Since opening its flagship studio at South Brisbane in 2013, Cork and Chroma has become one of the city’s most popular providers of paint and sip classes, and owners Hillary and B.J. Wall have since opened studios in Sydney and Melbourne.

“Our studios are BYO and guests would usually bring along a bottle of wine or spirits or something and each session we have a specific painting that we’re going to take the steps through, so guests can either follow along with each step, or embellish in their own way,” Wall told InQueensland.

“For about a year, B.J. and I have been trying to think about ways that we could expand by getting into people’s homes, so it was kind of interesting when our operation was halted and [face-to-face classes] basically became impossible – we had a few ideas that we had been thinking of playing around with.

“I guess there was such a need to quickly turn around and do something that it was pretty easy for us to switch and see if we could translate what we did in the studio virtually.”

Wall admitted she initially felt some trepidation about the ability to translate the social connection of the studio environment into online Zoom classes but said she has been pleased with the results so far.

“Our whole business model relied on getting people together, creating a group energy and sharing an experience and we weren’t sure if we could do that online.  We knew we could get people from start to finish on a painting but we wanted to make sure it was a really connected and enjoyable experience.

“So instead of doing a pre-recorded tutorial or something we thought we would still hold live sessions and still have an artist there live, going through the steps one-on-one, able to respond and interact and connect. We only had our first session on Wednesday and it was great, it went really well.”

Wall said she enjoyed being able to provide an outlet for people to tap into their creative expression in a laid-back environment and was grateful that was able to continue to do so while Cork and Chroma’s physical studios have been closed to the public.

“It doesn’t mean we have to stop the fun altogether,” she said.  “Participants can supply their own materials, or alternatively we have created a bundled series of ‘At Home Studio Kits’ with everything you’ll need and are suited for painters at all levels and these kits are available for pick-up from our studios in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.”

Another business that has been well placed to adapt to the sudden change in service delivery is Ballet Time, which first launched online classes in August last year. Co-founder and teacher Ashlee Smale said she and her business partner Samantha Robinson originally launched Ballet Time in an effort to provide lessons to students in rural and remote communities.

The business offers a three-month course for two-to-six-year-olds, delivered as 12, 10-minute videos a month.

“I guess it’s been a really good thing that it exists at the moment because there’s obviously totally unforeseen circumstances but it’s great that we have a service that people can use at this point in time,” Smale told InQueensland.

Deanne Buhagiar helps daughter Sienna practise with Ballet Time teacher Ashlee Smale.

“We’ve actually become busier, which is awesome because we’ve worked so hard to develop this three-month course and now there are more people that are able to use it.

“There are definitely people that they want their kids to learn dancing or just be exposed to dancing and learn the fundamentals or try it and I guess actually physically being able to get them to a class isn’t always possible.”

Wall said Cork and Chroma was the only source of income she and her husband had, and despite the circumstances, she had enjoyed adapting the experience for an online environment.

“To be able to put our energy into trying to be productive and trying to use our own creativity is basically a chance to practice what we always preach, and have some purpose in a time when you can feel a little aimless and paralysed.

“We also have an entire team of artists that works for us across all three cities and a huge driver for us is trying to get everyone back to work.”

Smale said she was relishing the opportunity to help keep children engaged in the arts and bring some normality and comfort to people’s lives during uncertain times.

“There are so many individual benefits for participating in dance and I participating in the arts or being present in the arts … it’s just a safe space and an expressive space and in a time when some of the activities that people may have already been doing aren’t available, it needs a slightly different way to bring it to you so that people can still engage.

“Parents have been really kind, grateful and supportive, and obviously they’re our customers and the people we’re trying to meet the needs of and I think we’ve done that really well.”

For more information on Cork and Chroma, visit corkandchroma.com.au/contact-brisbane/; and for to find out more about Ballet Time, visit ballettime.com.au