# Are.na

```json
{
  "name": "Are.na",
  "slug": "arena",
  "url": "https://composio.dev/toolkits/arena",
  "markdown_url": "https://composio.dev/toolkits/arena.md",
  "logo_url": "https://logos.composio.dev/api/arena",
  "categories": [
    "design & creative tools"
  ],
  "is_composio_managed": false,
  "updated_at": "2026-10-04T14:51:08.565Z"
}
```

![Are.na logo](https://logos.composio.dev/api/arena)

## Description

Securely connect your AI agents and chatbots (Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, etc) with Are.na MCP or direct API to search channels, collect blocks, organize research, and summarize creative references through natural language.

## Summary

Are.na is a creative research platform for collecting images, links, notes, and ideas in channels.
Use it to organize inspiration, build knowledge maps, and connect research across projects.

## Categories

- design & creative tools

## Toolkit Details

- Tools: 10

## Images

- Logo: https://logos.composio.dev/api/arena

## Authentication

- **Api Key**
  - Type: `api_key`
  - Description: Api Key authentication for Are.na.
  - Setup:
    - Configure Api Key credentials for Are.na.
    - Use the credentials when creating an auth config in Composio.

## Suggested Prompts

- Collect inspiration links into design channel
- Summarize blocks in research channel
- Find public channels about typography

## Supported Tools

| Tool slug | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| `ARENA_ADD_TO_CHANNELS` | Add To Channels | Add an existing Are.na block or channel to one or more target channels without duplicating the underlying resource. |
| `ARENA_CREATE_CHANNEL` | Create Channel | Create a user-owned Are.na channel, closed by default, and return its stable numeric ID and generated slug. |
| `ARENA_DELETE_CHANNEL` | Delete Channel | Permanently delete one Are.na channel the authenticated user is allowed to destroy. This cannot be undone. |
| `ARENA_GET_BLOCK` | Get Block | Get the details of one Are.na block by ID, including its subtype, content, source, creator, and metadata. |
| `ARENA_GET_CHANNEL` | Get Channel | Get an Are.na channel by numeric ID or slug, including visibility, counts, owner, and the current user's permissions. |
| `ARENA_GET_CURRENT_USER` | Get Current User | Return the identity and account details for the authenticated Are.na user. |
| `ARENA_GET_MY_FEED` | Get My Feed | Return one page of the authenticated user's personalized Are.na activity feed, newest first. Call again with next_cursor only when another page is needed. |
| `ARENA_LIST_CHANNEL_CONTENTS` | List Channel Contents | Return one page of blocks and nested channels from an Are.na channel, with optional sorting and contributor filtering. |
| `ARENA_REMOVE_FROM_CHANNEL` | Remove From Channel | Remove one block or nested channel placement from an Are.na channel. This deletes only the connection; the underlying block or channel remains intact and may still exist in other channels. |
| `ARENA_UPDATE_CHANNEL` | Update Channel | Update selected fields of an Are.na channel the authenticated user can edit. Fields omitted from the request remain unchanged. |

## Supported Triggers

None listed.

## Installation and MCP Setup

### Path 1: SDK Installation

#### Path 1, Step 1: Install Composio

Install the Composio SDK, the OpenAI provider, and the OpenAI SDK
```python
pip install composio composio_openai openai
```

```typescript
npm install @composio/core @composio/openai openai
```

#### Path 1, Step 2: Create a Composio session

Initialize Composio with the OpenAI Responses provider and create a session scoped to Are.na
```python
import json
from openai import OpenAI
from composio import Composio
from composio_openai import OpenAIResponsesProvider

composio = Composio(provider=OpenAIResponsesProvider())
client = OpenAI()

session = composio.create(user_id="your-user-id", toolkits=["arena"])
tools = session.tools()
```

```typescript
import OpenAI from "openai";
import { Composio } from "@composio/core";
import { OpenAIResponsesProvider } from "@composio/openai";

const composio = new Composio({ provider: new OpenAIResponsesProvider() });
const client = new OpenAI();

const session = await composio.create("your-user-id", { toolkits: ["arena"] });
const tools = await session.tools();
```

#### Path 1, Step 3: Run Are.na tools with your agent

Send a request, execute the Are.na tool calls through the session, and print the final answer
```python
response = client.responses.create(
    model="gpt-5.6-sol",
    tools=tools,
    input=[{"role": "user", "content": "Find public Are.na channels about typography inspiration"}],
)

while True:
    tool_calls = [o for o in response.output if o.type == "function_call"]
    if not tool_calls:
        break
    results = composio.provider.handle_tool_calls(response=response, session=session)
    response = client.responses.create(
        model="gpt-5.6-sol",
        tools=tools,
        previous_response_id=response.id,
        input=[
            {"type": "function_call_output", "call_id": call.call_id, "output": json.dumps(results[i])}
            for i, call in enumerate(tool_calls)
        ],
    )

print(response.output_text)
```

```typescript
let response = await client.responses.create({
  model: "gpt-5.6-sol",
  tools,
  input: [{ role: "user", content: "Find public Are.na channels about typography inspiration" }],
});

while (response.output.some((o) => o.type === "function_call")) {
  const outputs = await composio.provider.handleToolCalls(session, response.output);
  response = await client.responses.create({
    model: "gpt-5.6-sol",
    tools,
    previous_response_id: response.id,
    input: outputs,
  });
}

console.log(response.output_text);
```

### Path 2: MCP Server Setup

#### Path 2, Step 1: Install Composio

Install the Composio SDK and your agent framework
```python
pip install composio claude-agent-sdk
```

```typescript
npm install @composio/core ai @ai-sdk/mcp @ai-sdk/openai
```

#### Path 2, Step 2: Create a session with MCP enabled

Create a session scoped to Are.na and read its MCP URL and headers
```python
from composio import Composio

composio = Composio()
session = composio.create(user_id="your-user-id", toolkits=["arena"], mcp=True)
```

```typescript
import { Composio } from "@composio/core";

const composio = new Composio();
const { mcp } = await composio.create("your-user-id", {
  toolkits: ["arena"],
  mcp: true,
});
```

#### Path 2, Step 3: Connect your agent to the MCP server

Pass the session's MCP URL and headers to your agent and run a Are.na request
```python
import asyncio
from claude_agent_sdk import ClaudeSDKClient, ClaudeAgentOptions, AssistantMessage, TextBlock

options = ClaudeAgentOptions(
    mcp_servers={
        "composio": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": session.mcp.url,
            "headers": session.mcp.headers,
        }
    },
    system_prompt="You are a helpful assistant with access to Are.na tools.",
    tools=[],
    allowed_tools=["mcp__composio__*"],
)

async def main():
    async with ClaudeSDKClient(options=options) as client:
        await client.query("Find public Are.na channels about typography inspiration")
        async for message in client.receive_response():
            if isinstance(message, AssistantMessage):
                for block in message.content:
                    if isinstance(block, TextBlock):
                        print(block.text)

asyncio.run(main())
```

```typescript
import { createMCPClient } from "@ai-sdk/mcp";
import { openai } from "@ai-sdk/openai";
import { generateText, stepCountIs } from "ai";

const client = await createMCPClient({
  transport: { type: "http", url: mcp.url, headers: mcp.headers },
});

const { text } = await generateText({
  model: openai("gpt-5.6-sol"),
  tools: await client.tools(),
  prompt: "Find public Are.na channels about typography inspiration",
  stopWhen: stepCountIs(10),
});

console.log(text);
await client.close();
```

## Why Use Composio?

### 1. AI Native Are.na Integration

- Supports both Are.na MCP and direct API based integrations
- Structured, LLM-friendly schemas for reliable channel and block actions
- Rich coverage for finding, reading, and organizing creative research in Are.na

### 2. Managed Auth

- Secure API key handling so your Are.na credentials are not hard-coded in agent code
- Central place to manage, scope, and revoke Are.na access
- Per user and per environment credentials for cleaner production setups

### 3. Agent Optimized Design

- Tools are shaped so agents can understand Are.na channels, blocks, and connections clearly
- Execution logs help you see exactly what your agent searched, created, or updated
- Less glue code, fewer brittle prompts, and a smoother path from idea to working agent

### 4. Enterprise Grade Security

- Fine-grained RBAC so you control which agents and users can access Are.na
- Scoped, least privilege access to Are.na research resources
- Full audit trail of agent actions to support review and compliance

## Use Are.na with any AI Agent Framework

Choose a framework you want to connect Are.na with:

- [ChatGPT](https://composio.dev/toolkits/arena/framework/chatgpt)
- [Claude Cowork](https://composio.dev/toolkits/arena/framework/claude-cowork)
- [Hermes](https://composio.dev/toolkits/arena/framework/hermes-agent)
- [Atomic Agent](https://composio.dev/toolkits/arena/framework/atomic-agent)

## Related Toolkits

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- [Alttext ai](https://composio.dev/toolkits/alttext_ai) - AltText.ai is a service that generates alt text for images automatically. It helps boost accessibility and SEO for your visual content.
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- [Bannerbite](https://composio.dev/toolkits/bannerbite) - Bannerbite is a creative automation platform for generating images and videos from reusable projects and templates. It helps teams produce on-brand visual assets faster without rebuilding designs from scratch.
- [BeatAPI](https://composio.dev/toolkits/beatapi) - BeatAPI is an asynchronous API platform for AI image, video, and music workflows. It enables scalable generation, video analysis, uploads, and ecommerce video pipelines.
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- [Canva MCP](https://composio.dev/toolkits/canva_mcp) - Canva MCP is Canva's remote MCP server for accessing designs and content. It centralizes design assets and enables programmatic design workflows.
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- [Cloudinary](https://composio.dev/toolkits/cloudinary) - Cloudinary is a cloud-based platform for managing, uploading, and transforming images and videos. It streamlines media workflows and delivers optimized assets globally.
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- [DeepImage](https://composio.dev/toolkits/deepimage) - DeepImage is an AI-powered image enhancer and upscaler. Get higher-quality images with just a few clicks.
- [Dreamstudio](https://composio.dev/toolkits/dreamstudio) - DreamStudio is Stability AI’s platform for generating and editing images with AI. It lets you easily turn ideas into stunning visuals, fast.
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- [Dynamic Mockups](https://composio.dev/toolkits/dynamic_mockups) - Dynamic Mockups is an API platform for generating product mockups, rendering templates, and managing visual asset catalogs. Use it to automate high-quality product visuals, AI images, and motion assets at scale.
- [Dynapictures](https://composio.dev/toolkits/dynapictures) - Dynapictures is a cloud-based platform for generating personalized images at scale. Instantly create hundreds of custom visuals using your data sources, like Google Sheets.
- [Eraser MCP](https://composio.dev/toolkits/eraser_mcp) - Eraser MCP is a workspace for creating and managing technical diagrams and structured documents. It helps teams organize, version, and export diagrams with collaboration-focused tooling.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Do I need my own developer credentials to use Are.na with Composio?

Yes, Are.na requires you to configure your own API key. Once set up, Composio handles secure credential storage and API request handling for you.

### Can I use multiple toolkits together?

Yes! Composio's Tool Router enables agents to use multiple toolkits. [Learn more](https://docs.composio.dev/tool-router/overview).

### Is Composio secure?

Composio is SOC 2 and ISO 27001 compliant with all data encrypted in transit and at rest. [Learn more](https://trust.composio.dev).

### What if the API changes?

Composio maintains and updates all toolkit integrations automatically, so your agents always work with the latest API versions.

---
[See all toolkits](https://composio.dev/toolkits) · [Composio docs](https://docs.composio.dev/llms.txt)