No matter your artform of choice, there is a good chance that Columbus has a club for it. These free community gatherings meet regularly and invite you to connect with others, whether you are making collages together or discussing your favorite albums.
Courtesy of Columbus Collage Collective
Columbus Collage Collective
Started by Emily Morgan in August 2023, Columbus Collage Collective is a nonprofit that provides magazines and art supplies for anyone to make their own collages. On the third Wednesday of every month from 6-8:30 p.m., they host free collage parties and material swaps at the Fran Ryan Center. The club is also known to partner with local businesses, such as Pierogi Mountain and Wild Cat Gift & Party, for pop-up events.
For board member Jordan Fowler and her partner, Stefan Brandow, paper collage making is the perfect way to make friends. Fowler first joined Columbus Collage Collective to meet others, noting that “collage is a very sociable hobby.” Since then, she and Brandow have gotten to see new friendships emerge. “That's really cool to have it be a meeting space for people,” adds Brandow.
Zine Club Columbus
Host Rebecca Richardson believes zines—small DIY booklets—are a great way to tell your story. On the last Sunday of every month, Zine Club Columbus holds zine studios at Columbus Metropolitan Library locations. Richardson, who started the club in June 2024, brings art supplies, plays music, and invites attendees to make their own publications.
Upon moving to Columbus, Richardson started Zine Club as a way to meet other like-minded people and believes in the power of this artform to make connections.
Courtesy of Queer Craft Society
Queer Craft Society
Nykeia Jones was already planning to make crafting a weekly routine, but Queer Craft Society helped her form a community around it. Every Tuesday from 6-8 p.m., Jones hosts free bring-your-own-craft nights for LGBTQIA+ individuals who want to nurture their inner child. Queer Craft Society has found a temporary home on the top floor at Antiques on High while their regular venue, East Market, is under construction.
Jones understands that joining a new club can be intimidating, so she developed a comprehensive guide for what to expect at craft nights. Her number one rule: “Don’t be afraid to show up as your authentic self.”
The Scatter Joy Project
In May 2025, The Scatter Joy Project, a nonprofit focused on supporting and connecting people with mental health resources, opened a physical storefront in Columbus’ Short North Arts District. Founder Zach Thompson describes the shop as a “third space,” offering another place for people to gather beyond their homes and jobs. In addition to providing a place for folks to sit and grab a cup of coffee, the Scatter Joy Storefront hosts free monthly events at the intersection of mental health and the creative arts.
The Album Club, a discussion group for music lovers, meets on the first Monday of every month at 7:30 p.m. Attendees gather at Scatter Joy’s High Street space to chat about one featured album from fan favorites like Bon Iver and Solange. They also host Listening Room events on the last Saturday of each month, where you get a chance to listen to the album with others ahead of the discussion.
In partnership with the Grief Club, a community that provides safe spaces for people to navigate healing, Scatter Joy hosts poetry nights on the final Thursday of each month at 7:30 p.m., alternating between open mic readings and collaborative writing sessions.
For Thompson, these creative outlets are an “invitation towards community.”
