The New Art Center in Newton is a fabulous community resource for art classes for adults, teens and…read morekids. There are also terrific art camps for children and teens throughout the summer and over school vacation weeks. New Art also has free art experiences for the community, including a gallery at 245 Walnut St, Newton and a robust scholarship program.

I am impressed that this more conservative contemporary art gallery was willing to exhibit all…read morekinds of "urban" art!! I went there Friday evening and saw what some of the highly skilled graffiti artists in Boston and New York have been up to lately. Cheers to the board at the New Art Center for approving such a cutting edge and controversial showcase!

Well organized & communicated. Great instruction & just a BLAST TO DO AND LEARN. CANT WAIT TO GO…read moreAGAIN. It will be my fifth time, and I have enjoyed them all. You get to be creative, actually create something beautiful & bring it home to share or gift. Wonderful way to express yourself and your inner artist. SO MUCH FUN!!

Wonderful people and wonderful teacher. Just signed up after wanting to do stained glass for a…read morewhile. Tracey makes it easy for beginners and the other students are very welcoming. highly recommend giving yourself a chance to try something new and signing up for a class here! You get set up with a kit, a tutorial on how to cut glass, and help along the way.

I took a nuno felting class at Nicole's Art Spot and I had so much fun! I have not ever worked…read morewith fibers but have always loved the look of felting on wearable fabrics. Nicole walked me through everything in a way that was easy for me to understand. Making the scarf itself was very hands on and a lot of fun. Nicole gave me a lot of really good ideas and walked me through the steps as we went. I would recommend Nicole's classes to anyone who is a little unsure in their artistic ability and needs skilled support.

From the owner: We offer art and crafts classes for children and adults, individual art instruction, drop-in hours…read moreand host birthday parties for children. Most of our art and craft classes and drop-in hour for children are offered after school and on the weekends.

I attended my first class with the Paint Bar yesterday and couldn't be more delighted. I'm…read moreimpressed how they were able to quickly bring the program online in light of the unexpected challenges of the virus. They even offered to deliver the supplies until shipping was available so people could participate. The teacher broke the steps down to simplify a complex painting, and carefully demonstrated each of the techniques. They even broke the class out into breakout rooms so friends could work together from home. Overall, it was a terrific experience.

The Paint Bar is a lot of fun, and no matter how little talent you have (I can't draw a circle…read morewithout Powerpoint), you can indeed create a masterpiece (ok, maybe it will only sell for $2 at your garage sale in 10 years, but your very small children will be impressed). I suggest arriving 30 minutes early, so that you don't get stuck in the line waiting for paints and can focus on importing things like buying a glass of wine. It also helps to be seated near the small stage in front so that you can easily see the example completed painting on the wall. They rotate through a selection of different ones, which are specified on the website when you buy your tickets, so don't pick a class that will paint a lame one like the happy dolphin! Also, you need to see the instructor, who will demonstrate painting an additional example on the stage. The instructor was quite funny, and fairly clear in explaining the individual steps one by one, although she went pretty quickly. The full 2 hours are necessary to complete the painting, and if you fall behind, you will miss some of the tricks or paint combinations. If you bring a date, be sure to praise how much better his or her piece is than yours, over and over again. Artists are sensitive, and who knows, you might get lucky later. If you have talent, maybe your painting will end up in Somerville's Museum of Bad Art, and not in a garage sale!

" a great place to paint as an " adult "; relieve stress "…read more Oh wow I found this place where you can paint in the mall ; yes even adults. In the back they have a table ; adults can paint . In the front it's just for kids. The prices are very reasonable. So you purchase your ceramic for whatever the price is . Then you pay a $5.00 fee for the paint . Then you paint away . How cool is that. . It's such a stress free experience. Go give it a shot . The staff is attentive and helpful . I definitely will be back again . Very grateful for the wonderful warm welcome . I didn't want to leave but I got to go home. lol

From the owner: Mio Painting provides youth who might otherwise not have access to STEM experiences with…read moresimple,fun,hands-on activities.

Jessica was FANTASTIC! We had so much fun and learned so much in our intro to knitting class. She…read morewas so patient, explained things so well and she made the entire experience easy and enjoyable. Would love to come back for another class and will definitely be recommending friends and family to this studio!

The original class was great - very competent and knowledgeable teacher, she was professional, kind…read moreand caring - great mix of ability and personality. I did a multi hour private class for which I paid a premium, I felt OK about it and good about my decision afterwards. I planned on returning to continue with the same teacher, however when I called to arrange, I was told that the teacher had been dismissed. The lady I spoke with explained that the dismissal was not for ability or quality of teaching, that the studio ensured the quality of teaching always met the studios high standards. When pushed however I was told that the dismissal came as a surprise to other staff members, but was also not a surprise as the studio owner requires 'yes' teachers to all requests, and that he is VERY commercially minded. This teacher was clearly NOT a yes person, just very competent and a thoroughly nice person! What also surprised me was the extent to which she supported the studio, despite what seems to have been one way from the owner! So a very disappointing conclusion, maybe I will be able to arrange private classes with her, but for anyone considering the studio for classes - buyer beware and don't believe the very believable owner who will say anything to get the business and revenue. It's a shame he behaves in this way, but I strongly believe it can only be the start of the end for the studio

What an asset to the community. I love this space and they offer art shows, musical performances,…read moreplays/musicals and more! We need more arts venues and it makes me happy when I see one thriving in the community. Please visit sometime!

It's a beautiful and welcoming space, for the right kind of people…read more The art displayed was interesting, but mainly speaks to their right kind of people. The theater was comfortable, for short legs for short duration. Went outside during a break, security in this direction, turned around, security in that direction. Don't know what that was about. Overall, can't say it was worth the travel time to visit. Maybe I just caught it at the wrong time.

For our sixth anniversary, the iron anniversary, my wife and I took the beginners A Taste of…read moreBlacksmithing. We both had a great time hammering, twisting and bending the iron into beautiful 'S'-hooks that we will have for a lifetime. The instructors were fun and patient with lots of insightful tips and tricks. If you've ever wondered what it's like to be a blacksmith this is definitely the place to go! Note: The attached pics are from the PHF website, not the hooks we made! ;)

I've now completed two courses here: A Taste of Blacksmithing and Wrought Iron Bracelets. Now, I no…read morelonger want use any tool, wear any ornament, or eat with utensils that I haven't forged with my own brawn, because if I haven't forged it, IT'S CRAP. This new way of being is the direct result of my awesome experiences at Prospect Hill Forge. Admittedly, my first S hook turned into a J hook because (to my chagrin) I hammer like a blind, palsied drunkard who has alien hand syndrome. But, I am determined to go from sad J hook to dragon armor, and I believe Carl and Mike can help me unlock this achievement. My bracelet came out much better. Progress! Here's what to expect: - Show up dressed appropriately. Jeans and boots! This isn't a beach holiday, fool. And be on time, because the whole class gets held up if one person is fashionably an asshole. - Gear up: leather aprons, glasses, and ear protection are all provided. - Heed Carl's preliminary safety bit: It covers what to do if you get burned, what to do if you drop stuff, etc. Luckily, I have not been burned yet, but it is destined to happen sooner or later. Many aloe plants are on hand in case of an emergency. - Watch Carl forge something. No need to take copious notes; he has them written on a blackboard. - Go to your forge, put your iron in the fire, and start hammering away. Be generally disappointed in yourself once you realize Carl only makes it look easy because he's been doing this since the 70s. Don't let your tears hit the hot iron because it will cool it down faster. - Expect either Carl or Mike to check on you numerous times to 1.) correct your stance, 2.) correct your grip, 3.) offer helpful pointers, 4.) salvage the piece of slag you just totally mangled in your ignorance. - Miraculously, end up with a finished piece of work! Be the envy of all of your friends. Impress your grandmother. Some cautionary words: - If you have OCD, this place would most likely give you a brain aneurysm. The forge is kind of chaotic, much like my dad's garage. And if you are afraid of dirt or fire, this is probably the wrong skill for you to learn. - Don't ever show up wearing white. Before or after Labor Day. - Drink plenty of water. They have a water cooler there should you need some. - While I'm on the subject of hydration, the bathroom is guaranteed to terrify you. But don't let that deter you from keeping yourself properly hydrated. And don't hold it either. You'll get a bladder infection. Other helpful info: - I was able to successfully navigate my way to this place from the Waltham commuter rail stop. It was roughly a 10-15 minute walk. - If you drive, there seems to be adequate parking. - I personally found that my experience was better during the day rather than in the evening. You really need to be awake and alert, or else you will make stupid mistakes, and probably kill someone.

I love this place! It is a perfect way to spend a lazy afternoon making a custom craft gift (or…read morepersonal use decorative). I am not the most crafty person (far from it), but they were able to help this guy make a beautiful Christmas present (wine carrier in my case) with pre-set or custom designs. They made it fun (full of coffee / tea + cookies), while there is this borderline addictive painting and gluing. Oh and the staff is super helpful and happy to work with you through all your color decisions / gluing troubles. Great for: 1. Friend bonding 2. 7th date 3. lazy day 4. Reunions Bad for: 1. 1st dates 2. Break ups

From the owner: The Makery is a creative space for makers of all kinds. We are a hub for ideas, design, and…read moreinnovation as well as an enriching center for learning, art, culture, and social interaction. We maintain a collaborative, community workspace with the essential tools and expertise for people to develop their skills and bring their ideas to life.

Puddle stompers did phenomenal job with fun and science. They know how to make it accessible to…read morelittle kids and have helped grow my son into a little naturalist.

We showed up to a winter camp session that had been advertised as an outdoor experience, only to…read morefind that the entire morning was indoors. My son cannot tolerate wearing a mask due to hypersensitivities related to being Autistic, and they would not make an exception to their masking rule. We were not allowed in the door, and had to forfeit three days of camp tuition. This is all after I spent hours finding a 1:1 aide we needed to pay out of pocket in order for them to allow him to attend. While I realize I should have double checked about how strict the policy is, there is nowhere else in our life that doesn't make an exception for him and for an outdoor program it didn't even occur to me. I frankly feel angry and sad about the experience, as a welcoming nature camp is exactly the right place for my son. While I understand and support masking as needed, we are three years into the pandemic, and he is triple vaccinated. I hope they improve in their flexibility and if they do I will edit this review happily.