Our mission

Detail: Carla Krijt, no title, 1994, gouache on paper, 29x20.5 cm

'The Dax Centre promotes mental health and wellbeing by fostering a greater understanding of the mind, mental illness and trauma through art and creativity.'

We are a multifaceted organisation expanding our work from being a gallery with an extensive education program, to also being a central hub for all those interested in the relationship between the mind, mental illness, trauma, art and creativity.

In the next few years, the Dax Centre will make its resources more widely available. It plans to:

1. Expand its exhibition program. We will tour our exhibitions internationally and nationally to more regional and rural areas. Our new gallery will feature a permanent exhibition, a community access gallery and extensive educational resources.

2. Develop a comprehensive website. Our website will provide information about the mind, mental illness, trauma, art and creativity, making it an invaluable resource for individuals and organisations with similar interests. It will also function as an educational resource by featuring our online interactive activities for VCE students.

3. Establish a research program. Our new research program will examine art therapy and its effectiveness in working with people who have experienced mental illness and/or emotional trauma. It will also establish a database that collects research about the relationship between art therapy, the mind, mental illness, trauma, art and creativity.