Debbi Gomel

I’m Debbi Gomel, Creative Director and Founder of ART ‘N’ MOVE. I have always had a passion for working with and stimulating the creativity of children. After completing my Bachelor of Education and Diploma of Teaching at Sydney University, I taught for over 13 years in the infant and primary departments at a private school in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs. With a long list of fun ideas and projects waiting for busy hands and inquiring minds, I also ran Art and Craft workshops in the school holidays.

As my first child began to explore and enjoy art and craft at home with me, I found that there was nowhere to take him on a regular basis. My friends with toddlers also wanted their children to do art and craft and asked me to run my holiday workshops all year round.

While all parents saw the importance of art and craft in their child’s development, many preferred not to focus on it at home. For some it was just too messy, while others preferred an experienced Art and Craft teacher to guide and stimulate their children.

Aware of what parents were looking for, I developed ART ‘N’ MOVE. Combining Drama, Music, Movement and Storytelling together with Art and Craft, and all arranged around a weekly theme, I created and launched this unique program in January 2003. It has been a great joy to watch ART ‘N’ MOVE enrolments grow, as parents bring their children back and recommend our classes to friends. In line with our promise to keep class sizes small, we continue to add extra classes to meet the demand.

Initially setting up in Bondi, many parents travelled from as far north as St Ives and Manly, and as far south as Sans Souci. The need for classes in the north and south soon became apparent. In late 2006 and early 2007 ART ‘N’ MOVE opened 3 new centres – Willoughby, Brookvale and Maroubra. Later in 2007 we opened in the Hills District, and in 2008 in Homebush, Cronulla, Mosman and Warriewood.

As I worked with the younger age groups I became aware of yet another need. Many parents wanted expert guidance stimulating their infant children. In 2004, I set to work developing PLAY ‘N’ MOVE – classes with interactive play and movement for babies 6-14 months. From the moment PLAY ‘N’ MOVE classes commenced in February 2005 they met with great response.

At the end of 2008 we moved closer to ART ‘N’ MOVE being a complete multi-level program, catering from the ages of 6 months to 6 years. We recruited a highly experienced early childhood expert to help us write a school-readiness program that would be both fun and educationally sound. After several months LEARN ‘N’ MOVE was created, and after barely 1 year it proved successful beyond our expectations.

Jo Bailison

I’m Jo Bailison, I have a Bachelor Degree in Primary School Education. After teaching at a private school in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney for 8 years, I found that full-time teaching was becoming too difficult with my growing family.

I was already familiar with ART ‘N’ MOVE as my eldest daughter was enrolled at its inception in 2003, when Debbi began creating and developing the most exciting interactive children’s program imaginable. In 2007 when I enrolled my second daughter, Debbi employed me to teach at the North Bondi Centre and then later, at Maroubra. In 2008 she extended her trust by inviting me to join her as partner in ART ‘N’ MOVE. Our desire was to not only maintain the high standards and unique concept that we all know ART ‘N’ MOVE to be, but also to explore new opportunities.

Teaching the ART ‘N’ MOVE program continues to be an enlightening and exceptionally rewarding experience. Becoming a partner – a dream come true!

Licensee Profiles

Venetia Hendry

Venetia is the face of Art’n’Move Inner West, with centres currently operating at Homebush Bay and in her home suburb of Balmain. With a business and textile design background, she raised two boys to teenagers before the unexpected arrival of a third son took her life in a whole new direction. She became involved with community playgroups and early childhood learning in the UK before moving to Sydney in 2008, and now takes huge pleasure from seeing all her little ‘Art’n’Movers’ blossom in confidence and ability through joining this inspiring and stimulating pre-school programme.

For more information and a copy of our brochures,

please contact us on 02 8387 1303
Or email info@artnmove.com.au

We look forward to seeing you and your children at ART‘N’MOVE, PLAY‘N’MOVE and LEARN ‘N’ MOVE.