As winter settles in, it’s important to keep little hands and minds occupied and growing. Here are a few suggestions for ways to keep art underway for your family.
Get your kids behind the wheel—the pottery wheel, that is—at South Broadway Art Project. The studio is a fully equipped pottery and ceramics space with kilns, glazing, and a variety of tools. The classes are specifically for kids 7–12. A variety of options are coming up for six-week sessions, for either “Giftology” or “Wheel Throwing & Hand-Building.” And if you find yourself with a little clay envy going on, there are options for grown-ups, too. 3816 S. Broadway.
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Artscope helps kids create and play their way into harmony with thoughtful, creative programs in their adorable cottage in Tower Grove Park. Their School’s Out programs, full-day projects during holiday breaks for 5–10-year-olds, tend to fill up fast. If the winter one you’re hoping for is full, don’t fret: spring enrollment opens soon. You can also book a 90-minute Art Party for up to 10 of your favorite little folks (or adults!). A teaching artist instructs partygoers on a make-and-take project for a birthday or any special event you can think of. 2929 Tower Grove, inside Tower Grove Park.
The Foundry Art Centre in St. Charles is a great resource for hands-on art education to create, play, view, and more. The Foundry always has interesting shows up to check out, and there’s an impressive slate of programming for kids, adults, homeschool classes, camps, workshops, and more. Every Tuesday at 10 a.m., Art Start pairs a book with an activity for 2–5-year-olds. The whole family is welcome for Second Saturdays, which features a tour and a project inspired by the current exhibitions. Family Workshops are suggested for 5-12-year-olds, and if you’re a dog family, you’re going to love them. On First Fridays, the center is open late—until 8 p.m.—with programming, entertainment, and chances to talk to the artists. 520 N. Main, St. Charles.
If the gallery at the St. Louis Artists’ Guild inspires your budding artiste, register ahead of time and come by on the third Saturday of the month for Free Family Saturdays. The drop-in program features fun crafts for pre-K through elementary school-aged kids with their families. You can also download PDFs from their website to do you own Free Family Saturday activity at home anytime you want. The guild also offers paid camps for a variety of ages during the holiday break. 12 N. Jackson.
The name says it all at Yucandu Art Studio; it’s where you can find out just how much you can do. The open studio includes tools and space, and you can just walk in for project-based rates. There are also fun extras you can buy or specific projects to make and take. The studio also runs camps for K–9 kids during the summer, seasonal workshops, and an after-school art club. 20 Allen, Webster Groves.
As if the Magic House wasn’t already, well, magical, MADE for Kids ramps up the creativity and fun. It’s a 7,000-square-foot makerspace just for makers ages 4–14. (There’s also MADE for adults in the same building, which is not the Magic House location.) Try out screen printing, laser cutting, stop-motion animation, and 3D printing–all while NOT having to find space in your home for all that equipment. Pay by the visit, or get a family membership. 5127 Delmar.
There are lots of opportunities to learn through art at the Missouri Botanical Garden’s three sites: the Garden, the Shaw Nature Reserve, and the Butterfly House. At Little Nature Explorer events, kids can learn about hibernation at the Shaw Nature Reserve; budding photographers can hone their craft on Shutterbug Saturdays at the Butterfly House; and bigger kids can learn about artist and illustrator Robert Bateman. Check each location’s catalogs for in-depth offerings and to register. See website for locations.
