Umpqua Valley Arts is dedicated to the belief that the arts are an indispensable element of a thriving and meaningful community, and that education in the arts should be available to all. Our arts education curriculum is inspired by our energetic community, the geography in which our organization is situated, and the unique history of our region and our institution. When we learn to make art together, we are learning to acknowledge and respect the histories that bind us together, and the changing world that surrounds us.
ARTS EDUCATION ~ WINTER CLASSES
SUMMER ARTS FESTIVAL POSTER DESIGN
01/10 Sat, 1-3pm
FREE
UVA’s Summer Arts Festival Design Poster contest is back, and the deadline is now extended to the end of January 2026! Learn from last year’s poster designer David John, as he’ll teach you poster design basics to look out for, help you make sure your work meets submission expectations, and answer any poster-design questions you may have! All ages.*
AFTER SCHOOL ART CLUB
Ages 5-8 | Tue & Thu, 3:30-5:15pm | $45 /mo
Ages 9-12 | Tues, 3:30-5:15pm | $25 /mo
Ages 13-18 | Thurs, 3:30-5:15pm | $25 /mo
(flexible drop off & pick up times)
Young artists will meet each week to dive deep into a range of art activities and creative engagement, following a monthly theme.
TEEN CLAY OPEN STUDIO | AGES 12-16
01/06-01/29 Tue & Thur, 5:30-7:30pm
03/03-03/26 Tue & Thur, 5:30-7:30pm
$160
Young artists meet twice a week to learn the fundamentals of hand building and wheel throwing with open studio time and lessons.
ARTS & WELLNESS CLASS SERIES
(Register for one – or – Register for all!)
Get your year off to a great start! Join us in using art to set intention, self-reflect and de-stress. Finish off the series with a delicious and healthy community lunch. This class series is all about arts, wellness and community!
Cut, Paste, Create: Vision Board Making
01/17 Sat, 10am – 12pm | $20
Join UVA’s Executive Director, Monica, to begin the New Year with intention. Create vision boards using collage and mixed media, as a way to refocus and positively look to the year ahead. All supplies provided. All ages. *
Reset & Reflect: Journaling for the Year Ahead
01/24 Sat, 10am – 12pm | $20
Ashland-based writer and educator Katie Boehnlein will lead journaling prompts for self-reflection and improvement. No writing experience required. Registration includes a writing journal to keep and use after the workshop! All ages. *
De-stress with Watercolors: Making Art to Music
01/31 Sat, 10am – 12pm | $20
Take a deep breath, and explore the relaxing medium of watercolor with Linda Russell. Enjoy creating mixed media art while listening to music, using pencils and ink on top of watercolor. No previous art experience required. All ages. *
Arts & Wellness Reflection: Community Luncheon
01/31 Sat, 12pm – 1pm | $10 adults / $8 kids
Participants in this workshop series are invited on the last day to enjoy lunch, with time to reflect on your workshop experience and reconnect with the new friends you’ve made. All ages. *
CLAY PLACE – SPRING TERM
04/01 – 05/30
EARLY REG. ** OPENS 02/17 @ 10am
$225 – $325
Register for open studio + classes or just open studio.
** Early registration available for UVA Members only
PRINTMAKING OPEN STUDIO
WITH NOELLE
02/02 – 02/24 Mon & Wed, 3:30-5pm
$5 Drop-in
Join Education Director Noelle to learn more about printmaking, and utilize UVA’s printmaking studio! Kick-off the month by carving your own stamp to create Valentine’s Day cards. Use the rest of the open studio time to explore other methods of printmaking and to work on your own projects. No registration necessary. Drop-in fee covers the cost of shared materials. Ages 13+. Held in Imagination Station.
CLAY WORKSHOP: LIGHT THE FLAME
Votive Candle Holders
02/12 Thur, 6-8pm
$75
Join Megan Perry to create a beautiful hand carved candle jar that will let you brighten up the winter months. Make up to three votive candle holders with 3 glaze options to choose from. Projects will be dried, kiln fired, and glazed in house. (Pick-up roughly 2-3 weeks after)
VALENTINE’S DATE NIGHT
02/13 Fri, 6-8pm
$75 per couple
In a neon-lit atmosphere – unleash your creativity with a loved one using glow paint under the black lights! Enjoy a light meal of – charcuterie, beverages, beer and wine, and sweet treats included. Ages 18 + (Childcare available at registration!)
INTRO TO WATERCOLORS: BOTANICALS
02/28 Sat, 10am – 2pm
$25
Learn the basics of watercolor with Linda Russell. Looking at the natural world of flowers and plants, you’ll learn the basic techniques of painting, mixing colors, and layering. No previous experience required. Open to all levels and with focus on beginners. Ages 12+
FELTING SPRING NESTS
03/14 Sat, 9am – 12pm
$40
Learn to needle felt with artist Carolyn Hibbard! Carolyn will teach you step by step how to needle felt your own decorative spring nest, with felt eggs to fill with! Ages 9+ (ages 9 to 11 must have a parent or guardian with them).
DEMO/LECTURE: MAKE IT BIG!
02/21 Sat, 4:30-6:30pm
$15
Take your wheel throwing to the next level! In this demo and lecture, Ashley will show how you can add height to your pots and create dynamic shapes with ease using sectional throwing techniques.. Recommended for Intermediate to advanced, but open to all levels. Ages 15+
CLAY WORKSHOP: LOTS OF POTS
02/24 & 02/26 Tue & Thur, 6-8pm
$75
Join Ashley Cluver In this two-day workshop on slab building with clay. Day one, learn the basics of attaching slabs to build taller forms such as a planter or a vase. The work will then be prepare for day two, where you will finish building your forms and add any finishing embellishments. Choose an underglaze wash, and projects are kiln fired, and glazed in house. (Pick-up roughly 2-3 weeks) Ages 15+
SPRING BREAK CAMPS
03/23-03/27
Mon-Fri, 9 am-12:30 pm
$150
Ages 5-8 | Spring Nature Camp
Inspired by the wonders of nature! Through hands-on projects, outdoor observation, and creative play, students will connect with the natural world while developing their creativity and imagination!
Ages 9-12 | Felt Frenzy
Explore the art of felting through hands-on projects, using the textures and colors of wool. This camp encourages creativity, fine motor-skills, and playful self expression while learning the technique of felting.
Ages 9-12 | Clean Dirt Fun: Clay Camp
In the Clay Place studio, students learn basic ceramic skills, inspire creativity, and create a little springtime fun! Each day, instructor Ashley will lead students through a different project that celebrates the spring season and allows students to explore their creativity.
GLAZE WORKSHOP: NATURAL ADDITIVES
03/28 & 03/29 Sat & Sun, 9am – 3pm
$150
Join Gregory Pierce in this two-day workshop on how to incorporate rock materials from the PNW into slips and engobes. On the first day, an overview of finding local rock and mineral sources, how to process these safely, and their influences on slips/glazes. On the second day, choose soft or hard slab shaping for the object where you create vases, tea trays, planers, cups, etc (your choice). Ages 15+
* 12 & under must register with a parent or guardian.
** Early registration available for UVA Members only. To become a UVA Member click HERE.
SEEKING ART TEACHERS!
We’re looking for fun and creative teachers to partner with our team at UVA to deliver arts education opportunities for the community to enjoy! Fill out our Teacher Interest Form to learn more about upcoming opportunities to teach at UVA and tell us about your interests and availability! We have endless possibilities for instructors to share their knowledge with the community at all levels from beginner to advanced, youth to adults, and beyond! If you have any questions please reach out to our Education Director, Noelle Herceg.
OUR MISSION
At UVA, we are passionate about providing community members with arts education opportunities which not only inform them of time-honored artistic techniques but also bring whimsy, wonder, and excitement to their everyday lives. Education in the arts is known to stimulate imagination as well as enhance problem-solving skills, making it the perfect way to inspire a generation of dreamers and “doers.” Working with known and emerging artists throughout the Pacific Northwest, we strive to provide quality opportunities for community members both young and old to discover their unique artistic calling.
At our campus, we offer classes for future artists of all ages, from preschool through high school (and plenty of learning opportunities for adults, too!) throughout the year. Typically, you can find a selection of seasonally inspired adult workshops and Saturday classes for artists 8 and up, as well as after-school opportunities for teens to learn more about classic art forms. During the summer months, we offer camps for young artists focusing on visual arts, music, and everything in between!
Additionally, UVA partners with community members and schools to reach even more young artists in and around the Umpqua Valley. Longtime friend of the organization Victoria Carnate brings hope to troubled teens at the local detention center by teaching them time-honored artistic techniques. In the past, we have enjoyed opening the doors of our beautiful gallery to students via field trips, and we anticipate doing so once the pandemic has passed. Until then, we have found creative ways to bring our gallery to the schools. Visiting elementary classrooms through our Arts Express program, we strive to bring arts education to youth in a way that is both meaningful and magical.
Ready to set off on your own artistic journey? Explore the pages below, or contact us!
