Fall Arts Classes in Westchester
ArtsWestchester is a multi-faceted arts council with more than 100 member organizations, many of which offer classes for both kids and adults. Here’s a list of some groups that offer creative and professional learning opportunities. Some scholarships are available.
VISUAL ARTS
Bullseye Glass (Mamaroneck) offers glass fusing classes for adults. Projects include glass tableware, sculpture, jewelry, painting and printmaking. 914-835- 3794. bullseyeglass.com/newyork
Center for the Arts at Westchester Community College (White Plains) offers art classes for students of all ages, including classes in drawing, painting, photography, sculpture, ceramics, jewelry and digital arts. 914-606-7500. sunywcc.edu/arts
Center for the Digital Arts at Westchester Community College (Peekskill) has five post-production studios and is dedicated to fostering digital arts education. From User Experience Design (UX) to 3D Animation, the Center is an access point to creating art in the digital age. 914-606-7300. sunywcc.edu/peekskill
Clay Art Center (Port Chester) offers clay classes and workshops, in pottery and sculpture, for children and adults of all skill levels. Classes are seven days a week throughout the year. 914-937-2047. clayartcenter.org
Katonah Art Center (Goldens Bridge) has a variety of visual arts classes for children and adults in digital and traditional art forms that range from jewelry beading and figure drawing to manga and 3D printing. 914-232-4843. katonahartcenter.com
OSilas Art Studio at Concordia College (Bronxville) offers art classes, for students, aged pre-school through adult, in its professional art studio. Classes taught by professional art faculty include drawing, painting, cartooning and more. 914-337-9300 x2433. concordia-ny.edu
Pelham Art Center (Pelham) offers adult and youth classes in a variety of media, including clay, painting, drawing, collage, craft and digital arts, as well as workshops and camps. 914-738-2525 x111. pelhamartcenter.org
The Rye Arts Center (Rye) sparks creativity in people of all ages with classes in both traditional arts (Painting, Drawing, Ceramics, etc.) and non-traditional arts (3D Printing, Computer Coding, Engineering, etc.). Group classes and private lessons are also available in a range of musical disciplines. 914-967-0700. ryeartscenter.org
Yonkers Pottery Studio (Yonkers) offers hand-building, sculpture and wheel throwing instructional classes for beginner to advanced students, including private classes for children and their parent or caregiver. 646-316-0554. yonkerspottery.com
MUSIC
Hoff-Barthelson Music School (Scarsdale) serves students of all abilities and ages, from children to adults. Comprehensive programs provide private and group instruction, theory, composition, ear training, ensembles, performance opportunities, professional accompaniment and regular assessment of student progress. 914-723-1169. hbms.org
Lagond Music School (Elmsford) is dedicated to contemporary music education and live performance for students of all ages. Private instruction is offered on all instruments as well as band and performing workshops. Classes include songwriting, theory, recording studio production and college preparation. 914-345-0512. lagondmusic.org
Music Conservatory of Westchester (White Plains) provides quality music education for all ages with private and group lessons and more. Experienced faculty teach repertoire from classical and jazz to rock and pop. Scholarships available. 914-761-3900. musicconservatory.org
RiverArts Music Program (Hastings on Hudson, Dobbs Ferry, Irvington) – Private lessons in all instruments as well as voice, Jazz Ensembles, Percussion Ensemble, Cello Ensemble and Mighty Musicians (Grades K-2). 914-412-5120. riverarts.org
Songcatchers (New Rochelle) offers several core programs for younger music students, including a concert choir, after-school music program and early childhood music program. Children can learn a variety of instruments and participate in advanced training in an instrument ensemble. 914-654-1178. songcatchers.org/programs
THEATER
Axial Theatre (Pleasantville) presents Howard Meyer’s Acting Program, which offers classes and workshops for tweens, teens and adults, including acting, performance and playwriting. Contact: 914-286-7680. axialtheatre.org
Arc Stages (Pleasantville) provides classes and theatre workshop productions for children aged 3-18. Using theatre as a tool to build confidence and self-expression on stage. Theater games and acting exercises are incorporated into all rehearsal processes and programming. 914-747-6206. arcstages.org
The Play Group Theatre (White Plains) provides a creatively-charged environment where kids and teens can connect with a diverse group of artistic peers and engage in a broad array of theatre classes and performance programs that include style, technique, musical theatre, design/tech and more. 914-946-4433. playgroup.org
Westchester Collaborative Theater (Ossining) will offer classes in acting, improv and acting for camera beginning in October. wctclasses@gmail. com. wctheater.org
FILM
Jacob Burns Film Center (Pleasantville) offers programs in new media, production, screenwriting, film theory and more for individuals of all ages. JBFC Kids (ages 3–13) helps to foster a love for cinema and media-making via family-oriented courses, programming and Family Saturdays @ the Lab. Scholarships are available for all courses. 914-773-7663 x8. burnsfilmcenter.org/courses
DANCE
RiverArts (Hastings on Hudson, Dobbs Ferry) offers modern dance classes for adults and teens, cultivating dance technique and artistry. Teacher: Mary Ford-Sussman (Limón Dance Company). 914-412-5120. info@riverarts.org
Steffi Nossen School of Dance (White Plains, Chappaqua) offers classes in modern, ballet, jazz and hip-hop. Programs include classes for boys, caregivers with toddlers and more. Performing opportunities offered for pre-professional and recreational dancers. Live music in classes. Free week of dance offered 9/23–28, 10/6. Also see the Special Needs section. 914-328-1900. steffinossen.org
Youth Theatre Interactions (Yonkers) provides weekly professional performing arts classes for children aged 6-19. Courses are offered in drama, keyboard, steel drums, guitar, voice and seven styles of dance including Latin, step and West African. This year’s new classes include beatboxing, spoken word and a new guitar offerings. Saturday classes are also available. 914-963-3040. ytiYonkers.org
Ballet des Amériques (Port Chester) offers pre-professional ballet training and education in its international conservatory. Also offered are creative movement classes (ages 3-5) and open classes for adults. Auditions are mandatory for the conservatory, but not for creative movement and open classes. 646-753-0457. balletdesameriques.com
LITERARY ARTS
Alliance Française de Westchester (White Plains) offers French classes, group or private, for all levels and ages, taught by native French speakers. From classes for toddlers, who are introduced to French through music and play, to book discussion groups for adults, the AFW offers a multitude of ways to learn and practice French. 914-681-8735. afwestchesterny.org
Hudson Valley Writers’ Center (Sleepy Hollow) offers workshops for aspiring poets, novelists, screenplay writers, playwrights, memoirists and established authors alike. Four- and six-week courses are available, as well as one-day intensives in poetry, fiction and non-fiction. 914-332-5953. writerscenter.org
The Greenburgh Arts and Culture Committee (Greenburgh) offers spring and fall writing classes for children and teens, as well as Ekphrastic poetry workshops for adults. 914-682-1574 or greenburghartsandculture.org
The Writing Institute at Sarah Lawrence College (Bronxville, Yonkers) is for people of all ages, from novice to seasoned writers, and includes traditional writing workshops in fiction, non-fiction, memoir and poetry, as well as specialized classes from screenwriting to humor. 914-218-0032. sarahlawrence.edu/writing-institute
SPECIAL NEEDS
Music Conservatory of Westchester (White Plains) provides individual and group music therapy sessions for children, adults and military veterans. Sessions are offered by knowledgeable and caring music therapists for people of all ages at the Conservatory’s fully accessible facility. 914-761-3900. musicconservatory.org
Steffi Nossen School of Dance (White Plains) “Moving Wheels & Heels” is an adaptive program for dancers with special needs. Classes are available for adults and kids. Live music in classes. Also see Dance section in this spread. 914-328-1900. steffinossen.org
A version of this article first appeared in the September issue of ArtsNews, ArtsWestchester’s monthly publication. ArtsNews is distributed throughout Westchester County. A digital copy is also available at artsw.org/artsnews.
About Mary Alice Franklin
Mary Alice Franklin is ArtsWestchester’s Communications Manager and Editor of ArtsNews. She has a Bachelors in English and Masters in Publishing, and has been published in Paste Magazine, HuffPost, Art Zealous, Art Times, and more.
