Global Entrepreneurship Week: Anna supports wellbeing with creative therapy on wheels

The theme of this year’s Global Entrepreneurship Week, which runs from 18-24 November, is ‘Entrepreneurship is for Everyone’, so we’re highlighting how USW is helping aspiring business owners, and those already running their own enterprises, become a success.

USW graduate, Anna Amalia Coviello, is the founder of Well Wagon, a mobile service designed to provide art-based therapeutic workshops across communities from her tricycle. Launched during ‘lockdown’ during the pandemic, Well Wagon addresses a growing need for mental health support through creative expression.

Inspired by her experiences studying BA(Hons) Creative and Therapeutic Arts and drawing on a blend of art therapy techniques, Anna created Well Wagon to offer workshops that encourage creativity without focusing on traditional artistic expectations. "It's not about making something pretty, it's about how the process can impact our wellbeing," Anna said.

"The aim is to empower participants to express themselves through painting, drawing, dance, and mindfulness activities, without the pressure of judgment or outcome.”

The unique concept for Well Wagon began with a cargo tricycle, which Anna designed and built with the support of a grant from USW’s Bright Ideas Den. The tricycle, which carries materials for art sessions, has been the centrepiece of her mobile workshops, allowing her to hold outdoor sessions safely during the pandemic. Since then, Well Wagon has expanded into various venues, where Anna now offers a range of creative and therapeutic sessions.

Among her signature workshops are ‘Meditative painting’, ‘Collaborative drawing’, Plein Air: outdoor painting’, while running ‘Shes and Theys in Art History’ a monthly session where participants create art inspired by a chosen non-binary or female artist. The sessions open with meditation and intention-setting, followed by creative icebreakers that encourage connection and collaboration. “It’s all about breaking down the barriers of what art should look like and instead focusing on how it feels,” said Anna.

In addition to her in-person workshops, Anna project manages the “Butterfly Soup” group, a queer community space at Ardour Academy combining meditation, dance, and drawing for healing and expression. "I want to create a space where people can let go and express their identity, whether through movement, writing, or any other form of artistic expression,” she adds.

Despite the growing popularity of Well Wagon, Anna is juggling her business alongside a full-time job. "Ideally, I want Well Wagon to be self-sustaining," she said.

 “If I could dedicate more time, I know I could reach even more people, especially in underserved communities.”

Anna’s long-term vision is to make art accessible to everyone. Her workshops are designed with a sliding scale payment system, allowing flexibility for those unable to afford traditional art classes.

Anna said: "I wouldn’t be where I am without my Creative and Therapeutic Arts degree from USW. It showed me the power of the creative process, rather than the outcome, and inspired me in supporting other people channelling their own creative voice," she said.

For business startup or freelance support contact [email protected].