ABOUT PATTERNMAKERS
Research, put to work for a happier, healthier world.
Too many Australians are disconnected from the creative experiences that are proven to improve their health and our collective wellbeing. We use hard data and human connection to help you change that.
OUR MISSION
How can we connect more Australians with creative experiences that improve their health?
Creativity is not a luxury. It is one of the most powerful and accessible tools we have for improving human health and wellbeing. It is not a panacea, but the evidence is clear about the potential for arts, culture, and creative community activities to combat loneliness, support mental health, and contribute to longer, more connected lives.
But despite the growing evidence base, many Australians lack access to the programs, experiences and events that would benefit them. Arts organisations are under-resourced, and we don’t yet have the partnerships to join the dots at scale.
"At Patternmakers, we believe in the power of insight to help good causes change the world. Our job is to make that insight impossible to ignore."
Patternmakers exists to close that gap. We are a social enterprise that uses research, strategy and facilitation to help organisations working towards a happier, healthier, more creative world.
From 2025 to 2028, our research priority is creative wellbeing: building the evidence base, sharing insights, and designing programs that help more Australians experience the benefits of creativity in their lives. We want to see you flourish.
WHY IT MATTERS
The case for creativity is stronger than ever —
and still largely unheard.
01 — A growing health crisis with a cultural answer
Loneliness, poor mental health and chronic disease are among the most significant challenges facing modern Australia.
Creative participation has a demonstrable role to play in prevention, treatment and recovery, but we lack the programs, partnerships and policies to see widespread benefit.
02 — First Nations knowledge shows the way
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have practiced creativity as a cornerstone of health, community and identity for 60,000 years.
Music, art and storytelling are not optional; they are fundamental to human existence. Western health systems are only beginning to catch up.
03 — Turning evidence into action: the human way
We’ve noticed change happening when hard data is combined with human connection.
Science alone can only take it so far, and our work is about bringing people together to interpret what exists, form new questions and share insights.
Together, we can create powerful change.
WHAT WE DO
Research, insight and strategy — for good causes.
Our offering includes initiatives, that you can get involved in, and consultancy, that you can involve us in. Our Director Tandi Palmer Williams is also available for speaking and teaching engagements.
Consultancy
We help organisations with research, strategy and change. We draw on methodologies from psychology, economics, design and market research to help good causes grow. More importantly, we are fluent in the languages of culture, government and community, so we can speak to stakeholders from a range of backgrounds.
Read more.
Initiatives
For 2026 to 2028, we’re pleased to offer Growing Together, a 12-week program to build audience connection, designed for leaders and marketers in arts organisations. Past initiatives include Audience Outlook Monitor and Audience Research Toolkit.
Read more.
Speaking
Tandi Palmer Williams is an experienced speaker and facilitator, on topics like audience trends, demographic change and the social impact of the arts.
Read more.
WHO WE ARE
Small, expert, and deeply committed to the work.
FOUNDER & DIRECTOR
Tandi Palmer Williams
Tandi founded Patternmakers after recognising that too many cultural and community organisations were doing extraordinary work without the evidence to back it up — and that a lack of good data was quietly limiting their reach, their funding, and their impact.
Originally trained in economics and finance, she has spent 15 years working in social research, including a decade working across the arts and community sectors — with cultural institutions, government agencies and not-for-profits. In the COVID-19 pandemic, she convened a partnership of six government agencies and over 100 arts organisations to connect with audiences at scale, hearing from over 115,000 Australians in the process.
Her particular gift is turning data into insight, and insight into change. Having authored many long reports, she has developed a love for action research, and projects that go beyond the numbers to create true connection and insight.
“If you’re going to change the world, you need solid evidence to ground your decisions. I believe research can grow connection, gather insight and build the momentum of your work.”
OUR ASSOCIATES
Patternmakers works with a network of specialist collaborators, including researchers, strategists, facilitators and designers, who join us on projects where their particular expertise adds the most value.
WHAT CLIENTS SAY
Research that
people understand and use.
"You brought insightful perspective, rigour and focus to the evaluation and always showed a preparedness to work alongside the team to get the intent and nuance of the findings articulated."
Karilyn Brown, CEO — Performing Lines
"This research has us changing our thinking about the way we articulate what we do as a company."
Fraser Corfield, Artistic Director — Australian Theatre for Young People
"THANK YOU for your exceptional hard work on this. Tight, concise and clean, provocative, helpful and evidenced. We are delighted!"
Jo Verrent, Senior Producer — Unlimited Commissions Programme
"Tandi brings savvy insight into the workings of arts and culture research, and contributes ideas from new angles and with a fresh perspective."
Morwenna Collett — Arts & Disability Expert
"Tandi is a delight to work with, because she is really outcome oriented in her work. She is great at identifying key insights and posing the hard questions in the most diplomatic way."
Bridget Jones, Research & Analysis Manager — Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences
"I've had requests from many asking for me to share the report. It's so useful and easy to read."
Isabelle Kingsley, Program Producer — Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences
STAY CONNECTED
Insights on creative wellbeing, straight to your inbox.
Join over 2,000 people working at the intersection of creativity, community and health. Monthly updates on research, practice and ideas worth knowing about.
Acknowledgement of Country
Patternmakers acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands on which we live and work. They are the first researchers, creators and storytellers. We pay our respects to their Elders, past, present and future, and celebrate their ongoing connection to Country.