There are many clubs around the world that focus on both digital and analogue collage art. To ensure inclusivity, I’ve excluded private clubs that have a limited number of members or don’t offer public activities or tutorials accessible to the general public.
As a beginner or an advocate for creating an inclusive and open environment in the world of collage, I’ve included clubs that offer accessible activities both on-site and online. Some of these clubs focus on analogue techniques, some on digital, and some on both. You can subscribe and follow along with many of them. All have easily accessible platforms with no complicated forms or processes to join. One thing I want to make clear about collage art that it is not an ‘exclusive’ hobby belonging to a few. Collage is about inclusivity—no snobbery or gatekeeping allowed.
As with all hobbies and professions, it’s important to immerse yourself in an inclusive community.
So, here they are:
Online Communities
Paris Collage Collective
Location: Paris, France (International Online Community)
Collage Type: Digital/Analogue
Activities: Weekly community collaborations
Description: This was the first collage club I discovered when I started collaging a couple of years ago. I loved this website. They represent both analogue and digital collage and host active challenges every week, along with open calls for collage contributions. There’s also a subscriber community (both free and paid). If you need inspiration and an active collage goal, I highly recommend participating and browsing their site.
Link
Edinburgh Collage Collective
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland (International Online Community)
Collage Type: Digital/Analogue
Activities: Featuring artists on Instagram
Description: They occasionally hold workshops. Although they are still active on Instagram, their workshops and open calls are sporadic. Most of their workshops are on-site, so even though they call themselves ‘international,’ they seem to be more of a local community. Their website is a bit difficult to navigate, so I suggest following them on Instagram instead. You can submit your work to be featured by tagging them or using the hashtag #edinburghcollagecollective.
Link
Special Agent Collage Collective
Location: Carnation, USA (International Online Community)
Collage Type: Analogue
Activities: Online collage missions, mission submissions
Description: This collage collective offers ‘special missions’ where you can challenge yourself and submit your work, as well as suggest ideas for future missions. I love these types of communities because they keep their members active and engaged. They also host on-site events like Collage-o-rama, a celebration of collage art.
Link
Kolaj Institute
Location: Louisiana, USA (On-site and Online Community)
Collage Type: Analogue
Activities: Online competitions and on-site meetups
Description: While Kolaj focuses mainly on developing its local community, they also maintain an online presence. Kolaj is a great resource for finding information about collage, with forums for artists and enthusiasts, as well as occasional events. It’s a great site to explore if you want to learn more about collage.
Link
Collage Artists of America
Location: California, USA (Online Community)
Collage Type: Analogue & Digital
Activities: Workshops, resources, and an online community
Description: Although some workshops are outdated, they still regularly update their newsletter with exhibition and meeting dates, which include information about upcoming events. They also have a membership program that offers a members-only online page. If your collages are selected by their judges, your work could be exhibited both on-site and online.
Link
Collage Lab
Location: USA (Online Community)
Collage Type: Analogue
Activities: Online workshops and membership
Description: Collage Lab is a fun little community hosted by collage artist Kelly. The website features various workshops and even a membership that includes collaborations and more workshops. Kelly originally created Collage Lab to teach online, but what she ended up creating was a community. It’s a great place for collage artists and enthusiasts to connect and learn.
Link
The Collage Reddit Community
Location: Online
Collage Type: Mainly analogue, with some digital pieces
Activities: User submissions
Description: With a 29K follower base, this Reddit group is full of collage enthusiasts who share their work daily. While conversations are rare, it's mostly a place to submit your work for others to view and occasionally comment on. The community isn’t very chatty, but questions and comments about people’s work do pop up from time to time.
Link
Collage Artists Instagram Group
Location: Online
Collage Type: Analogue and Digital
Activities: Features on Instagram
Description: This is a simple club to be part of. You post your work on Instagram and use the hashtag #collageartistsx for a chance to be featured on their Instagram page. It’s fun to scroll through and see what other people are doing in their collage journey.
Link
On-site Communities
That Paper Joint
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Collage Type: Analogue
Activities: 3-4 hour classes (with wine and cheese) and other events around Melbourne, including a collage pub night
Description: If you’re ever in Melbourne, make a booking with That Paper Joint. They offer fun, instructional classes suitable for all skill levels, from children to adults. I went there for my birthday (I’m a 37-year-old woman), and my friends and I had the best time collaging, enjoying charcuterie and wine. Now they’ve added pub nights to their events list. They’ve built a strong community, with regular attendees at their workshops.
Link
Collage Club LDN
Location: London, England
Collage Type: Analogue
Activities: On-site collage workshops
Description: Although they aren’t very active online, they host regular workshops in London. During the COVID lockdowns, their workshops were held online. I really wish they would bring this back for international collage enthusiasts, as the variety of workshops looks fun and informative.
Link
The Sydney Collage Society
Location: Sydney, Australia
Collage Type: Analogue
Activities: On-site workshops and events
Description: If you’re in Sydney or planning to visit, this is a place to keep an eye on. They hold regular workshops and occasional exhibitions. However, it seems more like an exclusive club of artists showcasing their work to the public, rather than a community open to contributions from everyone.
Link
I hope this list helps you choose which communities to be a part of. I’m definitely joining at least two and will follow them all to keep an eye on their next events and workshops.
There are more out there that I didn't include on this list so I encourage you to look in your local area for one close to you.
It’s great to see so many people wanting to be part of the collage community, supporting each other in creating and growing as artists.
Good luck on your journey into collage!