Púuna
Arts & Cultural practice supporting families
Púuna means ‘to grow in a circle’, drawn from lead artist Lia Pa’apa’a’s Luiseño language from Southern California. It reflects a way of growing that is collective, relational, and grounded in care, where families and communities are nourished to grow together.
Púuna is a creative response to raising families in a modern world where the village is often missing. It is shaped by lived experience as part of a global Indigenous diaspora, with roots across America and the Pacific, and her work alongside First Nations communities in Australia. This foundation brings a deep respect for culture, connection, and community into every space created.
At its heart, Púuna is a Community Arts and Cultural Development practice working at the intersection of art, family life, and cultural knowledge. It centres the creative lives of families and recognises carers as the first curators of culture. Long before children enter formal systems, their worlds are shaped by story, song, touch, and the creativity woven through everyday life.
“Púuna creates spaces for families to slow down, connect, and make together. Because making is medicine, nurturing wellbeing, relationships, and community care.”
What we do
Púuna offers a range of creative, cultural, and family focused experiences designed to nurture connection, wellbeing, and intergenerational knowledge. Our work includes professional development for early years organisations, tailored creative workshops for communities and events, and public speaking that centres culture, care, and creativity in practice.
We also deliver immersive, hands on experiences for families, including our Carers as First Curators 8 week workshop series supporting carers and babies in the first 1000 days, and the Púuna Sanctuary, a sensory rich, drop in space for play, making, and connection. Alongside this, we offer post partum menu support and a growing collection of resources and products that gently support families in everyday life.