I work for the Center as a contract instructor and have for over 20 years. I value that they…read morerespect my privacy by not giving out my personal contact information to every student because I could not possibly juggle all those messages and still plan lessons. Having the fabulous staff coordinating schedules and attendances in one location is so beneficial. And knowing that I get paid even if a student is out assures me my bills get paid! I try to work with my students closely to catch them up or if possible find a small amount of time to make up for time lost but that is not always possible with my busy schedule teaching in multiple locations. Many years ago, I also had my children in music lessons there and it was a wonderful experience where they were nurtured and valued. When we did have an emergency, the staff helped us to work out a solution for a make up or kindly credited us to ease our worries during the crisis. I never asked nor expected a refund if we canceled for basic illness or other reasons. We were always credited if the Center closed due to weather. This is standard practice in most lesson-based businesses per my experience, much like signing up for a community college class or having a child in preschool. It is a small price to pay for the quality instruction you are getting from professional musicians and artists in the Richmond area. The staff are always looking to be helpful and listen to any concerns, as one might expect from a church-run program.

We went to this center for a music lesson and the teacher is really good. However be careful about…read morethis place's policies before you sign any contract. The director is a extremely controlling person and she does not allow any communication between parents and teacher and everything has to go through a little phone/voicemail system she is in charge of. Worst of all, they make you make a commitment to a semester of lessons without any options of doing a make up lesson, even if you tell them two months ahead. We had to walk away from the teacher we like after two trial lessons. The director also owner of this place is impossible to work with. If your child has a busy schedule and you are looking for some flexibility, don't waste your time talking to them. They make the teachers sign no competition contract so the teachers cannot respond to you or communicate with you. Even North Korea is communicable now, but not this place!

Such a great venue. So nice inside and the shows are so energized and outstanding. There is a…read morelobby for drinks and snacks which is very nice and they even allow you to take those refreshments into the theater. Although, I will say, ELLE the house manager (very young girl) could use a teaching on possibly being more friendly. The other staff members from what we can tell are very nice and accommodating. Parking is fine and it is so convenient to the interstate. Wish there was a "senior discount" on the tickets though. Being a senior myself, that would be great. All in all, a wonderful neighborhood venue for theater.

I only know Sparc as an audience member and donor but I'm very happy they exist in our community!…read more From the popularity and success of their programs, it seems like the kids and families also find it to be worthwhile. I recently saw their musical production of A Christmas Carol and loved it! It was an inexpensive ticket to their theatre on Hamilton for some great entertainment. It's obvious to me that they work very hard to provide a quality production and these kids have talent! My only other production was a Jason Mraz fund-raising show last year that also included some of the students' accompaniment. Support Sparc!

Spirited Art is SUCH a great idea! No artistic skill necessary and you still end up with a (semi)…read moreprofessional looking painting! I took my mom here as a Christmas present and we both had a blast! From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere was lively and welcoming. We had about 12 other people in our class, and although we each painted the same picture and followed the same instructions from the teacher, all of our paintings looked slightly different but equally as impressive! The calendar on their website displays photos of the different paintings that correspond with the dates they are being offered. Just choose one you like, make sure the date works with your schedule, and purchase it directly online. There are a variety of options to choose from; everything from cartoonish images to Monet-inspired paintings. If you're a diehard fan of certain Virginia colleges, they also offer University of Richmond, VCU, and JMU themes. When you arrive, everything is already set up for the painting (colors of paints needed, brushes, and a blank canvas). There are aprons at each seat as well. The studio itself is a large open space with long tables towards the back where the painting actually occurs. The teacher we had was super friendly and the atmosphere was very relaxed- everyone was chatting the whole time. Painting AND wine?! Spirited Art has partnered with the Wine Loft, which is directly next-door, so there is at least one designated server per class. Not only is there a list of wines available (many at $5/glass), but there is also a painting-friendly menu of snacks that are easily eaten during the class. I think you are free to order anything from the Wine Loft's menu if you'd like, but they've created a more streamlined menu of suggestions conducive to the painting class. To help the servers keep track of orders, they use a cool system of numbered poker chips that attach to your easel with Velcro. I will definitely be back to test my skill on a different painting (and enjoy some more wine, of course)!

I had a wonderful evening at Spirited Art with some friends enjoying wine and trying my hand at…read morepainting. I think the wine gave my inner artist a false sense of confidence but I definitely had a lot of fun. The instructors will take you step by step to create your own unique version of the chosen picture for that day. They have templates you can trace to get started if you are not comfortable free-handing the design. Our instructor Kerri made sure to tell us that these paintings are ours and so you are free to make your art as personal as you want. We were painting a funky peacock and if you wanted a pink peacock instead of a blue one go for it! I appreciate this free flowing format to the class, it allows you to truly love your work. Everyone gets together for a group picture at the end of the class in front of their Color Wheel. Spirited Art in right next to Wine Loft so they had a waitress available to us for drinks and food. You can also BYOB for a $10 per bottle cork fee. I saw tons of other neat pictures on the walls so there may be more painting classes in my future. I also got a rewards card which will earn you points towards a free class. If you are looking for a fun activity with friends or just want to tap your inner artist check out Spirited Art in Short Pump.

Truly a blessing to the culture of Harrisonburg. I'm eternally grateful for everything Scott and…read moreVal have done with this space and Harrisonburg's collective imagination. Art supplies, art galleries and artist studios. It's beautiful...

I have to say the woman who was working Saturday July 8 at 4:30-5:00 PM was the best help I've ever…read morehad in a store! We came a long way to a week-long event and we stayed in Harrisonburg both on the way and on the way back (halfway). I had found the store through Yelp and was eager to visit. We missed the business hours the first trip and got there at 4:50 on the way back. The clerk was so kind to stay open nearly an hour longer so the five of us could shop and see the art and studios. (All of us are artists). She was more than gracious! I'm in a power wheelchair which got caught on the rug at the check out and she was completely unfazed and kind about me thrashing about, causing her to move many things. The prices were a bit steep on many things but that didn't stop me from buying a lot of goodies I've searched for a long time. I left very happy, and so did my companions! We will all gladly go again next year if not before!

I have only had positive experiences at the CTVAC. They have open call art shows through out the…read moreyear. You should check it out when you can. :)

The Charles Taylor Arts Center is the proverbial gem in our own backyard!!! They have an exciting…read moreand diverse schedule of visual art exhibitions focused primarily on the creations of artists living and working in Hampton Roads and the state of Virginia. It is great that they promote contemporary art makers and provide an opportunity for the untalented people like me an opportunity to interact with the artists. The emphasis is on group exhibitions which offer a broad range of artists, media, styles, content and perspectives on our world. Just go and support our community!!!!

Great Focused degree school for the fine arts.. the school is young (less than 3 years old) but…read morethey are accredited through the Atlanta Art Institute.. the gallery is constantly changing and is open to the public the student show will run from October to January you should stop by and see the wonderful work that the schools students are producing (including my own :-))

Having one on one interaction with your professor to understand the learning needs, is better than…read moreno attentiveness from a professor and learning little to nothing.

I just attended the "Intro to Art for 'Non-Artists' workshop." Amazing!! Rachel is an incredible…read moreteacher. Step by step instructions, examples, and practice helped to build my confidence to explore my creative side without the risk of failure. What fun! The art studio is full of inspiration. I'm looking forward to my next workshop. I highly recommend to anyone who thinks that they are a "non-artist!"

From the owner: Mountainside Arts C'ville is a small art school/studio that specializes in art instruction for…read morechildren, teens and adults. All classes are taught by a certified K-12 Art teacher with over 20+ years of experience. We also offer Teen and Adult One-Day Art workshops, birthday art parties, Paint your Own Pottery parties, Ladies' Art Nights, Pet Painting and more!

What an amazing place to visit! It's like an art museum where can buy pieces. It's three connected…read morebuildings filled with all types of art from local artists. I spent over an hour looking at the exhibits in all mediums. There was so much to see! The staff was super friendly and were offering free beer and wine today, bonus! I saw so many things that I really liked and have included some pictures. There's no charge for admission and it's a place I will definitely come back to visit.

Huge and wonderful gallery full of art of all kinds from local and regional artists. Whatever you…read moreare looking for you will find it at Crossroads: paintings, photography, sculpture, jewelry, tapestry, pottery, and more. We recently built a house in Richmond and decided to decorate with local art so we are regulars at Crossroads. The staff is friendly and helpful, and visitors are welcome to come a browse without anyone following them around urging them to purchase. Crossroads is a also a great place to take friends and family who are visiting Richmond.