I took a class here as a teenager and it was top notch! I have talked to many students who have…read moretalked classes here recently, and you know what, they can't speak highly enough about it! Yes, the rumors are true! It's just as good now as it was 45 years ago! Hats off to all the great teachers for encouraging all the students from around the world (yes, I knew a young woman from Italy who attended classes back in 2005!). A big standing ovation to all the teachers keeping this great institution world class all these decades later! You are the greatest!

Continuing Ed "intro" courses are not worth it. Don't bother unless you've already mastered the…read morebasics elsewhere because you will not be taught any techniques here.

I am a current parent of a 3rd grader and a 5th grader. My kids both started here in kindergarten…read more A couple of years ago we switched my oldest to another school, Skinner West, but we brought her back to Franklin this year. We realized during that two years that there is so much that is truly unique and special about this school, and that the environment here cannot be beat. We just love this school. It had a principal change in 2015, and while that can be scary to parents it has been a wonderful experience. The teachers are caring and collaborative, the education is deep and differentiated, and the administration keeps everything moving safely and strongly. The principal and assistant principal are truly advocates for the teachers and staff, as well as the children and families. This makes the learning environment feel like a natural partnership, with everyone doing their parts in a well-oiled machine. The Friends of Franklin, a fundraising not-for-profit group, raises enough money to pay for kindergarten and early primary grade aides, as well as much needed infrastructure to keep the school competitive in these rapidly changing times. This year's addition of Promethium boards shows how much this small school's parent groups work together to ensure their children's' education is prioritized above all. This school has strong teachers, administrators and families. We truly "won" the CPS lottery when our kids were offered spots here.

Franklin is a high quality school with amazing leadership and dedicated teachers. Yes, the school…read morehas had some bad press- but the good outweighs the bad. It's a diamond in the rough and a feeder school for great high schools.

My daughter loved she made new friends and she learned about her culture even more then she knew…read more My daughter was worried about ice but the teachers and security made her feel safe she loves marwen and we will come back .

For years I've passed Marwen by train or bus on my way to/from the Loop. For years I wondered what…read moreMarwen was, but was never curious enough (read too lazy) to find out. At some point I decided that Marwen must be the corporate headquarters of some outdoorsy clothing brand because the name reminded me of Erehwon, the mountain outfitter. Well, mountain outfitter it's not; this is what Marwen is all about (from their website): "Marwen was founded to provide Chicago's youth with stimulating and diverse opportunities to channel their adolescent energy into personally rewarding and developmentally appropriate outlets. Chicago is a city rich in history, architecture, art, and culture, and it is Marwen's intent to leverage these resources, providing our students with an out-of-school program that provides access to opportunity, while remaining highly relevant to their individual and collective experiences." The fabulous Kelly S told me about "Show Me Marwen" which gave me a chance to check the place out, for free to boot! The event was really cool, but a little crowded. I liked that they asked attendees to not only wear name tags, but add color-coded stickers to show how they were affiliated with Marwen (student, alumni, parent, friend, etc.), it really gave it a community feel. The alumni and student artwork on display was amazing and ranged from photographs to paintings to pottery to claymation videos. I was in awe of all of the creativity in the room. The only downside was that when I left Marwen I felt about as creative as a cucumber.

This is a nice new building, but it's a disservice to the kids. It's overcrowded and has limited…read moreextra curricular activities, no outdoor play equipment.

No strings attached, no questions asked. Come in, pay 15 bucks and you get 3 hours with a…read moreprofessional model, good light and very nice atmosphere. You can bring any type of tools you want, have any skill level and do whatever you want; as far as unstructured figure drawing sessions it doesn't get better than this. The place provides benches but no tools so make sure you bring your own. Also be ready to be impressed by the very good artists that practice here. If you want you can also take a lesson but those cost more and are on tuesday and thursday I believe.

This is the best drawing class I've ever attended. The instructor is extremely thorough and…read morehelpful. If you want to improve your artistic abilities you need to take classes here.

The Academy is not like other art schools. If you're looking for a school where you can slack off,…read moreparty on the weekends, and have a good time learning "art", this is not the school for you. The Academy takes art seriously as a career, and expects you to as well. As a result, they have a really harsh attendance policy, the teachers are strict on turning in your projects on time, and there is a LOT expected of you. Additionally, this is not the school for those looking to go into modern art or "learn how to express themselves" as the Academy assumes you already know how to express yourself and is there to teach you how to draw. That being said, if you actually want to be successful as an illustrator/graphic designer/fine artist (sadly their 3d and web design departments seemed pretty lacking), you WILL improve by going to this school because they will force you to. I was an illustration major, and it was really amazing to see how some of my friends went from not being able to draw anything to having their own unique style. The school is small, but it's really nice because you get way more one on one time with your professors than you would if you went to a university. And for something like art, it's really nice to have your professor come up behind you and tell you you're drawing the head too big before you've already committed to having a ridiculous sized head on your piece. And as one of the other reviewers pointed out, you won't get into your major until your second year. This is because they want to ensure your fundamentals of art--which apply to every field of art--are strong. Just like how a normal college forces you to take GenEds before going into your major. TL;DR The Academy is a tough school. Most people can't hack it expecting something similar to the Art Institute's hands off approach. This is not that. You will work hard, learn, and become a better artist because of it.

School made false promises to help find work. Never helped. Pushed Sallie Mae on students for…read moreloans. Only leave you in a great deal of debt. Worked hard in hand with banks taking advantage of young people with big dreams.

Lillstreet Art Center is a magical place, it has a little bit of everything!…read more I've taken everything from pottery classes to jewelry workshops to textile classes here. They really have a wide selection and great time options in the evenings for those who work 9-5. 12 years later I still use the garlic grater I made in a sculpting class. Prices are expected, but reasonable for what you get. Teachers are awesome and work with you to help you learn, even if working with clay isn't your thing (I learned quickly it wasn't my thing). But it's still fun to try something new! In the heart of Ravenswood easily accessible by the el, and they do have parking if you drive. Definitely check out this gem if you haven't yet.

As described in the Lillstreet Art Center website, it was "founded in 1975, Lillstreet is a…read morecreative workspace for artists of all levels, from first-timers, to professionals. No matter how you define yourself, you belong here!" When Daughter told me that she had just registered for a "Beginning Wheelthrowing" class at Lillstreet, I did not know the art center. However, I had always been curious about wheelthrowing and wanted to finally learn about it, so I registered too! We both registered for a 10-week class that met once a week in the weekend. It had been a fun 10 weeks! Well, we had missed 2 classes for our unexpected trip to Europe, but we were fortunate that we could make up work by going to "open studios" that are available only to current students. Our teacher Jen FitzGerald has 25 years of experience in ceramics. Both Jen and the class assistant, Kim, are very kind, welcoming, and encouraging. Jen always has solutions to whatever problems that we might have. After she made a demonstration throwing on the wheel, she would go around the classroom to see how everybody was doing with her own work. It was especially helpful during the first couple of classes that Jen came by me and helped me one-on-one to overcome the hurdles that I had. After I "mastered" the techniques, wheelthrowing is relaxing and fun. Glazing pottery has been a lot of fun too! Looking for our fired glazed work on the common shelves is like Christmas! There have been nice surprises of how the glazed work turned out! Now both Daughter and I have made a bunch of cups, mugs, and bowls that we are proud of. Like a lot of the students at Lillstreet, our passion for ceramics have been ignited, this class won't be the last! Lillstreet Art Center not only offers a lot of different art classes for all levels, it also hosts private events like birthday parties, and one-time workshops that you can test the water and have some fun. There is a gallery/gift shop that features a lot of one-of-a-kind creations from teachers and students, most are really sophisticated and professional, and inspirational too! There is a small café that you can enjoy local baked goods. We had tried the almond croissants which were very good. Our teacher Jen is having a Lounge Show "Mudweaver Ceramics" in the cafe, from November 1 to 30, 2024. The show showcases some very amazing ceramic art that looks like woven baskets! Come see the show if you can! Closing reception is on Friday, November 29 at 6:00 PM.

I have been going to the Mosaic School since January 2025 and have taken 3 classes. The teachers…read moreare great, the atmosphere is welcoming, and I tell all of my friends and family about this place! Nowhere else in the U.S. is there an art school that has such a focus on mosaics. I've learned so much -- they provide the materials and the expertise. I've met some really wonderful people and friends and am already signed up for their stained glass class in September!

Just spent the most amazing weekend at the Chicago Mosaic School. I traveled over 500 miles to get…read morethere and it was well worth my time and effort. I felt the atmosphere to be warm and accepting, accommodating those with little experience and those who spend their lives being creative. It was a perfect balance of informational, historical and hands on Glass work. All my questions were thoroughly answered and I left feeling inspired and eager to utilize what I learned. I would recommend this school to any and all. An added bonus is the eclectic neighborhood, warm and charming teacher, Lydia, inclusive atmosphere and creative vibe that persisted throughout the class.