The Lowcountry is lucky to have several places that offer art instruction for young children. This spring, you can find options everywhere from Mount Pleasant to Summerville. Check out these four spots for budding artists.
Blair Center for the Arts
1125 Bowman Road, Mount Pleasant
There are a variety of creative opportunities for kids to get artsy this spring at the Blair Center for the Arts. Drawing classes are divided into two age groups to support different developmental levels, with five-week sessions focused on observation, proportion, shading, and personal expression. “The goal is to help students gain confidence in their drawing abilities while introducing new techniques and encouraging their unique artistic style,” explains assistant director Hope Bruns.
Spring classes are offered at Blair Center for the Arts in Mount Pleasant.
Mixed media courses invite students to experiment across a wide range of materials — including watercolor, acrylic paint, collage, pastels, textured elements, and drawing tools — sometimes within a single project. The themed “Little Locals” class draws inspiration from the sights and culture of Charleston, while “Mini Masters” encourages students to create works in the style of famous artists from around the world.
Pottery classes are designed for elementary through middle school students. Additional seasonal programming introduces specialties such as watercolor workshops and other focused mediums, offering fresh opportunities throughout the year.
Instructors emphasize encouragement and constructive feedback in a supportive environment, checking in regularly as projects evolve. Families report that children leave feeling proud of their work and eager to return.
“Parents appreciate the balance of skill-building and creative freedom,” Bruns adds, noting that students especially enjoy learning new techniques, making friends, and having a space where creativity is simply fun.
Kids can take classes at the Gibbes Museum of Art.
Gibbes Museum of Art
135 Meeting St, Charleston
“Coming up soon at the Gibbes Museum of Art, we’ll be launching baby and toddler tours, which is very exciting,” says Becca Hiester, Director of Education and Programs, noting that the initiative invites caregivers and their youngest art lovers to grow comfortable exploring museums together from the start.
On the morning of April 11, we will have a free drop-in artmaking activity that’s part of a new ongoing series called “Drawn Together.” This is free for museum members and free with museum admission and is a wonderful opportunity for families of all ages to work together to be creative,” says Hiester.
The Gibbes generally balances accessibility with depth through a mix of free and paid offerings. “We do try to build a moment of reflection into our classes and workshops for older students (age 10+), but even if there isn’t a formal critique as part of the class, we make sure that our instructors are moving throughout the class to give feedback and encouragement throughout.” With a busy slate of programming planned for late spring and early summer, check back on the website for class announcements.
A young artist draws at the Public Works Art Center in Summerville.
Public Works Art Center
135 W. Richardson Ave., Summerville
With most classes running for six weeks, Public Works Art Center offers After School Art for all current elementary school students ages 6 and older, with a maximum of 10 kids per class. “Our class schedules are designed to avoid holidays and also not require payment for a full semester up front. We know kids sometimes just want to try something new, so they can join us for one session or the whole year if they’d like,” explains Programming Director Emily Epling.
Instructors facilitate conversations among the students that are encouraging and supportive. Remarks from parents often reflect positive experiences about these deeper dives into the art world with comments like:
“The teachers were attentive, fun and creative.”
“My girls loved how they were given an assignment, shown how to do it, but were able to put their own artistic spin on the project.”
“This was one of their favorite classes … and we’ve done a lot!”
Additionally, Publics Works offer sewing and pottery classes for elementary-aged kids, and the center is working on more specialized ideas for art classes such as stop-motion animation, felted animals, and printmaking.
Boys are drawing and coloring at the Redux Contemporary Art Center on King Street in Charleston.
Redux Contemporary Art Center
1056 King St., Charleston
Redux Contemporary Art Center offers two age group after-school programs of Art After-School and Art Explorers! that run concurrently. The March session consists of four classes, intentionally capped at eight students to ensure each participant receives individualized attention. This structure also helps families with children in multiple age groups manage schedules more easily.
Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, says James Wine, education and outreach coordinator. “Teaching artists Cara Fischer and Katie Brash are both highly skilled and have extensive experience working with children. Families frequently highlight the supportive, engaging environment they create in the classroom,” he said.
Students are encouraged to share their work during class and, with permission, Redux features their artwork on their social media platforms. “We place a strong emphasis on positive, constructive feedback, recognizing how important encouragement and support are to young artists.”
