Art Workshops in NYC at the Educational Alliance Art School
The Educational Alliance Art School at Manny Cantor Center offers art workshops in NYC on the Lower East Side — short, focused one-day sessions in ceramics, painting, and mixed media, open to all skill levels including first-timers. Whether you want to try wheel-throwing for an afternoon, explore color theory in oil, or experiment with printmaking, our workshops let you make something real without committing to a full semester.
As a program of Educational Alliance, one of New York’s oldest nonprofits, we keep workshop pricing accessible and our studio at 197 East Broadway, Manhattan is easy to reach from anywhere in the city.
Fall 2026
Ceramics Workshops
Throw on the wheel, hand-build, or explore glazing in a focused one-day ceramics workshop in our Lower East Side studio. Summer sessions range from beginner wheel-throwing to intermediate hand-building and decorative glaze techniques — priced from $70 to $110, all ages 18 and up.
Pottery: Ocarina Building (1-Day Workshop)
Dates: Tuesday, 10/20/26
Time: 1 pm – 2:30 pm
Location: 197 East Broadway
Age: 18+ years
Cost: $70.00
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Explore the intersection of art and sound in this beginner-friendly workshop, where you’ll focus on building your own ceramic ocarina, a small, vessel-style wind instrument. No experience necessary!
Pottery: Wheel Try-Night (1-Day Workshop)
Dates: Tuesday, 11/10/26
Time: 6:30 pm – 9 pm
Location: 197 East Broadway
Age: 18+ years
Cost: $70.00
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Learn the fundamentals of wheel throwing. Pieces created during the workshop will not be finished or taken home, but the hands-on experience is what makes it truly memorable. It’s a great way to unwind, have fun, and get your hands dirty. No experience necessary!
Pottery: Make Your Own Mug (1-Day Workshop)
Dates: Monday, 12/1/26
Time: 10 am – 12:30 pm
Location: 197 East Broadway
Age: 18+ years
Cost: $110.00
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Learn the basics of handbuilding in this beginner-friendly workshop focused on creating your own ceramic mug. No experience necessary! Finished mugs will be fired and ready for pickup in 2-4 weeks.
Pottery: Metallic Luster Painting (1-Day Workshop)
Dates: Saturday, 12/5/26
Time: 10 am – 12:30 pm
Location: 197 East Broadway
Age: 18+ years
Cost: $110.00
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Add shimmer and shine to your ceramic creations in this beginner-friendly workshop focused on metallic luster painting. You’ll learn how to apply metallic luster to your own fully fired ceramic pieces.
Safety equipment is need.
Drawing & Mixed Media Workshops
Explore printmaking and mixed media techniques in a single afternoon session. Spring offerings include Monotype Printing and Gelli Plate Printing — both great entry points for anyone curious about printmaking with no prior experience needed.
Drawing: Introduction to Portrait Art (1-Day Workshop)
Dates: Thursday, 12/3/2026
Time: 10 am – 12:30 pm
Location: 197 East Broadway
Age: 18+ years
Cost: $65.00
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Learn the essential techniques used in portrait drawing. Participants will explore facial proportions, structure, and shading while working from observation and reference. Through step-by-step instruction, students will gain confidence in capturing likeness, expression, and form using pencil, charcoal, and other dry media.
No Class Dates:
Instructor: Julia Chen
Mixed Media: Monotype Printing (1-Day Workshop)
Dates: Friday, 11/20/2026
Time: 10 am – 12:30 pm
Location: 197 East Broadway
Age: 18+ years
Cost: $90.00
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Learn the foundational techniques and materials essential to Monotype Printmaking. Participants will experiment with layering, texture, and color to create one-of-a-kind prints using water-based inks, stencils, and natural materials.
No Class Dates:
Instructor: Julia Chen
Mixed Media: Gelli Plate Printing (1-Day Workshop)
Dates: Friday, 11/20/2026
Time: 1:30 pm – 4:00 pm
Location: 197 East Broadway
Age: 18+ years
Cost: $90.00
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Learn the foundational techniques and materials essential to Gelli Printmaking. Participants will experiment with layering, texture, and color to create one-of-a-kind prints using water-based inks, stencils, and natural materials.
No Class Dates:
Instructor: Julia Chen
Painting Workshops for Adults
Our adult painting workshops cover technique, color theory, and observation in a single guided session. Summer offerings include a Color Theory workshop ($70) and a two-day Wet-on-Wet Oil Painting workshop ($120) — both open to adults 18 and up, with no prior painting experience required. Materials guidance is provided for each session.
Painting: Color Theory (1-Day Workshop)
Dates: Wednesday, 12/2/2026
Time: 10 am – 12:30 pm
Location: 197 East Broadway
Age: 18+ years
Cost: $70.00
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Explore the fundamentals of color theory in a relaxed, one-day workshop guided by expert instruction to deepen your understanding of hue, value, tint, tone, and color perception.
No Class Dates:
Instructor: Julia Chen
Painting: Wet-on-Wet Oil (2-Day Workshop)
Dates: Wednesday – Thursday, 12/2/2026 – 12/3/2026
Time: 1 pm – 3:30 pm
Location 197 East Broadway
Age: 18+ years
Cost: $120.00
Learn More
No Class Dates:
Instructor: Julia Chen
Drop-In Art Classes & Weekend Sessions on the Lower East Side
Many of our art workshops on the Lower East Side are built for drop-in — you can join a one-day session without committing to an ongoing schedule or a full semester. Weekend timing makes them easy to fit around work and school, and because each workshop is self-contained, you can try a new medium every month.
Drop-in sessions are marked in each workshop listing. For workshops that require registration, we recommend reserving ahead even if the listing notes limited drop-in availability — hands-on studios fill up, and a spot holds your space and any required materials kit.
How Much Do Art Workshops Cost?
Workshop pricing at Manny Cantor Center ranges from $70 to $120 per session, depending on the medium and duration. Most workshops are single-day sessions; the Wet-on-Wet Oil Painting workshop is two days at $120. Prices include studio use and instruction — materials requirements vary by session and are noted in each listing.
As a program of Educational Alliance, a Lower East Side nonprofit, Manny Cantor Center keeps workshop pricing accessible. Financial assistance is available for eligible participants — contact the Art School at art@mannycantor.org or (646) 395-4264 to ask about aid before registering.
Art Workshop FAQs
Are there any one-day art workshops in NYC I can drop into?
Yes. The Educational Alliance Art School at Manny Cantor Center runs one-day art workshops on the Lower East Side at 197 East Broadway, Manhattan — including ceramics, painting, and mixed media. Select sessions are open for drop-in; each listing notes whether registration is required or drop-in is welcome.
Do I need to register in advance for an art workshop?
Some workshops are open for drop-in while others require registration — each listing notes which. Because hands-on sessions are limited in size, reserving ahead is recommended even when drop-in is listed as an option.
What art mediums do the workshops cover?
Workshops at Manny Cantor Center cover ceramics (wheel-throwing, hand-building, glazing), painting (color theory, oil), and drawing and mixed media (monotype printing, Gelli plate printing, portrait drawing). New sessions are added throughout the year.
How much do art workshops cost?
Workshop pricing runs from $70 to $120 per session depending on the medium and length. Most are single-day; the Wet-on-Wet Oil workshop is two days. Financial assistance is available for eligible participants — contact the Art School office for details.
Do I need experience to join a workshop?
No. All workshops are open to skill levels from complete beginner through experienced maker. Each listing notes any prerequisite, but the vast majority have none — just show up ready to make something.
