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You can transform the way you gather with your people, your communities, and your coworkers. 

You can transform the way you gather with your people, your communities, and your coworkers.

 
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Priya teaching a workshop.

What is the Art of Gathering?

The Art of Gathering is the number one online training for gathering hosts, designers, and planners who want to create meaningful shared experiences for their coworkers, communities, families, and people.

How we gather shapes the world we want to live in. Yet, much of our time together is spent on autopilot. We often find ourselves in uninspiring moments that fail to capture us or connect us to one another.

Whether you are trying to make your next weekly meeting more impactful, or designing an anniversary party to remember, join the thousands of people who have successfully upped their gathering game using the Art of Gathering Digital Course. We'd be so happy to have you!

Is it right for me?
Priya teaching a workshop.

Hi! I’m Priya Parker. I’m a facilitator, strategic advisor, and the author of The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters.

I’ve spent my life studying and experiencing when, how, and why groups come together…and when, how, and why they come apart.

My mission is to help you take a deeper look at how to create collective meaning in modern life without all having to be the same. One gathering at a time.

Hi! I’m Priya Parker. I’m a facilitator, strategic advisor, and the author of The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters.

I’ve spent my life studying and experiencing when, how, and why groups come together…and when, how, and why they come apart.

My mission is to help you take a deeper look at how to create collective meaning in modern life without all having to be the same. One gathering at a time.

There's a better way to gather and show your guests they belong.

 

I remember when I first really started focusing on gatherings. I found myself at various events — dinner parties, board meetings, a school reunion, someone's birthday — where each occasion felt more and more like déjà vu — leaving me thinking, “Here we go again.”

I was frustrated that we could have made better use of our time together and disappointed that connection was an afterthought.

I began noting that so much of our gathering intelligence and culture focuses on stuff — "the food is perfect" or "wow, what a beautiful venue." — while the ingredients for a connective collective moment were lacking.

What if we first designed a gathering where guests were brought together in a meaningful way, and then we filled in the logistics?

By trade, I am a facilitator. I have a deep desire to help people connect and a constant curiosity about what is and isn't working in how we come together. I shifted my focus to The Art of Gathering — first as an area of study and then as a teacher.

Now, I've turned what I've learned into an in-depth digital course to help you thoughtfully plan your next gathering.

The Art of Gathering is not just about planning events; it's about creating transformative experiences. If you can’t stand the thought of another lackluster event (or were voluntold to take the hosting reigns), I'm here to guide you. The Art of Gathering gives you the creative structure and resources to create time well spent together. Say goodbye to the old rules of gathering and start developing your artful gathering practice.

I'm Ready to Start My training

What The Art of Gathering Students Are Saying

"Priya's gathering framework has helped me to see opportunities for reimagining human connection everywhere — from team meetings to political rallies — including settings that I wouldn't have traditionally thought of as gatherings.”

 

~ Katie R., Nonprofit Student Leadership Summit

"This course reinvigorated and inspired me to find ways to make meetings and other gatherings more intentional. The idea of connecting people without making people change or having to be similar to connect really resonated with me. The materials and discussions were practical and I think this is applicable/useful is so very many contexts. I think the course is good for both personal and business-related work and could help people build up broadly useful skills (it certainly has helped me!)."

"I work in a public school system coordinating professional learning for our staff of 500 certified teachers. Priya’s course encouraged me to (re)consider who my audience is and design accordingly. The learnings heavily impacted how I’ve started to plan events, large and small, throughout the school year."

 

~ Elizabeth M., Back to School Event

"I loved how well organized this course was and how in-depth the material went. I was using this course for a monthly gathering I host but the skills I developed will be transferable for every gathering, large and small, from here on out."

 

~Jodi O., Leadership Conference

How to Use The Art Of Gathering To Transform Your Next Gathering

The Year of More Effective Meetings

Time is precious for the people on your teams.

 

The Art of Gathering Digital Course will help you and your teams design and lead recurring meetings in a way that encourages effectiveness, inclusivity, and connection.

Strengthen your teams, one recurring meeting at a time. With this framework, you’ll learn to:

  • Define why you’re meeting now and who should be involved.
  • Navigate the physical space, virtual space, and hybrid combinations.
  • Create a compelling agenda that sets clear expectations.
  • Build empathy and infuse moments of connection amongst meeting attendees.
  • Step in and keep the overtalkers and derailers at bay…and so much more.

The Well-Defined Team Retreat

Create an energizing and supportive environment for your teams to come together.

 

The Art of Gathering Digital Course helps set you and your team up for a fresh, inventive team retreat or offsite that is clear, relevant, and fun.

Give your team something to look forward to. With this framework, you’ll learn to:

  • Define and communicate why you’re bringing your team together. Are you treating your staff to a relaxing getaway or spending time getting to know one another? Celebrating or strategizing? Letting your hair down or embarking on a creative brainstorm?
  • Understand the magic equation of your team size and retreat space, and why that matters for connection.
  • Create a compelling invitation that creates buy-in and sets clear expectations.
  • Infuse moments of connection for the group to plug into to build empathy and understanding amongst the team.
  • Open and close your retreat in a way that helps people feel seen and valued.
  • Use your power to pivot when the unexpected happens or when the skeptics try to derail…and so much more.

The Milestone Birthday

Birthday parties can be more than just celebrating “another year”.

 

Milestones — birthdays, anniversaries, showers, retirement, or funerals — are moments to celebrate and honor someone we care about. Yet, too often, we go through the same old motions and fall short of celebrating the guest of honor in a meaningful way.

The Art of Gathering Digital Course will help you turn that milestone birthday from just another year into an occasion to remember.

Let there be cake and connection. With this framework, you’ll learn to:

  • Define why you’re celebrating this milestone. (Hint: It’ll be much more than just “Because it’s my birthday”).

  • Understand the magic equation of your party size and space, and why that matters for connection.

  • Create a playful and compelling invitation that lets people know what’s expected and how to show up.

  • Design moments of connection you and your guests can plug into to avoid leaving everyone to their own devices.

  • Help your guests feel seen and valued as they enter and leave the party…and so much more.

Reimagine Your Wedding Day

Create an experience that reflects the celebration you crave for your big day.

 

The Art of Gathering Digital Course helps you go beyond your color scheme and floral arrangements (of course, those can be important too) and focus on what makes your wedding day buzz with energy and meaning.

With this framework, you’ll learn to:

  • Define your purpose for the day. (Even the most traditional of occasions require us to ask ourselves: Why are we coming together now, in this way, with these people?)
  • Understand the magic equation of your party size and event space, and why that matters for connection.
  • Determine who should be on the guest list (and just as important, who to leave off).
  • Create a compelling invitation that sets clear expectations and primes your guests.
  • Infuse moments of connection for your guests to plug into — and avoid leaving your guests to fend for themselves.
  • Help your guests feel seen and valued as they enter and leave the event…and so much more.

What You'll Learn - The Art of Gathering Curriculum

Lesson One Graphic Image, Collection of Shapes.

Lesson One: Determine why you're really gathering.

Purpose is at the core of a meaningful gathering. You will learn how to define your need, create a purpose to address that need, and how to communicate it with your people.

Lesson Two Graphic Image, Collection of Shapes.

Lesson Two: Shape how you spend your time together.

Deciding what activities to do, and in general how you spend people's time, is an act of Math and Poetry. I will teach you to plan the physical space, and how to consider your schedule, as well as provide resources to help you ideate on what your activities might be.

Lesson Three Graphic Image, Collection of Shapes.

Lesson Three: Create a compelling invitation.

The invitation is where your gathering starts for most of the people involved. Whether that invitation comes in the form of a letter on embossed paper or a calendar invite we will work on crafting it persuasively, and in a way that intrigues your guests and sets everyone up for success.

Lesson Four Graphic Image, Collection of Shapes.

Lesson Four: Open with a memorable welcome.

​​Your gathering is a temporary, alternative world where purpose is the guide. In this section, we will focus on opening remarks, and a concept called thresholding so that you can make it easier for your guests to orient to your gathering’s purpose and to each other.

Lesson Five Graphic Image, Collection of Shapes.

Lesson Five: Design and host for connection.

The job of the host is a difficult one. We wear so many hats, and have to respond in the moment during our gatherings. How can we thoughtfully create connection between our guests in the midst of everything else? Planning goes a long way, but so does a concept I call generous authority. Use your power as the host to design and activate connection during your gathering. 

Lesson Six Graphic Image, Collection of Shapes.

Lesson Six: Own your power as the host.

Gatherings get derailed, we've all been there. In this section, I will teach you how to avoid underhosting, and create playful rules and structure to protect your guests and your purpose from being derailed.

Follow Every Lesson, Exercise, and Case Study

To accompany the course, I've created a 134 page workbook that includes tear sheets, checklists, exercises, and more. Check out a few of them below.

I'm Ready to Start My Training

Frequently Asked Questions

Don't see your question answered here? Contact us for more information.

Approach Your Next Gathering With Confidence, Creativity, and Intention 

My Art of Gathering training includes: 

  • 6 weeks worth of videos - definitions, case studies, and a deep dive for each lesson. 
  • The 134-page AOG workbook in both printable and digital versions. 
  • A guide (or agenda if you're taking the course as a team) for each week of the course.
  • Weekly exercises that will guide you through building your gathering by the end of the course. 
  • Prefer to pay in installments? Click here.
  • Group rates are also available.

 

Start Today!

$397

One Time Payment

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The Art of Gathering Guarantee

I want you to enjoy and benefit from the Art of Gathering Digital Course. But as we all know sometimes things get in the way. For that reason, I offer a 30-day no questions asked refund for all purchases. 

It’s easy to get started!

Needs-Based Discount

Everyone has the ability to gather well. You don’t need to be an extrovert or have a fancy house, it’s a set of skills anyone can learn. Let the Art of Gathering be your guide.

If cost is a factor, we want to help. We are offering a limited number of "Pay What You Can" spots each quarter. The current deadline to apply is December 31, 2024. Please fill out our application here.

Apply Here

What to Expect Once You Start the Art of Gathering Digital Course

Across six weeks, Priya will guide you through the six core elements of artful gathering to help you take simple, concrete steps that make a powerful impact on how you bring your people together.

What to Expect During Your Training

Across six weeks, Priya will guide you through the six core elements of artful gathering to help you take simple, concrete steps that make a powerful impact on how you bring your people together.

I'm Ready to Get Started

Step One: 

Choose a Gathering.

This course walks you through planning a gathering that's important to you at home, at work, or in your community. This can be for an ongoing gathering you’re trying to fix or upgrade or a one-time moment that feels higher stakes. If you don't have a gathering in mind, we'll provide you with some options!

Step Two: 

Establish a weekly learning schedule.

Each weekly lesson includes digestible pre-recorded videos, a digital and printable handbook for notetaking and planning, relevant case studies to inspire, and supporting resources to explore. The course is designed for flexibility: You will choose a regular day and time that works for you to dedicate to the weekly digital lesson.

 

Step Three: 

Attend quarterly office hours.

Priya will be conducting quarterly office hours to go over the most pertinent issues facing the community. We'll review your comments and questions, and may even reach out to you to build rich case studies for these live events. The first call will be in March, details to come.

 

Step Four: 

Continue to practice.

Gathering is a practice to nurture and refresh. Not every gathering you plan will follow the same format. Return to the material as often as necessary. It’s an invaluable reference as you continue to shape new and creative ways of spending time with your people.

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Start Your Journey Towards Becoming an Artful Gatherer Today 

Installment Payments and Group Rates are also available.

1-Time Payment

$397

One time payment of $397 for immediate access.

Let's Begin!