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Because of the ongoing COVID-19 Public Health Crisis, AVA is postponing all scheduled in-person education programs until the campus is open to the public.
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The below class list will be updated and registrations for in-person classes will open once new dates can be confirmed and scheduled. Email Education Manager Nick Gaffney nick@avagallery.org for more information.
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Online classes are still open for registration. See the list of online classes below, and check back regularly for new offerings.
Click Here info on AVA’s online Summer Camps
Join us for a hands-on class or workshop in painting, photography, ceramics, metalworking, woodworking and more. Our educational offerings include two- or three-day workshops and weekly classes that meet during daytime or evening hours, ranging in ability from novice to professional. Classes are open to all skill levels unless otherwise noted in the descriptions.
- learn from passionate, accomplished regional and national artists
- actively participate in a low student-teacher ratio setting
- enjoy spacious, light-filled, state-of-of the-art facilities
- draw inspiration from unique, challenging exhibitions
- surprise yourself and make new friends!
Click on the plus sign (+) below for a full class description. Members receive 15% off all classes and workshops.
Become an AVA Member | Apply for a Scholarship (up to 75% toward tuition)
| Workshop Name | Medium | Level | Instructor | Description | Dates | Times | Members' Price (15% Off) | Non-Members' Price | Drop-In Fee | Materials | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Active Observer – Basic Drawing | Drawing | Adults / Online | Dan Gottsegen | Put pencil (and charcoal) to paper and see where you can go! Learning to draw is learning to see and a wonderful way to slow down. Understand line, contour, gesture and form while using various materials and the unique marks they make. This class will happen online, with virtual lessons and critiques, via Zoom meetings. A list of required materials will be sent to students. | Wednesdays, June 17-July 22 (new dates) | 10 AM-Noon | $170 | $200 | Click Here to Download the Class Materials List | IN SESSION | |
| Introduction to Watercolor | Painting | Adults / Online | Joan Hoffmann | Learn the basics of watercolor painting, including flat wash, wet-in-wet, and dry-brush techniques. Technique demos, along with critiques and discussions, will guide you through a painting each class. There is no experience necessary, but experienced students are also welcome to brush up on the basics. This class will happen online, with virtual lessons and critiques, via Zoom meetings. A list of required materials will be sent to students. | Thursdays, June 25-July 23 | 6-8 PM | $136 | $160 | Click Here to Download the Class Materials List | IN SESSION | |
| Seeing with New Eyes: an online contemplative photography class for challenging times | Photography | Adults / Online | Carla Kimball | Through a unique mindful approach to photography, this 6 session online course is designed to guide you into a new way of seeing, helping you become more observant and aware of the ordinary beauty in your everyday surroundings. After some simple assignments to help you begin “turn on” your eyes, you’ll explore images that capture personal themes discovered over the course of the class. As you review your classmate’s photos in two-hour, weekly online sessions, you’ll discover each person’s unique visual perspective as stories of their lives, loves, challenges ,and joys begin to emerge. You’ll also create a simple but highly expressive nine-word poems to deepen the narrative of your photos. The course will end with a slide show of selected images and poems from the class. Click here for a slide show from the first online course held in April and May of this year during the height of the pandemic shut down. | Wednesdays, July 1-Aug 5 (new dates) | 4-6 PM | $127.50 | $150 | Register Now | ||
| Through a New Lens – Introduction to Digital Photography | Photography | Adults / Online | Linda Bryan | Gain command of your digital camera and use that knowledge to create photos for discussion and critique. Get your camera ready and have a notebook handy and see the world through a new lens! This class requires a digital camera with manual controls (DSLR or Mirrorless camera recommended) and will be held online via Zoom. | Thursdays, July 2-July 30 (new dates) | 5-7 PM | $127.50 | $150 | CANCELED | ||
| Artist as Small Business | Professional Development for Artists | Adults / Online | Kim Bernard | From A-Z, everything an emerging artist needs to know to be a small business: artist-gallery relationships, banking, branding, budgeting, business plan, business structure, contracts, commissions, copyright, federal and state tax ID’s, funding, hiring an assistant, insurance, inventory, licensing, marketing, money management, permits, registering, sale of works and taxes. Bernard will tackle these dry but necessary topics with interactive exercises and humor. This class will be held remotely, via Zoom. | New Dates: Monday-Thursday, July 20-23 | 6-8 PM | $85 | $100 | Register Now | ||
| Watercolor Bootcamp for Teens | Painting | Teen/Online | Jennifer Brown | Learn the basics of watercolor painting and have fun with transparent color. In this class you can get started painting in this light and liquid medium and have fun trying different approaches. There is no experience necessary; this class is designed specifically for Teens. This class will happen online, with virtual lessons and critiques, via Zoom meetings. A list of required materials will be sent to students. This class is limited to 12 students. If your family has already paid the full summer-long online camp registration fee, please register by RSVP'ing to Education Manager Nick Gaffney: nick@avagallery.org; you do not need to register here. | Monday July 20-24 | 10:30-11:30 AM | $63.75 (Free for Online Summer Camp Registrants) | $75 | Click here to download the materials list. | Register Now | |
| Digital Animation for ages 10-12 | Digital | Youth/Online | Paula Allen/Pollyzoom | This class will give you the skills to take your story or drawings and bring them to life. Learn about script writing, storyboarding, 2-D animation techniques and more. If you enjoy new media and digital art, then these are the perfect classes for you. Students will learn animation character design, background design, animation drawing techniques and more. This class is limited to 10 students. If your family has already paid the full summer-long online camp registration fee, please register by RSVP'ing to Education Manager Nick Gaffney: nick@avagallery.org; you do not need to register here. | Monday July 27-Friday July 31 | 10:30-11:30 AM | $63.75 (Free for Online Summer Camp Registrants) | $75 | Tech Requirements: Smartphone or tablet for animating and another device for watching the class on Zoom. | Register Now | |
| Digital Animation for ages 13-16 | Digital | Teen/Online | Paula Allen/Pollyzoom | This class will give you the skills to take your story or drawings and bring them to life. Learn about script writing, storyboarding, 2-D animation techniques and more. If you enjoy new media and digital art, then these are the perfect classes for you. Students will learn animation character design, background design, animation drawing techniques and more. This class is limited to 10 students. If your family has already paid the full summer-long online camp registration fee, please register by RSVP'ing to Education Manager Nick Gaffney: nick@avagallery.org; you do not need to register here. | Monday July 27-Friday July 31 | 12:30-1:30 PM | $63.75 (Free for Online Summer Camp Registrants) | $75 | Tech Requirements: Smartphone or tablet for animating and another device for watching the class on Zoom. | Register Now | |
| Painting the Summer Landscape in Watercolor | Painting | Adults / Online | Robert O'Brien | Learn to paint the beautiful landscape of New England in all of its summer glory. This workshop is open to all levels of painting ability, and will focus on landscape painting. Each facet of the landscape including skies, trees, buildings, barns, and more will be explored. Students will learn the importance of color, value and composition and how to employ these elements in a landscape painting. A critique and class discussion will be held at the end of the session. This class will be held online via Zoom. | Wednesday-Thursday, July 29-30 | 1-4 PM | $85 | $100 | Click Here to Download the Class Materials List | Register Now | |
| Experimental Abstract Design | Painting | Adults / Online | Patty Castellini | In this class you'll create abstract designs using acrylic paint. You'll have fun exploring the possibilities of isolating and manipulating color, line, shape, composition and texture. Finally, you'll experiment with the possibilities of various mark making tools. | Fridays, August 7-21 | 1-3 PM | $85 | $100 | Click Here to Download the Class Materials List | Register Now | |
| Fiber Arts Open Studio | Open Studio | Adults & Teens | Meredith Smith | Learn a new skill, rekindle a passion for what you already know, or get advice on how to repair that favorite piece of clothing. Try stitchery, needle felting, art quilts, garment construction and repair, artful embellishment and more! Bring a project or start something new. No experience necessary, everyone welcome! | Postponed; new dates available soon. | 9 AM-Noon | Free | $5 Drop-In Fee for Non-Members | $5 | Postponed; new dates available soon. | |
| Wooden Fairy Houses | Woodworking | Children & Adults | Jay Singh | Fairy houses can take many forms and reside in varied habitats. They can be nestled against a rock or reside in low branches of trees, but the clever child knows the best place for fairy house is in a secluded spot on the ground! Join fairy house guru and master woodworker, grandpa Jay Singh, as he guides children and adults in building and decorating their own wooden fairy house.One fee covers the attendance of one adult and child. | Saturday, May 16 | 10 AM-4 PM | $63.75 | $75 | $40 | Registration Postponed | |
| Wooden Toy Trucks | Woodworking | Children & Adults | Jay Singh | Join truck builder and master woodworker, grandpa Jay Singh, as he guides children along with their parents, grandparents, and guardians, in building, painting and detailing their very own wooden work truck. Think of what it could haul: spare parts, dirt, toys, visiting elves, or accessories for your fairy house! One fee covers the attendance of one adult and child. | Saturday, June 20 | 10 AM-4 PM | $63.75 | $75 | $40 | Registration Postponed |