This art center has been here for 53 years for a reason. Small classes, great teachers and…read morewelcoming to people of all ages and abilities.

From the owner: The Whitemarsh Art Center enriches the community by fostering inspiration, appreciation and…read moreengagement in the arts for people of all ages and abilities.

I visit museums without pre-conceived notions, reading reviews generally after the fact. PAFA --…read moreas it's known -- is a good one. Founded in 1805 the academy is the first school and museum of fine arts in the United States. The historic landmark building is closed for renovations with three stories of exhibits now housed in their Hamilton Building (which is NOT named for Alexander!) Several things impacted me: the galleries are wide open, light and airy. A pleasure to walk through. A number of items from the Atwater Kent collection -- formerly the Philadelphia History Museum -- are on display. The diverse collection ranges from baseball, department stores (Wanamakers, anyone?), civil rights ... the list goes on. There is student and alumni art for sale and casts of Greek and Roman antiquity located in an active student workspace. As with most museums, exhibits change. The gift store with its friendly proprietor, is as good as any I've been to. A beautifully curated collection, and after Thanksgiving, I believe everything is discounted 30% for the holidays.

Great local arts (and oldest fine art)…read more Enjoy their occasional events. V inclusive and alternative. Friendly and clean

I took night classes here and then transitioned into the full time adult program. I have learned so…read moremuch over the past couple years from the invaluable knowledge and expertise of the instructors. I have learned not only a great deal of technical skills but also lots of interesting art history that has shaped art as we know it today. Princeton Academy of Art is a fantastic place to take your art to the next level, regardless of your age! I can't recommend this place enough!

A real gem tucked away on a second floor on Nassau Street. The adult classes build skills - a LOT…read more- and also change the way you see and think about art. A nice space, a positive environment, and (I think) a mind-blowing art education.

This place is magical! I am on my second Mosaics class series with Carol, and she could not be more…read moredelightful! I love classes where we get the proper tools and then can create as we please, and her class is perfect for this. I also just took a one-time soft pastel class and love this as well - I've always been intimidated by drawing and this class made me much more confident after just one day. The other students are very fun to chat with as well - everyone is very kind and supportive of each others' creations. I am super impressed with the variety of classes offered here - there are mediums offered that I haven't even heard of. I also want to shoutout the staff for being so responsive and accommodating. I started a class that didn't turn out to be the right fit, and the staff quickly processed a course transfer. I really couldn't be happier here, and the classes have been therapeutic and so much fun. Highly encourage students of all levels to try a class!

We went to a holiday art market here and it was so great. Incredible selection of art and other…read moregifts. My friends and I didn't ration our funds enough because by the time we got to the back of the sanctuary we couldn't spend anymore even though we wanted to. Amazing space inside and there is a really nice outdoor garden with beautiful sycamores.

Small shop selling student work, but off putting experience. Walked around the shop and then into a…read moregallery that was adjacent to the store. A clerk came into the gallery space and told us we needed to sign in because "this is a college." We left immediately after the exchange. If you don't want the general public in your space do not allow access to it. There was no sign from one space to the next.

Alumna review: Moore, the only all women's art college in…read moreAmerica will forever hold a special place in my heart, and it certainly helped shape me into the woman I am today. By no means was it easy, quite the opposite in fact, and it's certainly not for everyone, but it's an incredible place! You really get from it what you give into it....and it requires A LOT!! The staff is wonderful. In fact, a text sent to me the other day by my former teacher 14 years after I graduated prompted me to write this review. Michael Olszewski was my textile minor with an emphasis on print design teacher and was one of my favorite people on earth! He went above and beyond and would come in on his day off just to teach me a method of dying we hadn't learned yet, but one I wanted to try for my childrens' wear collection. He was also there to listen to me talk about life in general when I needed him to. A true gem. Janice Lewis, Linda Wisner and Lori in the fashion department are top notch. At times they became a second mother to me when I needed, but make no mistake, they take no crap. 2 absences, you fail. Done. These ladies will get you where you need to go. Their talent, knowledge of the industry and connections are unreal. They helped me score an internship with Betsey Johnson in New York City. I won awards form Tyvek, Ralph Lauren Accessories, Frank Agostino and Urban Outfitters. They are just a few of the guest designers who judge our collections! While at MCAD I met fellow alum Adrienne Vitadinni and Mark Badgley and James Mischka, Todd Oldham, and Betsey Johnson! Each year I attend their annual fashion show at The Barnes and you would be astonished by the talent! It's open to anyone so, go ahead! I was also given the sweetest intern from MCAD a few years back for my small business. The relationships are everlasting, both personal and professional. I secured a job in my field (besides my internships with Betsey, Chloe' and Motherwork Maternity here in Philly) within a month of graduating. I was a merchandiser for H&M for 6 years before opening my own business while staying at home to raise my daughters. Everyone I graduated with works in their field. Here, in LA or in New York. Have no fear about job placement. If you make it through your first basic year where all students are required take the same classes including 8 hour basic drawing and design classes etc, you're golden and can move on to focus on your major, and even take a minor which I highly recommend especially if they can go hand in hand such as fashion and textile which is what I did, and worked out beautifully. Unfortunately the textile department is no longer there, but you get my point. At MCAD you not only focus on your major and your art based classes, but are required to take general studies with exams and papers too. These classes however are unique such as women in religion, film studies, history of fashion and art history etc. My art history classes with the incomparable Kevin Richards gave me knowledge for life!! It gave me the background to truly appreciate visiting Firenze and the Ufizzi gallery, de Medici family grounds, the duomo in Milano, and The Pieta at the Vatican etc. I don't think I would be able to fully take it all in without the knowledge I had gained in my classes. I even use my design techniques everyday for something as simple as decorating my own home. The buildings are immaculate and kept very safe with security guards and badges for all visitors. Their galleries often host not only student work, but visiting artists as well. You can't get a better, safer, location than Logan Circle. The Barnes, The PMA, even The Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul (where we often took a trips to draw perspective) for inspiration right there. You're right in the middle of it all. Excellent section of the city. I lived in Sartain for my first two year on a picturesque tree lined street across the way and I think that's the way to go. It gave me a taste responsibility without extreme freedom and set me up for living on my own my last two years. It was nice to have access to the studios and have work space on each floor also. I knew Moore was where I belonged. It's the only school I applied to and I personally think it's the best art school in the entire city. My best advice to any potential students would be to take a summer class with Young Artist Workshop and definitely take the business classes. Don't give it being all female a second thought. It was so nice not having a distraction and coming to school in pjs if we wanted. :) The boys at Penn & Drexel weren't that far away and it was really like one big sorority here. I made great girlfriends for life and having graduated from MCAD makes me so proud, and makes us all bonded for life. We all knew what went into that final day. No one else will ever understand. It's like no other.

After being inspired by art museums in Spain, I decided to step outside my comfort zone and learn…read moreoil painting. I was so incredibly lucky to find the Art Academy of Somerset County - the instruction is simply fabulous! Halley Murphy is a great instructor, and her teaching method allows her students to see their painting skills progress every week. The class atmosphere is calm and focused, and the quality of the artwork produced by her students is astounding. Both my wife and daughter have enrolled, and we all strongly endorse the Art Academy!

I am actually giving a review for The Art Academy in Chester, NJ which is a painting academy whose…read moreteachings are actually based on The Art Academy in Hillsborough Township but is located in Chester, NJ. Meghan (the owner) is an artist who has been trained by the artist that owns The Art Academy in Hillsborough Township. Meghan's academy is actually a little over a year old and I couldn't find her yet on yelp, so I am putting my review here and hope that's ok. I am an oil painter, and came to The Art Academy in Chester through a referral to Chester school. I have a strong set of skills in oil painting, and have begun to sell my work. I came to Meghan because I wanted to strengthen my foundational skills in the realistic painting style. Meghan is absolutely the strongest and best teacher I have ever had. She has classes for children, adolescents and adults, at all levels. She is so talented in teaching the fundamentals of painting and it has most definitely strengthened my skills, just as I had wanted. She is a master at working with children and adolescents meeting the individual student at their current level, providing a strong education and support in a manner where I've seen children and adolescents blossom into really excellent oil painters. She focuses on teaching values, and color, which are two very important keystones in being able to paint well. She is an absolute gem. As an adult painter, I find her lessons to be critically important and I have seen a great change for the better in my work. If you are looking for an art school that is both wonderfully supportive and highly educational, this is THE place.

I had a terrible experience here. Absolutely no apology or even acknowledgement from management…read moreabout an instructor being verbally abusive. I took classes here a decade ago and loved it, but it's not the same. They're really gone downhill.

Missed out on a birthday party here when my son was in preschool, due to vacation, but we made our…read moreway back for a summer camp class. We had a fun class with Ms. Jenna; she's very kind and conscientious. Most of my arts center experience is with Wallingford Arts Center (now Community Arts Center) having grown up close to it. I remember wearing smocks and play clothes to those classes as a kid because we got dirty and did cool artistic stuff! Wayne Art Center told us to send kids in clothes that can get dirty so I did, but none of the other kids were dressed in anything but their Target and Boden "finest," which was just so lame. I know it's Wayne and not the arts center staff. I don't blame them or Jenna; they're reading the room. Wayne = the movie Greener Grass. My bad. Aside from some tempera, he didn't do much with paints, used pastels once, and no charcoal or other mediums that could soil clothes. I guess here, it's a b!tchfest liability thing, but it's a missed opportunity to me because kids are capable of much more. I appreciate the staff for doing all they can. Like all things Wayne, it was professional, but like all things Wayne, it lacked the inspiration that my kind of art requires.

This is my favorite place to model. The artwork inspires me, and the people are wonderful to be…read morearound. Every day these students and instructors produce realist art that makes me -as a model- feel privileged to be a part of the process in any capacity. And on breaks I love walking around and watching blank canvases turn into stunning works with intricate detail and grace of form. When ever their art is on display in a local gallery, be sure to treat yourself to this amazing realist tradition.

good place to study basics-just don't expect Nelson Shanks to be there-he's rarely there!read more