Knoxville is often referred to as The Maker City due to the culture and community of makers, artists, and creatives in the greater Knoxville area. It feels like it is the heartbeat of the city with our beautiful murals, amazing artist events, and incredible independent makers. This makes me think about offering artistic opportunities to my children to allow their creativity, imagination, and talents to bloom. It also makes me want to step into places where I can make and create.
I got curious about what classes are offered around the Knoxville area and here’s what I found:
Kid Classes
- Smart Toys & Books hosts Ms. Shelly of Creative Arts to teach 12-week session classes as well as art events for children. The classes and events include mediums such as clay, painting, weaving, mixed media, and special projects.
- The Kid Creator in Oak Ridge is a music and art studio for families. They offer semester classes for kids ages three and up that touch on a variety of themes and materials. They also have drop-in times to create in the studio for kids and adults.
- The Knoxville Museum of Art offers a variety of ways for kids to get involved including 2nd Sundays Art Activities. On the second Sunday of the month between 1-4pm, children and families can drop into the museum and participate in an art activity they can take home.
- The Community School of the Arts, located in downtown Knoxville, provides a variety of creative after-school programs to children ages 6-18. Included in these offerings are classes that focus on exploring different kinds of art.
- The East Tennessee Arts Center hosts pop up events around east Tennessee, particularly in Monroe County, to bring visual arts to all children.
Kid and Adult Classes
- The Appalachian Arts and Crafts Center in Clinton offers a wide range of single-day classes for youth and adults. Most adult classes are 15 years and older and include stained glass, drawing, pottery, and more. Children five years and older can participate in youth classes such as needle punching, clay projects, and craft making.
- Studio 212 in Maryville hosts semester-long art classes for kids as well as adult classes in drawing, painting, and clay that run for six weeks. Studio 212 also offers one-time and seasonal classes as well as private parties.
- The Neighborhood Art Studio in Lenoir City welcomes kids from 1st to 5th grade for small group art classes which create different projects over multiple weeks. The studio also offers adult classes and events.
- The Knoxville Arts Center, part of Knoxville Parks and Recreation, offers a variety of art and creating classes for adults and children including drawing, clay, basketmaking, and art exploration.
- See Thru the Trees in an art studio in West Knoxville which offers pottery and oil classes for kids and adults. Classes range from date night pottery classes to pinch pot making for three year olds.
Adult (and late teen) Classes
- Fountain City Arts Center offers six-week and eight-week art classes, as well as some workshops, for ages 14 and older. Classes are available for any level of experiences in watercolors, drawing, acrylics, and more.
- Mighty Mud is a ceramics studio located in the Island Home area of Knoxville. They offer a variety of learning opportunities, including six-week classes, one night events, workshops, and private groups.
- The Happy Envelope is a design, print, and paper shop in Bearden. They offer adult workshops in a variety of topics.
