Center for Arts and Crafts
Explore your creativity, learn new skills, practice self-care, and connect with a vibrant community. The Center for Arts and Crafts offers non-credit art classes and workshops designed to help you relax, recharge, and discover something new—no experience required.
Explore Classes and Workshops
From wheel-thrown pottery and painting to stained glass, crochet, printmaking, and seasonal workshops, our classes cover a wide range of interests. Discover new ways to be creative in a supportive, relaxed environment that encourages creative expression and personal growth, and also promotes mental wellness.
Register Now
Class space is limited so register today! Registration is open to Penn State students, faculty, and staff with a valid Penn State ID. Students receive priority enrollment. Visit the Center for Arts and Crafts in room 3 Ritenour Building to register, Monday–Thursday, 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
- Spring Session One classes start the week of January 26
- Registration begins January 12
- Spring Session Two classes start the week of March 16
Wheel Thrown Pottery & Ceramics Studio
Learn wheel-thrown pottery techniques like wedging, centering, pulling, shaping, and glazing. Your class fee includes clay, glazes, and kiln firing, with an additional cost for a pottery tool kit if needed.
- Already experienced? Consider a ceramics studio membership to work independently with access to wheels, kilns, tools, and glazes.
Membership Details
- Unlimited studio access during posted hours
- Unlimited use of glazes and firings*
- Use of lockers
- In-house clay for purchase
- Membership fee: $85 for Penn State students (valid ID required)
- Available for fall and spring semesters
*Additional firing fees may be applied if large quantities of work are produced. No outside clay permitted in the studio. Members must purchase clay in-house.
Create At Home
Explore our Create at Home catalogs for inspiration, artist spotlights, and easy projects you can make with materials you already have or can repurpose. Substitutions are welcome—just use what’s on hand and get creative.
Creative Work That Builds Skills and Community
Working at the Center for Arts and Crafts offers Penn State students hands-on experience in teaching, creativity, and community engagement. Student employees support a welcoming space where learning happens through making, sharing skills, and connecting with others. These roles are especially well suited for students interested in art, education, or creative leadership.
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Student instructors lead non-credit art classes and workshops designed for beginners and intermediate learners. Instructors gain experience developing lesson plans, teaching diverse groups, and managing materials while sharing their creative expertise in areas such as ceramics, painting, and other studio arts.
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Students with a Federal Work Study Grant support the day-to-day operations of the center and ceramics studio. Responsibilities include assisting with class registration, supporting programs and events, helping maintain studio spaces, and providing customer service in a creative, student-centered environment.