Art Classes in the Forks: Expand Your Creativity

Wanting to create your own art piece, pick up a new skill, or simply have a good time? Greater Grand Forks has a handful of different art classes and opportunities for you to choose from. Ever wonder how to create a clay mug? Follow along to see how!

Arts for Vets, located in downtown Grand Forks, is a beloved studio for veterans and non-vets alike.  It was created in 2015 by veterans, active-duty personnel and community members, with the mission to foster a welcoming space for the art community. Arts for Vets regularly host gallery shows and exhibits, art classes, and community gatherings. If you are an artist, you can also explore the option of having your own studio in their space. You can stop by every Thursday from 6pm-8pm to walk through the gallery or follow Arts for Vets Facebook page to keep up with their current class offerings and special exhibits. There are many small classes available, such as jewelry making, Native American beading, painting, fused glass making, and more. Trying out an art class at Arts for Vets is a great way to meet new people in the community, explore your creative side, and have something new to bring home!

Muddy Waters Clay Center is a 501(3)c arts organization dedicated to ceramic arts, located on the North end of Grand Forks. One’s journey at Muddy Waters usually starts with a wander around their shop, which is filled with beautiful ceramic pieces created in-house by member artists. The shop is open most Saturdays from 10am-4pm, with extended hours during holiday season for any shopping needs. Muddy Waters also host special exhibits for their members, with curated presentations in the gallery. Feeling intrigued about pottery and wanting to try your hands with clay? Muddy Waters offer 9-12 week classes, starting during Fall, Winter or Summer, with different classes for hand building or throwing on the wheel. Many of the classes offered are beginner-friendly, and the teachers are members of the center who are all dedicated to helping you succeed. Have you had a couple classes and decided you want to do more pottery than just a weekly class? You can also sign up to become a member, which grants you access to the studio at all times. Muddy Waters members are also active in the community, offering special exhibitions and experiences, if you just want to try out the wheel with no commitments. Be sure to follow Muddy Waters on their Facebook page for events and classes announcements!

There are plenty of chances to channel your inner Picasso in Grand Forks! Art ‘n Joy in Midtown Marketplace and Bug Geusse Art Studio are a couple notable names. They both offer painting classes, in which participants will follow the instructor’s guide to create their own masterpiece within 2 hours. They also offer private painting parties, children’s art camps and more! Follow them on Facebook for future class offerings.

Looking for a free and quick craft class? Grand Forks Public Library and East Grand Forks’ Campbell Library are the place to check out! They offer bi-weekly and monthly craft classes, and a bi-monthly craft group (Craft-Tea). Some recent topics include scrapbooking, DIY fairy garden, learning how to play the ukulele, and more. Check out their websites or follow them on Facebook for events announcements. Some crafting events spots can sell out quickly, so make sure to register when they are announced!

Another notable mention is the NDMOA’s Summer Art Camp. Aimed towards children ages 6-13, Summer Art Camp is a fun time for children to learn new art skills from professional artists and let their imagination run wild. Each week of the camp features a new artist with new themes and projects. Registration opens in May each year on the NDMOA website and camp runs between June and July.

If you have a free afternoon with no plans, check out these boredom-busters outside of Grand Forks! All of them are within an hour of driving.

Queen City Art Center is located in Crookston, MN, about a 30-minute drive away from Grand Forks. It is a gallery space for artists similar to Arts for Vets, with artists’ displays and opportunities for studio spaces. On top of that, they also offer multiple art classes, from watercolor painting to mosaics, and a paint-your-own pottery studio. At the time of publication, they are open 2-6PM Tuesday-Thursday, 9AM-6PM on Friday, 9AM-3PM on Saturday. Their hours change based on season and availability, so make sure to follow them on Facebook and check out what they have to offer!

Clay Your Way is a local paint-your-own pottery studio, located in Fargo, ND, an hour away from Grand Forks. They are open 7 days a week, 10AM-7PM Monday-Saturday and 12PM-5PM on Sunday. Clay Your Way was founded in 2001 and has been a go-to spot for date nights, family fun, girl’s night out and more. You can come in and purchase a blank piece that sparks your interest – they have a lot of options, from small ornaments to vases and bowls, paint to your heart’s desires, pay for your piece and come back in a week to pick it up! For some, it is harder to make the drive to Fargo within a week, but no fret – they are pretty lenient with picking up, but recommend you picking up within a couple weeks. It is such a fun, loving atmosphere here, and every time I stop by, I want to clay my way and paint all day! They also offer to-go projects, painting parties, and event collaborations with local shops. Follow them on Facebook for events announcements and project inspirations!

You might have known that Plains Art Museum is a great (and free!) art museum in downtown Fargo. But did you know they also offer art classes? The Center for Creativity inside of Plains Art Museum has multiple offerings of classes, from a drop-in single session, multiple weeks sessions, to summer children art camp and special events. While some of the sessions are focused on clay art, since they have an on-site pottery studio, many others are on printmaking, pencil drawing, watercolor painting, screen printing and more. To sign up for these classes, check out Plains Art Museum website!

Unglued, located in Brewhalla, is a small gift shop with homemade crafts from local artists in Fargo and beyond. But don’t just walk by because you’re not interested in trinkets (but seriously though, how could you not be interested in trinkets?!) The charm of Unglued lays outside of their physical storefront. Unglued offers multiple art classes taught by local artists every week in the Unglued Craftatorium upstairs from their gift shop, and there is never a boring moment for craft. You can make your own stained-glass piece, quilled flowers, crochets, quilting, painting, and more! Check out the schedule and sign up for a class on their website. I personally think the most fun part of Unglued is their adult art camps. Yes, you heard it right. Adult art camps – day (or days) for you to be a kid again and craft your heart out, but with trendy projects and awesome camp hosts. Unglued offers a one-day camp in Spring and Fall, and a weekend summer camp in the Summer, hosted in locations 30 mins to 1 hour away from Fargo. Registration for art camps sells out very quickly and participants come from everywhere around the region for these fun camps. If you are interested, sign up for their email list to know when registration goes live!