Art Classes for Kids & Teens in NYC — Lower East Side Art School
The Educational Alliance Art School at Manny Cantor Center offers art classes for youth and teens on the Lower East Side — a professional creative program in the heart of NYC, open to all skill levels, from first-time painters to teens building a portfolio for college applications.
Youth classes (ages 8–13) cover pottery, drawing, painting, and comics and cartoons. Teen classes (ages 14–17) go deeper into ceramics, screen printing, and portfolio development. Sessions run after school and on weekends during the school year, with week-long summer intensives in July and August. Scholarships are available — no child is turned away for financial need.
Questions? Email art@mannycantor.org or call (646) 395-4264.
Current Offerings:
- Youth: Pottery
- Youth: Comics and Cartoons
- Youth: Drawing
- Youth: Painting
- Teen: Ceramics
- Teen: Drawing
- Teen: Screen Printing
Classes feature:
- Materials, like clay, tools, and glaze, are included in tuition for ceramics courses.
- Open Studio is not available for youth and teen ceramic courses.
- During the school year, no youth and teen courses when NYCDOE public schools are closed.
Fall 2026 Classes
YOUTH
Youth: Pottery
Dates: Tuesdays, 9/15/26 to 11/24/26
Time: 4 pm – 6 pm
Location: 197 East Broadway
Age: 8 to 13 years
Cost: $445.00
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Students will explore the foundational art of clay through handbuilding techniques and glazing, to not only create their own clay masterpieces but also delve into the art of pottery.
No Class Dates: 11/3/26
Instructor: Doreen Baskin
Youth: Drawing
Dates: Wednesdays, 9/16/26 to 12/2/26
Time: 4 pm – 6 pm
Location: 197 East Broadway
Age: 8 to 13 years
Cost: $445.00
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Young artists will develop foundational drawing skills from direct observation with an emphasis on space, volume, linear and free-hand perspective, and other basic techniques and concepts.
Instructor: TBD
Youth: Pottery
Dates: Thursdays, 9/17/26 to 11/19/26
Time: 4 pm – 6 pm
Location: 197 East Broadway
Age: 8 to 13 years
Cost: $445.00
Learn More
Students will explore the foundational art of clay through handbuilding techniques and glazing, to not only create their own clay masterpieces but also delve into the art of pottery.
No Class Dates:
Instructor: Doreen Baskin
Youth: Comics and Cartoons
Dates: Thursdays, 10/1/26 to 10/22/26
Time: 4 pm – 6 pm
Location: 197 East Broadway
Age: 8 to 13 years
Cost: $215.00
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Students will learn the fundamentals of comics and cartoons, from narrative building and drawing to combining imagery and text for creating graphic novels.
No Class Dates:
Instructor: Gregory Renaud
Youth: Painting
Dates: Fridays, 10/23/26 to 11/20/26
Time: 4 pm – 6 pm
Location: 197 East Broadway
Age: 8 to 13 years
Cost: $270.00
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In this painting class, young artists will learn acrylic fundamentals such as color mixing, textures, blending, and more, while receiving personalized instruction to grow their skills.
Instructor: TBD
TEEN
Teen: Ceramics
Dates: Wednesdays, 9/16/26 to 12/2/26
Time: 4 pm – 6 pm
Location: 197 East Broadway
Age: 14 to 17 years
Cost: $445.00
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Teens ages 14–17 will learn handbuilding and wheelthrowing ceramics techniques such as pinch, coil, slab, wedging, centering, trimming, and glazing to create bowls, cups, vases, and other vessels with individualized construction.
No Class Dates: 11/11/26, 11/25/26
Instructor: TBD
Teen: Screen Printing
Dates: Tuesdays, 9/29/26 to 11/24/26
Time: 4 pm – 6 pm
Location: 197 East Broadway
Age: 13 to 17 years
Cost: $396.00
Learn More
Teen: Drawing
Dates: Thursdays, 10/29/26 to 11/19/26
Time: 4 pm – 6 pm
Location: 197 East Broadway
Age: 14 to 17 years
Cost: $215.00
Learn More
Youth Art Classes (Ages 8–13)
Young artists ages 8–13 explore a range of hands-on disciplines in a small-group, studio setting:
- Pottery — hand-building and wheel-throwing with glazing and kiln firing. Materials included in tuition.
- Comics and Cartoons — character design, sequential storytelling, and illustration techniques for budding graphic novelists.
- Drawing — observational and imaginative drawing, from still life to figure drawing appropriate for the age group.
- Painting — acrylic and watercolor techniques, color theory, and composition.
Classes follow the NYC public school calendar — no sessions on school holidays. All materials are provided unless noted. View the full class schedule and register online.
Teen Art Classes (Ages 14–17)
Teen artists ages 14–17 work at a more advanced level, with guidance from professional artists on the MCC faculty. Teens may also use classes toward a portfolio for college art programs and specialized high schools.
- Ceramics — wheel-throwing, hand-building, surface decoration, and kiln work. Materials included in tuition. (Note: Open Studio is not available for youth/teen ceramic courses.)
- Drawing — advanced observational drawing, life drawing, and perspective for teens building technical skills.
- Screen Printing — design, stencil-making, and the full screen-printing process — a popular NYC craft skill with professional applications.
- Portfolio Development — one-on-one guidance for teens assembling a portfolio for specialized high school admissions, college applications, or personal artistic growth.
Ready to register? Browse the current teen class schedule.
After-School & Weekend Art Programs in NYC
During the school year, MCC Art School runs after-school sessions on weekday afternoons and weekend morning classes — giving kids and teens a consistent creative outlet that fits around the school calendar. Classes do not meet on days when NYC public schools are closed.
For families in the Lower East Side, East Village, Chinatown, and Lower Manhattan, MCC is an easy walk or subway ride from most neighborhoods. The art school is located inside the Manny Cantor Center at 197 East Broadway — between the F, J, M, Z (Delancey/Essex St) and B, D (Grand St) stops.
Summer intensives are available in July and August for families who want a full-week immersive art experience (see Summer Programs below).
Frequently Asked Questions — Youth & Teen Art Classes at MCC
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What age groups do the youth and teen art classes serve?
- Youth classes are designed for ages 8–13; teen classes are for ages 14–17. Both programs run during the school year (after school and weekends) and as week-long summer intensives.
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What art classes are available for teenagers on the Lower East Side?
- MCC’s Art School offers teen classes in ceramics, drawing, screen printing, and portfolio development — all taught by professional artists on faculty at the Educational Alliance Art School at Manny Cantor Center, 197 East Broadway.
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Do you offer after-school art classes for kids in NYC?
- Yes. MCC runs after-school art sessions on weekday afternoons and weekend morning classes during the school year. Classes follow the NYC public school calendar and do not meet on school holidays.
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Are scholarships available for youth art classes?
- Yes. Financial assistance is available for families who need it. Contact the Art School office at art@mannycantor.org or (646) 395-4264 to inquire about scholarship options.
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Where is the MCC Art School located?
- The Educational Alliance Art School at Manny Cantor Center is at 197 East Broadway, on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. The closest subway stops are Delancey/Essex St (F, J, M, Z lines) and Grand St (B, D lines).
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How do I register my child for art classes at MCC?
- Register online through the MCC registration portal, or email art@mannycantor.org or call (646) 395-4264. Summer 2026 registration is currently open for both teen and youth intensives.
