So far just one class with my 5-year-old son, but I'm very impressed on multiple fronts. After the…read moreinitial drop-in class yesterday we purchased weekly classes with the full expectation this initial great experience will only be surpassed. Husband & wife team Matt and Chelsea (owners) and Matt's sister Stephanie are lovely. It's a really great space and Matt is preternaturally good with younger kids. I shadowed my son for a bit in the studio to observe both my son's behavior in a structured environment and the instructors' teaching style. My son is both young and inherently independent (and often distracted) so this was bound to be revealing. Matt and Chelsea's approach to teaching is closer to informed guidance and it seems to work very well with my son and the other kids I observed. They let the child initiate their creative intent and then equip them with the technical information they need in a manner that is both empowering and not overwhelming. As for my son's proclivity to essentially 'not listen,' Matt in particular was excellent at focusing my son's attention on the task at hand and contextualizing what needed to be done so that he could 'own it.' It's clear his forthcoming studio experiences will be about so much more than learning and enjoying ceramics. This isn't 'OK class today we're going to make a coil-built pot. First I want you to take your clay and...'. Not at all. In an hour and fifteen minutes, my son made two objects in distinctly different techniques: a bowl thrown on the wheel and a slab-built shark. In the course of building those two pieces he was exposed to: centering clay on the wheel; managing the clay to expand, compress, elongate and widen his bowl; keeping his eye on his work; keeping the clay moist; the effects of various pressures applied to the clay on the wheel; scoring and attaching separate pieces with slip; scribing; use of various tools; under-glazing; clean-up, and more. I imagine he'll have to revisit every one of those lessons in subsequent classes but it's a gentle teaching style that works well here. Matt and Chelsea always had an eye on each of the kids and were great about transitioning between them to give guidance in a way that seemed very natural. The space itself is wonderful and can only be described as luminous. Well, that and clean. This is not a stereotypical 'mad potter's studio,' nor is it an anal 'everything in its place mausoleum.' Instructors have a clear view of everything going on in the space at all times. There's a front seating for parents/nanny's to hang out (WiFi available) and get some work done if you want to wait. Parking in the neighborhood doesn't seem to be a problem. The most critical measure of Kids-n-Clay is the reaction from my son, who really didn't want to leave and spoke of it more or less non-stop the rest of the day. Looking forward to what's next here. If you attend a drop-in class, be aware it takes about 2-3 weeks before pieces cycle through the process and can come home with you. But that's just ceramics. Highly recommended.

My kid loves this place! The kids can use the pottery wheel or just mold clay on the table. There…read moreare assistants there to guide the newer sculptors, and the owner, Matt, encourages the kids to design what they feel.

I was a member in 2025 at the old location and have taken classes in 2026 at the new location. The…read morenew space and new leadership have created a place I wanted to be 24/7--people are warm and helpful, staff is easy to talk to, the space and equipment are easy to use, and the instructors all seem to be great. Mine (Jason Stern) is both an excellent human and skilled teacher. The studio regularly hosts community events (often free) for the larger public, as well as workshops for members and students. It's a kid-friendly space, and they actively look for ways to make pottery accessible through scholarahips. There are hand building tables, lots of wheels, a damp room, glazing room, separate work spaces for members and classes, lots of studio tools, and a comprehensive library. Clay (10+), studio glazes (20+), and general kilns are for cone 10 gas reduction, but there is access to electric kilns and a soda kiln. Glazes are included in studio access; clay and firing are an extra (pretty low) cost for members but partially included for students. Seriously, it has everything a beginner or serious potter could need.

I have taken classes there for 5 years, and the instructors are wonderful. Students can use the…read morestudio outside of class time. The value for your $$ is very high. This studio has an amazing offering of classes (6 week and 12 week) and workshops (2-3 days) , and the opportunity to learn all of pottery process, like making glazes and firing the kilns.

We had a Clay Date to celebrate our 18th wedding anniversary. Having never done anything like this…read morebefore (literally my only experience was watching Ghost), I had no idea what to expect. In short, it was awesome! Caty was an informative instructor who gave each of us the support and care that we needed to be successful. I'm so proud of what we created. We'll use all of the pieces for years and remember the special experience even longer.

Caty is a wonderful instructor. Loved the vibe and space. It's small and intimate and Caty gives…read moreyou space to learn and practice. I was able to come back after trying claybody to trim my piece. I felt like it was easy to understand and follow Caty's examples and instructions. Will be coming back for more classes.

I'm on my second round of classes at Mudworks. It is a great place to learn both wheel and slab…read moreconstruction from highly qualified instructors. They also have memberships and their classes come with free independent studio time each week. The entire staff is always willing to help. It's on a really nice little block with ample street parking. Mudworks sells tools and clay for those who need it. They also have a large array of tools to use while there. Fellow potters are very responsible about cleaning up after themselves so the work areas stay nicely clean. The studio recycles clay religiously so everyone is good about disposing of scraps or slip to facilitate this process. Only caveat is that classes beginning or ending near the pm rush hour will hit a lot of traffic on 80.

Love this studio! I've taken two 6 week classes and love the vibe. Good glazes, good clay options…read moreand tons of friendly people. Abby was super knowledgeable and challenged me to be better. I'm thankful for the community here. Everyone has been super friendly and encouraging.

Gina and all the teachers have created a welcoming, supportive space where members and students…read morefeel valued and connected. One thing I really appreciate is how much Gina listens to member feedback and actively looks for ways to make the studio even better, whether that's bringing in guest artists for workshops, hosting movie nights, organizing sales and letting members participate (for free!), or planning fun workshops like the gold luster, cute critters, or nerikomi workshop. There are always thoughtful touches that make Kollektiv feel special, from celebrating birthdays and milestones to creating opportunities for members to learn, share ideas, and get inspired. It's a beautiful studio filled with kind people, creativity, and a genuine sense of community. I'm so grateful to be a member.

Classes: Kind and supportive teachers! This is where I first learned throwing and, yes there were…read moremany struggles learning a new skill, but Gina helped me feel at home and comfortable to ask questions and make mistakes. Highly recommend taking a class here! Membership: As a member, I enjoy accessing the studio during more hours and access to a wide range of beautiful clay bodies and member only workshops. It's also one of my favorite third spaces! Here I've found new friendships and a space to grow creatively. Members here love to share tips, tricks, glaze combos, tools, glazes and more making for a collaborative space focused on relationships. Highly recommend this studio whether it's a class or membership!

This place is not a museum. It's a great ppce to take kid though for a few hours mainly toddler 6…read moreor less. It's a. art and creativity play space for children with a room with creativity toys. A snack area and they usually have an art teacher on shift. Parking is difficult though.

Really love the concept! (wouldn't call it a museum though, but that's not what we came for, so all…read moreis good) We came here on a Saturday for a kid's birthday party and my kiddo had a lot of fun with the art and tinkering. The provided materials were plenty and well-organized. And like I said, I like the concept.... the staff however... I mean, if you don't want to sit in a room with a bunch of rowdy kids on a sunny Saturday, I hear you. But hey, tough luck. It's what you signed up for. The long-haired guy was downright rude on several occasions. Totally uncalled for.

I just completed a screen-print class ... what fun. I don't know why I never did this before. My…read moredaughter wanted to have family t-shirts made but it was always too expensive to just get 3 printed. I was able to make them...yay. Printed shirts for my grandson that were soooo cute. I also printed images on my suitcase so it doesn't look like the hundreds of black suitcases in the airport. The instructor is GREAT. She is also ready to experiment. She screens on ceramics ... even screened a prosthesis! The other students were very helpful too. I'll be signing up again soon. The RAC is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year! It's a great place.. drop by for a visit or to take a class.

Came here for the spring exhibitions opening reception and had a great time. Was a bit surprised…read morethat masking was still required indoors but they provided masks at the front. The exhibits were nicely organized and flowed well. The Richmond Art Center seems well-maintained overall and they did an excellent job with the opening reception, including the yummy food and drinks in the courtyard. I just wish they had more seating during events. While making my way around, I saw artwork from local students as well and the classrooms in the back which was cool. If you're an East Bay local, I highly recommend stopping by the Richmond Art Center at some point or checking out their class offerings.

I did a pinch pottery workshop with Hue. It was 3 weeks, one session for two hours each week…read more The class was nice a small (handful of people or so), the format relaxed and Hue was so helpful, sweet and encouraging. I had such a great experience - this was my first time doing any type of pottery. The first class we just got the basics and played around and made a few small pieces. The second class we were able to add color to the clay itself, and then also in tandem, begin a "final project" aka bigger piece. During the third and final class, we learned about glazing and got to glaze our pieces! A week later, we were able to swing by the studio to grab our pieces at our convenience. I was able to make 5 pieces - some people probably made more like 8-10. I signed up for a full length class (two months) next session since I loved it so much! Can't wait to be back! And shoutout again to Hue who is awesome!! Would love to have her again as an instructor.

I love the Berkeley Art Studio! I took two classes here last year; one in Painting Fundamentals…read morewith Oil and another in Figure Painting with Oil (both with Scott Leddy). The first class is a great introduction to painting with oil, and the second was a continuation with live models. Having had been away from art for years, these classes were able to bring the connection back. They definitely made my one evening a week. Scott is a great instructor; he has a relaxed style of teaching that I definitely enjoyed. I also liked sharing a class with other art enthusiasts with different skills and styles. It was so fun to walk around the class and see how everyone would interpret the same model! The classroom was spacious, equipped with the tools we needed, and had amazing views of campus. Classes can be a little bit pricey if you're not a student at UC Berkeley (like me). Remember, you need to buy all of the materials. But, they're definitely worth it. If you're a student, you should definitely take advantage of them. I miss these classes!