Employee Engagement ideas with a Twist

ART & EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT

STRUGGLING WITH EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT?

Unlock creativity, collaboration, and innovation through art-based workshops designed for real impact.

Facing communication challenges, low engagement, or a lack of innovation? The Oya Method™ combines art-based activities with a sociological approach to boost collaboration, creativity, and problem-solving skills.

Art activities ignite creativity, helping your team bond, communicate better, and think outside the box. This not only drives growth but also sparks innovation, leading to new products, processes, and business models that fuel success.

Did you know art-based activities activate the brain’s reward pathway, boosting creativity and team performance? Incorporating art into your engagement strategy can inspire fresh ideas and strengthen your company’s culture.

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As Many As

Of employees think about quitting

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As Much As

Lost due to poor employee engagement

0 $Billion

NOT JUST ART FOR ART’S SAKE. THERE’S SCIENCE BEHIND IT.

Tired of forced fun and forgettable workshops?

At Oya Arts, we use The Oya Method™ — a creative approach that blends art, socio-behavioral science, and systems-based analysis to help teams reconnect, reflect, and work better together.

Each session is hands-on, energizing, and seriously fun — while still grounded in real insight. You’ll laugh, create, and uncover how your team truly operates — from how you communicate to how you handle change.

Choose from one of our popular workshops below, or let us design a fun, tailored experience built around your team’s goals. Whether you’re building trust, navigating transitions, or just ready for something fresh — we’ve got you.

TIRED OF FORCED FUN AND FORGETTABLE WORKSHOPS?

Download our quirk guide to see:

Our most popular workshops

What makes The Oya Method™ different

How art becomes a mirror for how your team really works

OUR WORKSHOPS

Employee Engagement Ideas with a Twist

Our painting sessions are an excellent way to ignite creativity and foster innovative thinking, helping employees break down personal barriers and build stronger team connections. Whether you choose to host your team day at our Northrup King Building studio in the heart of the vibrant North East Minneapolis Art District, or prefer us to bring the experience to your chosen venue, we offer a range of activities designed to enhance collaboration.

Team Masterpiece Puzzle

HOW IT WORKS: Each person paints a section of a larger puzzle contributing your creativity to a collective masterpiece, where each piece of the puzzle comes together to form a unified work of art.

BEST FOR: Teams exploring collaboration, communication, and unspoken dynamics.

Pass the Paint Party

HOW IT WORKS: Did someone say music and paint? Music meets creativity in this high-energy session where your team paints side-by-side, contributing to a collection of unique, expressive works. It’s bold, joyful, and full of unexpected connections.

BEST FOR : Teams looking to energize their bond through play and surprise. This session builds trust, encourages creative risk-taking, and reminds participants that collaboration doesn’t have to be serious to be meaningful.

Team Murals

HOW IT WORKS: Our Team Mural workshop is an ideal half-day team-building experience. Your entire team will collaborate on a large, pre-drawn canvas, adding their unique touches to create a collective abstract masterpiece. It’s a fun and engaging way to strengthen bonds, encourage creativity, and leave a lasting impression.

BEST FOR:

Teams looking to align around a shared purpose, celebrate milestones, or energize new beginnings. Ideal for onboarding, vision-setting retreats, or moments of collective recognition.

Classic Paint and Sip

HOW IT WORKS: Unwind and enjoy a classic paint and sip experience, where you’ll create your masterpiece with guided instruction—all while building team connections in a relaxed and fun setting.

BEST FOR:

Teams that want to connect, recharge, and enjoy each other’s company outside the usual routine. Perfect for staff appreciation events, casual celebrations, or simply adding a little creativity to your team culture.

Brush & Breathe

HOW IT WORKS: A calming, meditative painting experience with breath prompts and soft music — focused on release, not results.

BEST FOR: Teams in need of a reset. Ideal for reducing stress, enhancing self-awareness, and supporting emotional wellbeing — especially during times of burnout, transition, or high demand.

Secret Agent Art Adventure

HOW IT WORKS: Step into the shadows for a high-stakes creative mission. Your team will decode hidden messages, solve visual puzzles, and follow a trail of mysterious clues — all while working together to complete a covert artistic assignment

BEST FOR: Teams that want to sharpen their communication, build trust under pressure, and strengthen intuition. Ideal for leadership retreats, team offsites, or groups ready for something immersive, unexpected, and unforgettable

A Victorian Saga

HOW IT WORKS: The year is 1900. You’ve been invited to a lavish gathering at the haunted Blackwood Manor — but this is no ordinary party. A bride was found dead. A child vanished. And the attic holds secrets that refuse to stay buried.
Split into teams, your guests will take on mysterious roles, decode eerie clues, and collaborate to paint a haunting masterpiece that just might hold the answers.

BEST FOR: Teams open to mystery, metaphor, and meaningful reflection. Perfect for exploring trust, emotional dynamics, and group roles through an immersive experience that blends storytelling, suspense, and collective creativity.

1920's Mystery

HOW IT WORKS: Welcome to the height of the Roaring Twenties — where jazz plays, secrets simmer, and someone doesn’t make it out of the speakeasy alive. As the night unfolds, your team must follow a trail of clues, interrogate colorful suspects, and uncover hidden motives in a mystery that demands collaboration, deduction, and bold thinking.

BEST FOR: Teams ready to step into a story and explore trust, identity, and group dynamics in a high-energy setting. Perfect for leadership development, team bonding, or simply shaking things up with immersive problem-solving and a bit of 1920s flair.

1980'S Whodunit

HOW IT WORKS: The year is 1985. A socialite has vanished on the eve of her rooftop gala, and your team has just been pulled into the city’s most scandalous cold case. Set in a neon-lit Minneapolis filled with secrets, sabotage, and suspicious characters, teams must piece together clues, decode artistic evidence, and collaborate to uncover the truth — all while creating a vibrant painting tied to the mystery itself.

BEST FOR: Teams who love storytelling, strategy, and immersive experiences with a creative twist. Ideal for groups looking to energize collaboration, sharpen problem-solving, and experience a mystery they’ll be talking about long after the last brushstroke.

YOUR EXPERIENCE, YOUR SETTING

At Oya Arts, we cater to every group size and budget — from intimate sessions in our fully equipped studio to large-scale experiences at our partner venues. We’re also completely mobile, bringing the Oya Arts magic directly to you. Explore our partner venues.

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

1920's Murder Mystery

I’m going back to tell the whole company — this is how you do team-building. I’ve been to some doozies in my time, but this was actually fun, completely unique, and got us working together without it feeling forced.

Trent, IT

Pass the Paint Party

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

Of course our team won — it was Field Ops vs. HQ in a battle of secret spy agencies! I’ve never painted before, but the pressure was off since the canvas was pre-sketched — we had no idea what it would look like until we pieced it together. I won’t spoil the surprise, but it was honestly so much fun

Govina, Development

Secret Agent Art Adventure

Our team — The Brat Pack — didn’t win, but I felt like I’d stepped straight back into the '80s solving a murder mystery. I’ve never done anything like this before. The painting turned out to be a clue, which was wild! And between the music, the food, the vibe — everything just worked. Our team’s still talking about it.”

Natasha, Comms

1980's murder mystery

WHAT'S INCLUDED

All painting materials are provided, including pre-drawn canvases and props when needed. To fuel your creativity, we’ll have teas, coffees, and a variety of refreshments on hand. You can also talk to us about our catering packages which includes a choice of sandwiches, pastries, fresh fruit, or savor the flavors of the Caribbean with delicious delights from Chana Trinidadian Kitchen. And for a classic party favorite, we’ll also have hot dog bars to satisfy your hunger.

SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE

In Person and Online

Consistent team-building activities are essential for fostering collaboration, creativity, and employee well-being. At Oya Arts, we offer engaging in-person and virtual team-building sessions designed to keep your team connected and motivated year-round. With flexible monthly or quarterly subscriptions, our workshops are tailored to fit your team’s unique needs. Our virtual packages offer 20% savings and are perfect for hybrid or remote teams, ensuring seamless participation and boosting overall team morale. Keep your team energized with fun, creative experiences!

COMPANIES WE HAVE WORKED WITH

GET IN TOUCH

If you would like information on pricing for an existing workshop, to create your own or just to chat to see if Oya Arts is a good fit for your busines. Get in touch.

Let’s see if we can help increase your employees productivity.