Adult Art Classes & Workshops

We run four sessions per year (Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer) with a range of classes for beginners and advanced artists. Students must be 18 or older to participate. All classes run from 6:30-9:30 PM unless otherwise noted. 

Our current ceramics offerings include:

Beginner Handbuilding 

This introductory level course is designed for students new to ceramics or for students looking for a refresher on basic skills. Students will imagine, draft, and execute various forms of their choice. This will be a fun, creative, and experimental space to explore handbuilding according to students’ interests. Basic skills covered include wedging clay, construction techniques, surface decoration techniques, and more. 

Beginner Pottery

This introductory level course is designed for students new to ceramics or for students looking for a refresher on basic skills. Students will imagine, draft, and execute various forms of their choice. This will be a fun, creative, and experimental space to explore wheel throwing and some handbuilding according to students’ interests. Basic skills covered include wedging clay, wheel throwing, how to attach a handle, and more.

Intermediate Pottery

This class is for students who have already taken a few classes, and are looking to continue building on their ceramics knowledge. Students will imagine, draft, and execute various forms of their choice. This will be a fun, creative, and experimental space to explore wheel throwing and some handbuilding according to students’ interests. Additional skills include throwing more complicated forms, surface decoration techniques, and more. 

Advanced Pottery 

This class is for intermediate and advanced potters who are comfortable with throwing and handbuilding and are looking to greatly expand their skills and knowledge. Students will be introduced to advanced handbuilding and throwing techniques, the basics of glaze chemistry, additives to clay, basic plaster mold making and slip casting, and mixed-media ceramics. Students will come up with their own projects with support from their instructor along the way.

We run four sessions per year (Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer) with a range of classes for beginners and advanced artists. Students must be 18 or older to participate. All classes run from 6:30-9:30 PM unless otherwise noted.

Our current printmaking offerings include:

Screenprinting

Whether you’re learning printmaking for the first time or looking to expand your existing skills, our Screenprinting course offers a welcoming group learning environment with multiple entry points for beginners through experienced artists!

This class covers water-based fine art screenprinting and is structured both for introductory as well as experienced screenprinters. The class will feature a group and hands-on learning experience supported by instructor-led technical demonstrations and will encourage creative experimental exploration guided by students’ interests. Techniques covered will include cut paper and hand-painted stencils, monotypes, photographic emulsion techniques, as well as printing on fabric. 

This class also includes 2 extra weeks of studio time, as well as sign-up based independent hours throughout the session.

Linoleum Relief Printmaking 

Discover the art of relief printing in this hands-on class focused on carving and printing linoleum blocks. Using oil-based, water-soluble inks on paper and fabric, students will explore non-toxic techniques through guided demonstrations and plenty of studio practice.

We’ll cover a variety of methods, including reductive relief, multi-block registration, jigsaw relief, and fabric printing. This welcoming class is open to all experience levels, from beginners to seasoned artists.

Basic materials are provided; students are encouraged to bring or purchase their own carving tools (for example, Power Grip carving tools).

Tuition

Tuition rates are per 10-week session and are subject to change. Please refer to our online registration portal for our current classes and tuition rates.

Tuition must be fully paid one week prior to the start of class. To learn more about program tuition policies, please download our Adult Arts Programs Information and Policies document.

Ceramics Tuition

Beginner Handbuilding – $500
Beginner Pottery – $500
Intermediate Pottery – $500
Advanced Pottery – $500

Printmaking Tuition

Screenprinting – $375
Linoleum Relief Printmaking – $375

Financial Aid

Maria L. Baldwin Community Center offers both full and partial scholarships for adult art students. Scholarships are limited to two students per course and one independent rental student each session, and are offered on a first come first serve basis. The cost of additional materials is not included in the scholarship.

The scholarship amount is determined based on the applicant’s current income. Income verification (paystub, form 1040, etc.) is required to process the scholarship application. To learn more about our scholarships and eligibility, please download our Adult Arts Program Scholarship Policy document. 

Tuition and Financial Aid Downloads

Adult Arts Program Scholarship Policy

Adult Arts Programs Information and Policies 

The Maud Morgan Arts building, which opened in 2010, was designed by artists for artists and is a work of art itself. Nine Cambridge artists collaborated with the architects Prellwitz Chilinski to create site-specific public artwork that inspires joyful creative exploration in a light-filled, colorful environment. These details only enhance the experience of learning and making art in our programs.

The building has four different studio spaces – ceramics, printmaking, painting/drawing, and sculpture – each equipped with tools for different media and all levels of experience and expertise. Whether it’s a child taking their first art class or an adult ceramicist honing their craft, our aim for our Arts Programs is to make them both high-quality and accessible to artists of all ages, talents, and income levels.