PRESS RELEASE: Become a Maker! Adults & Youth Classes & Workshops Open for Registration

Worcester, MA-The Worcester Center for Crafts at 25 Sagamore Road, Worcester has opened its registration for fall classes and workshops for adults and youth and is receiving registration online by phone at 508-753-8183, x 301 or in person at the Craft Center. Online registration can be found at www.worcester.edu/WCC-Classes/.

Work by Bryan Randa

Adult classes are offered in ceramics, glass, metals including jewelry and enamels, and photography. These classes begin September 10. New this year in our photography department is a Cyanotype Workshop on September 29 taught by Paul Dumanoski. New on Tuesday nights in ceramics is a six-week class called "Steeped in Tea and Tradition" taught by Ginny Gillen; in this class you'll learn to hand-build tea bowls, cups and tea-related items while your designs are informed by a sampling of teas from around the world. New in our metals department is 4-week Friday evening/Saturday morning class on Lost Wax Casting and a 6-week class in Sterling Silver Etching & Hollow Fabrication. For people interested in exploring Glass at our New Street Glass Studio, there are many options including Studio Sampler that will introduce students to glassblowing, flameworking and fusing!

Need a chance to take your potting skills to the next level? Enroll in November's Potter's Bootcamp taught by Ceramic Department Head Tom O'Malley. The ancient art of Stained Glass will be taught on Tuesday nights at the New Street Glass Studio.

Visiting Artist Bryan Randa will teach two Intermediate to Advanced Weekend Intensives in Glass: Nov. 17-18, Sculpting from the Flame and Dec 8-9, Hot Glass Sculpting.

The Youth Craft + Creativity program is dedicated to presenting students ages 6-17 with opportunities to have fun exploring the materials and skills of craft while also learning about the math, science and engineering that are part of making ceramics, metals, glass and more work. Classes begin the week of October 1.

Six to nine year olds can participate in Clay for Kids with Lori Mader or Old Paper, New Paper with Bayda Asbridge. Made with Metal taught by Pam Farren is offered for 10-13 year olds as is Clay by Hand with Ginny Gillen.

Teens can chose between a variety of six week classes including Flameworking, Intro to Ceramics,Intro to Glass, Stained Glass for Teens and Enameling for Teens. Each is two hours long, once a week and is taught by a practicing craftsperson/artist.
 
New this year are a variety of workshops being offered to students ages 12-17 and 14-17 at the New Street Glass Studio. These workshops are short introductions to working with glass and more product oriented. Workshops occur throughout the fall.

Scholarships are available to both adult and youth students who may not have the financial means to attend classes at the Worcester Center for Crafts. Applications for scholarships can be found at www.worcester.edu/WCC-Scholarship-Program-and-Evaluations/. The Craft Center is appreciative of the support of the Lilyan Bachrach Scholarship Fund, the Barrett Morgan Scholarship Fund, the Schwartz Foundation, and the Greater Worcester Community Foundation for their support of our educational and scholarship programs. For more information see www.worcestercraftcenter.org or call 508-753-8183, x 301.



 ______________________________________________
About the Worcester Center for Crafts:

The Worcester Center for Crafts (WCC) is one of the oldest non-profit institutions for craft study in the United States.  Founded in 1856 as the Worcester Employment Society to help immigrants produce and sell hand-crafted wares to support their families, the Center evolved over the past 155 years into New England's leading center for craft education, exhibition and entrepreneurship.  In 2004, the organization expanded and opened the New Street Glass Studio - an off-campus, 8,000 square foot, state-of-the-art, multi-studio glass facility.  The WCC offers the only comprehensive glass studio program in New England available to the public.  Through an affiliation begun in 2009, the WCC is home to the Worcester State University visual arts studios and partners in community outreach.

The Craft Center's mission is "to inspire and build a creative community through the promotion, appreciation and teaching of craft."  This mission includes the public education initiatives adult education classes and workshops, , exhibitions showcasing the work of established and emerging artists, artist residencies, lectures, family events, studio rentals, Gallery Store, its Youth Craft + Creativity program and major events.  The WCC is a member of the Worcester Cultural Coalition and receives funding from the Massachusetts Cultural Council.