Youth and Family Classes and Programs

Art exploration is not only fun—it plays an important role in your child’s development. From fine motor skills to creative problem solving to fostering social and emotional development, the benefits of art classes for your child go far beyond the artwork they’ll bring home at the end of class.


With offerings in ceramics, digital art, and music, we invite your budding artist to unleash their creative potential with The Studios at SAM. Our curriculum is flexible, featuring one, three, and four class sessions for students ages 5-17.

Youth + Family Workshop

Family Ceramics Workshop

This is a great opportunity for you and your little ones to spend some quality time together while having fun and being creative. Our teaching artists will guide you through basic hand-building techniques allowing your family members to create their own unique ceramic objects. These will be glazed and fired by our technicians, ready for collection in 3 to 4 weeks. Family ceramic workshops are suitable for children between the ages of 5 and 12 years of age, although we require that they attend with a participating adult.

$63 Museum Member

$70 Not-yet Member

Tuition includes a participation fee for one child and one caregiver. $20 for additional tickets.
Note: Suitable for children 5 – 12 years of age and up, accompanied by a caregiver.

Saturday, April 29
1 pm – 3 pm

Saturday, May 20
1 pm – 3 pm

Holiday cards from previous classes

Mixed Media Holiday Cards & More (ages 8+)

Chloe DuBois

1 session
Saturday, December 16
9:30am – 12:30pm

$30 Museum Members

$27 not-yet-members

In this fun, hands-on workshop, learn to create marbled paper for cards, gifts, and tags. Then, decorate the paper with printmaking techniques like stamping, transferring images, and collaging. Spend a morning in The Studios@SAM and take home a handful of unique gifts for the holidays.

Textile Mandala (ages 8+)

Bailey Gumienny

1 session
Saturday, December 16
1 – 4pm

$30 Museum Members

$27 not-yet-members

Kids and grown-ups are welcome to make memories together in this charming workshop. These colorful mandala-like textile ornaments are a fun craft for all ages and all holidays. Using a simple weaving technique with fiber and beads or other trimmings, create multiple mandalas for gifts and decorations.

Tweens and Teens Classes

SAM invites students in grades 6-12 to expand their creativity with an art class just for you! The Studios@SAM will provide all materials, and classes are led by professional teaching artists. Check out the offerings below and we’ll see you in the studio!

Holiday Offerings

Hands-On For The Holidays

Hands On for the Holidays

Bring your friends and family to get creative in our Studios this Holiday Season! All materials are included. Kids must be accompanied by an adult.

Thursday, December 26th – Saturday, December 28th: 11 am – 3 pm

All 3 studios will be open: Ceramics Studio Room 135, Multimedia Studio Room 134, and Painting & Drawing Studio Room 136

 

Free for Members

Free with Museum Admission

Ceramics

Join us in The Studios@SAM this season for a variety of holiday workshops. Adults and children are welcome to spend quality time making memories – and unique gifts for family and friends.

Sarasota Art Museum Logo

Paint a Handmade Planter

Lauren Hope Holton

1 session
Linda & Dick Dickinson Ceramics Studio
 
$35

Dec 9 

Monday
5:30–7:30 pm

Please join us for a joyful experience in the Linda & Dick Dickinson Ceramics Studio.

We welcome you to take part in this special edition holiday workshop series designed for families. Spend an evening in the ceramics studio painting a unique and handmade planter.

You will be able to take your planter home at the end of the workshop. Just in time to transplant your favorite holiday themed plant!

(Children 8+ ; all minors must be accompanied by an adult)

Intro To Handbuilding

Pottery Class for Teens (SDA)

Samantha Harthoorn

4 session(s)
Ringling College Museum Campus
 
$200

Apr 28, 2025 – May 19, 2025 

Mondays
5:30–7:30 pm

Feb 24, 2025 – Mar 24, 2025 

Mondays
5:30–7:30 pm

Mar 31, 2025 – Apr 21, 2025 

Mondays
5:30–7:30 pm

Join our teen pottery class for kids ages 11 & up! Learn to craft unique pieces from clay using exciting techniques like pinch pots, coil building, slab construction, and wheel throwing. Develop your creativity, make new friends, and take home your very own handmade ceramic creations! All materials provided.

Kids Handbuilding

Samantha Harthoorn

3 session
Ringling College Museum Campus
 
$150

Feb 16, 2025 – Mar 2, 2025 

Sundays
10 am – 12 pm

Mar 23, 2025 – Apr 6, 2025 

Sundays
10 am – 12 pm

Apr 20, 2025 – May 4, 2025 

Sundays
10 am – 12 pm

Come and play with clay! Learn the basics of stoneware clay with projects like pinch pots, tiles, and mini sculptures. Students will create works that they will get to decorate with glazes and once fired will take home. Students will use their own imagination as well as found imagery to create life lasting pieces.
Ages 5-13

Kids Wheel Throwing

Samantha Harthoorn

3 session
Ringling College Museum Campus
 
$150

Feb 16, 2025 – Mar 2, 2025 

Sundays
1–3 pm

Mar 23, 2025 – Apr 6, 2025 

Sundays
1–3 pm

Apr 20, 2025 – May 4, 2025 

Sundays
1–3 pm

Learn the basics of wheel throwing and glazing in this three part class. Students will use stoneware clay to throw a small vessel on the pottery wheel. Surface decoration and glazing will send them home with a finished piece at the end of the course. Students will be inspired by a history of pot making and learn the basics of color mixing and layering.
Ages 7-13

Paint a Handmade Planter

Lauren Hope Holton

1 session
 
$35

Monday, February 3, 2025


5:30-7:30pm

Please join us for a unique experience in the Ceramics Studio! We welcome you to take part in this special edition Valentines workshop designed for families to create together. Begin with an inspirational live demonstration on the pottery wheel to see how your planter was made! Together with your family or friend paint a large handmade planter made by our Ceramics Teaching Artist, Lauren Hope Holton.

You will be able to take your planter home at the end of the workshop.

(Children 6+ ; all minors must be accompanied by an adult)

Studio + Digital Arts

Digital Art

Brooks Tracey

4 sessions
Ringling College Museum Campus
 
$120

Apr 2, 2025 – Apr 23, 2025 

Wednesdays
5–7 pm

Feb 5, 2025 – Feb 26, 2025 

Wednesdays
5–7 pm

Are you a teen or tween interested in digital design but not sure where to start? Look no further! The Sarasota Art Museum (SAM) is excited to offer hands-on digital design studios. Whether you’re a beginner or have some experience, these sessions will help you explore the powerful features of Adobe Photoshop.

Held in SAM’s state-of-the-art MacLab, each class combines live, tutorial-based lessons with opportunities for independent exploration. Work at your own pace, bring in a personal project to develop, or simply learn from the instructor as you dive into mastering the tools and techniques of digital design. All supplies provided.

Music

Beatboxing Workshop

S+DA Instructor

4 sessions
Ringling College Museum Campus
 
$120

Apr 2, 2025 – Apr 23, 2025 

Wednesdays
5–7 pm

Feb 19, 2025 – Mar 12, 2025 

Wednesdays
5–7:30 pm

Feb. 19
Workshop 1 – Rhythm and Beatbox Basics
Participants will learn the basics of rhythm through various activities and games before learning the foundational elements and sounds of human beatboxing. As a class, the students will practice together learning their first beatbox phrases and then they will have a chance to perform in front of their peers at the end of the course.

 

Feb. 26
Workshop 2 – Mobile Beat Lab (using phones or tablets)
Participants will learn about rhythm and its association to music creation as well as play some rhythm games before learning the basics of how to compose music on their personal mobile devices using a free app called Bandlab. This lesson will focus on how to use loops and pre recorded audio in the app to construct personalized songs.


March 5

Workshop 3 – Rhyme Writing
Starting with rhythm this workshop teaches the participants a simple four step process on how to write rhymes, understanding the process through the lense of poetry and applying it to the concepts and rhythms of hip hop music.


March 12
Workshop 4 – Performance Lab
Participants would learn the basics of musical performance including how to address an audience, how to project their voice, and how to deliver their lyrics over music, they would then apply these concepts by performing in front of their peers.
Ages 10 & up

Open Studios

Sarasota Art Museum Logo

After your visit in the museum, stop by to check out the amazing Studios we have at SAM, and make your own art! All materials are included. Kids must be accompanied by their families or caregivers.


Monday,November 25 th: 1 -3 pm:
in the Ceramics Studio Room 135


Tuesday, November 26th :
1-3 pm in the Multimedia Studio Room 134


Wednesday, November 27th:
1-3 pm in the Painting & Drawing Studio Room 136


Free for Members
Free with Museum Admission

Pottery Class for Middle School

Samantha Harthoorn

4 weeks
Linda & Dick Dickinson Ceramics Studio
 
$90 

Oct 4 – Oct 25

Fridays
6 – 8 pm

Join our middle school pottery class and dive into the fun world of handbuilding! Learn to craft unique pieces from clay using exciting techniques like pinch pots, coil building, and slab construction. Develop your creativity, make new friends, and take home your very own handmade creations!

Drawing

drawing

Cinematic Chiaroscuro:
Spooky Inspired Poster Making

Bailey Ann-Marie Gumienny

4 weeks
Ringling College Museum Campus
 
$120 

Oct 12 – Nov 2

Saturdays
9 am – 12 pm

Develop your artistic skills in this hands-on observational drawing class for creative teens. Explore various media like graphite, charcoal, ink, and color media while learning to capture the world around you with accuracy and style. Through guided exercises, you’ll refine techniques in proportion, perspective, and light, creating a portfolio that showcases your growth. Perfect for those eager to take their drawing skills to the next level and see the world through an artist’s eyes. As we welcome Halloween and the season’s transformation, our art projects will reflect these whimsical and intriguing themes. 

Painting

painting

Witchy Watercolor Weave Workshop

Bailey Ann-Marie Gumienny

1 session
Ringling College Museum Campus
 
$40

Oct 29 

Tuesday
5–9 pm

In this enchanting workshop, students will explore the magic of watercolor painting and literally weave together a work of art. Embracing whimsical and mystical themes, participants will experiment with color blending and layering to bring a spellbinding masterpiece to life.

Youth + Family Programs

Weekly Drop-in Art-Making
No registration required 

Your Wednesday Playdate

Your Wednesday Playdates

Wednesdays | 10 am - 12 pm

Free for Members
Free with Museum Admission
Peggy A. Hall Classroom, 134
For early learners with an adult, Your Wednesday Playdates deliver an art project led by a professional teaching artist and interactive story times.
Saturday Studios

Saturday Family ArtLab

Saturdays | 1 pm - 3 pm

Free for Members
Free with Museum Admission
Peggy A. Hall Classroom, 134

Weekends are for art and family fun! Bring the kids or grandkids and enjoy making art together every Saturday in the ArtLab at SAM! Each week’s project is inspired by the works of art currently on display in the museum’s galleries. Kids of all ages, accompanied by their families or caregivers, are invited to drop in and join in the fun. All materials are included.

Free Second Sundays at SAM

Second Sundays 11 am - 4 pm

Free for ALL
Peggy A. Hall Classroom,
Linda & Dick Dickinson Ceramics Classroom, Sarah F. Huisking Classroom

From 11 am – 4 pm every Second Sunday, The Studios@SAM is open for exploring and hands-on art-ful activities! For families and people of all ages, Open Studios provides drop-in art projects, the chance to explore our art spaces, and the opportunity to meet our Museum Educators and Teaching Artists! If you love making art with us, consider becoming a member!

CAMP

Summer Camp

Registration for Summer Art Camp 2024 begins February 1! Space is limited, so register early.

Summer Art Camp @SAM is a hands-on, creative, and super fun way for kids to spend the summer!

We look forward to welcoming campers ages 7 to 13 years to the museum for an epic summer of exploration, growth, creation, and play. Children must have completed the first grade prior to the start of camp.

Campers will use design-thinking processes to explore contemporary art. Our camps introduce a variety of materials and concepts—evoking curiosity and honing critical thinking—while encouraging individual creativity and self-expression. What better place to learn about art than at the museum? We’ll spend time in the museum galleries, looking and learning about art and artmaking, then create our own masterpieces. Campers will exhibit their works at their own art show! Each week features different themes and projects, so campers will never be bored.

Our Teaching Artists are experienced artists, designers, and educators! Teaching Artists connect concepts behind artwork in the museum, with age-appropriate projects and techniques. Summer Art Camp @SAM  teaches kids how to observe, interpret, and tap into their own creativity!

This year’s camp will run weekly from June 3 to July 26, 2024. Camp hours are Monday–Friday: 9 am– 3 pm. Extended care will be available from 3-5 pm.

Summer camp at Sarasota Art Museum