CLASSES, CAMPS,
AND WORKSHOPS

The Arts Center in Orange offers a wide range of fine art classes, camps, and workshops for all skill levels, including:

  • Drawing

  • Painting

  • Ceramics (both Hand Building and Wheel Throwing)

  • Summer Intensives for Ages 8+

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CLASSES + WORKSHOPS
OPEN FOR REGISTRATION

Before signing up for any of our classes or workshops, please take a moment to review our Class Policies + Safety Information.

WEEKLY DROP-IN
CERAMICS CLASSES

We offer sessions each week for folks looking to dive into the world of ceramics, and both sessions are for students ages 15 and up. Younger students are welcome as long as they are accompanied and assisted by their adult!

EVERY WEDNESDAY | 6 - 8 PM
Wednesday Night Drop-in Clay is a lively drop-in class which provides students with customized instruction and support to help them meet their creative goals during each project. This class is for all skill levels, but some experience with clay is helpful. Come play and show off your skills or learn something new on Wednesday nights!

Additional supply fees apply ($40 + tax).

EVERY FRIDAY | 12 - 2 PM
Drop in and work in the ceramics studio with Phillip Strauss! Register in advance online or in person, and for as many sessions as you need. Up to 5 pounds of clay are included with your registration, and no experience is required.

Ages 15+. Younger students must be accompanied and assisted by their adult.


MULTI-WEEK CLASSES
AND SPECIAL WORKSHOPS

Working closely with local artists, we offer classes year-round in a diverse range of media. Want to learn something different? Drop us a line and let us know what you’d like to learn.

JUNE 28, 2025 | 10 - 4 PM
Bring your watercolor supplies, plenty of good paper and get painting! Catherine Hillis’s “Watercolor Bootcamp” is designed for beginner and intermediate students.  Beginners will learn basic skills for watercolor while intermediate students will learn how to paint reflective glass from a floral still life. This class is meant to strengthen your technical skills and increase your confidence working with watercolors. Students can expect multiple demonstrations, plenty of individual coaching and positive critiques.

Supply list in advance | Ages 16+

This class is currently full. Registration will reopen if seats become available.

More classes and workshops coming soon.

MAY 10, 2025 | 1 - 5 PM
Join local jewelry artist, Mary McMahon for an introductory workshop on jewelry making. Mary will demonstrate her process of designing vibrant assemblages and how to transfer that vison to your final designs. From wires and beads to plyers and crimps students will learn the basics and the correct tools to use when creating earrings and bracelets.
Each students will have made at least two pairs of earrings and one bracelet by the end of the workshop.

All supplies included | Ages 13+

VA250
WORKSHOPS

The Book as Art and Self Expression: Creating Your Story is designed to bring in professional artists, writers and musicians as instructors to the public at our libraries.  The series of programs, if attended in totality, will lead participants through creating and binding their own book and then writing and illustrating it.  These programs are informed and inspired by the revolutionary voices of our founding fathers.

Join local author Cary Holladay in this history-inspired creative writing workshop. This program is being offered at all tyhree branches of the Orange County Public Library, and is free and open to the public, ages 16 and up.

All supplies and expert instruction are provided. Those who did not attend the prior session are welcome and supplies will be provided. Registration is required and space is limited. If your plans change, please use the cancel feature to make your spot available for someone on the waiting list.  These programs are being repeated on different dates/times at our other library locations so if this time no longer works for you, please check if one of the other sessions may meet your needs.

Join local musician Alex Caton at The Arts Center in Orange for a free live performance of Revolutionary War era music.  This program is part of a series of programs The Book as Art and Self Expression: Creating Your Story which is designed to bring in professional artists, writers and musicians as instructors to the public at our libraries.  The series of programs, if attended in totality, will lead participants through creating and binding their own book and then writing and illustrating it.  These programs are informed and inspired by the revolutionary voices of our founding fathers.

Join artist and illustrator Stephen Haske to explore drawing and expand your skills of creative expression. This program is being offered at all three branches of the Orange County Public Library, and is free and open to the public, ages 16 and up.

All supplies and expert instruction are provided. Those who did not attend the prior session are welcome and supplies will be provided. Registration is required and space is limited. If your plans change, please use the cancel feature to make your spot available for someone on the waiting list.  These programs are being repeated on different dates/times at our other library locations so if this time no longer works for you, please check if one of the other sessions may meet your needs.

Join artist instructor Michael Meredith to create a painting connected to to our ongoing theme of book arts and creativity as part of the foundation of our Commonwealth’s history. This program is being offered at all three branches of the Orange County Public Library, and is free and open to the public, ages 16 and up.

All supplies and expert instruction are provided. Those who did not attend the prior session are welcome and supplies will be provided. Registration is required and space is limited. If your plans change, please use the cancel feature to make your spot available for someone on the waiting list.  These programs are being repeated on different dates/times at our other library locations so if this time no longer works for you, please check if one of the other sessions may meet your needs.


ARTIST
INSTRUCTORS

CLASS POLICIES AND
SAFETY INFORMATION