclusion, and communication

Building a Shared Vision

Translate big-picture strategy into a collective understanding everyone can see and feel

Rebuilding Trust

Offer a neutral, expressive space for teams to reconnect and rebuild after breakdowns

CULTURE BASED WORKSHOPS

Employee Engagement Ideas with a Twist

We offer a range of hands-on, painting experiences designed to reflect and reshape organizational culture. Each session is fully guided, accessible to all skill levels, and tailored to your team’s goals.

Giant Jigsaw: Painting the Parts of a Whole

HOW IT WORKS: Each participant paints a piece of a “jigsaw puzzle.” When joined together, the full image reflects the team’s collective values, differences, and interdependence.

FOCUS AREAS: Role clarity, team dynamics, belonging

The Team Mural: Culture in Color

HOW IT WORKS: Each person paints a canvas that forms part of a larger mural, a powerful metaphor for alignment, contribution, and clarity.

FOCUS AREAS : Shared vision, communication, system thinking

Relational Flexibility Studio

HOW IT WORKS: You’ll start with full control. But not for long.
This workshop invites teams to surrender, adapt, and respond — all without saying a word. The result? A new way of understanding collaboration, contribution, and letting go.

FOCUS AREAS: Trust, flexibility, shared ownership

The Communications Lab

HOW IT WORKS: Every team hits turbulence. This painting experience mirrors the mess — and the repair. Expect disruption, tension, and a surprising shift in perspective by the end.
Because healing isn’t about erasing the damage — it’s about what you create with it.

FOCUS AREA: Navigating conflict, rebuilding trust

WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS SAY

Our team mural experience was incredible! We all came together to create something unique, and it really emphasized teamwork in a fun, creative way. The mural now proudly hangs in our office as a symbol of our collaboration

Jessica, Marketing Director

Team Mural Participant

The murder mystery event was the highlight of our team-building efforts! Everyone got so into the roles and I ended up being the murder! It was so much fun and a fantastic way to bond

David, HR

Themed Mystery Extravaganza

The Masterpiece Puzzle was a game-changer for our team. Watching each person contribute to the final artwork was a powerful reminder of how each role matters. It was both fun and impactful

Emily, Operations Lead

Team Masterpiece Puzzle

What to Expect

Every session includes:

Pre-session planning to align with your organizational context
All supplies and materials
Guided painting facilitation designed for insight, not just output
A detailed post-session insights report capturing key themes and observations
Access to a private portal housing all session materials and learning highlights

Companies We Have Worked With

Let’s Rethink Culture — Together

Whether you’re leading a transformation, rebuilding trust, or just ready to move beyond surface-level engagement, we’re here to help you paint the full picture. Fill out the form below and we will be in touch with you to discuss your requirments.