My teenage son has attended Art School 99 for nearly two years, first in one-on-one instruction and…read morenow in group classes with Alexandra Rozenman. The growth in his artistic skill, confidence, and portfolio has been tremendous. Ms. Rozenman is an exceptional teacher--deeply knowledgeable, hands-on, and thoughtful in how she balances instruction with creative exploration. The atmosphere she creates is both calm and inspiring. This has easily been the best instructional experience our son has had in any activity. We are incredibly grateful to have found Art School 99 and would wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone exploring or seriously pursuing art. A. Dorfman

I took Alexandra's Art Lab class for three session. I learned a lot and at the end of it, I had a…read moregreat painting that far exceeded my expectations! Alexandra taught us about color theory, color mixing, and a bit about composition. I'd definitely take a class at Art School 99 again!

Eli Portman is a terrific teacher! And both the Eliot street and amory street locations are very…read morecomfortable, with easy parking.,,

It makes me sad to write this review, especially since I felt the possibilities of a community…read moreatmosphere at the Eliot school, but I was really disturbed by the use of the words, to me in the last email by the Assistant Director, Jean - "At this point, I think we just need to part ways." (when someone who's providing a service to you says that - HUGE RED FLAG!) So, I signed up for private lessons with Joe for $65/hour. This was expensive for me, but I really needed to get a project done for a deadline. I was clear about what I wanted a small model of a house, with all mitered joints, because I was going to use it to cast a model. I even brought paper patterns. Joe met with me and said it was do-able. We did the first session of three hours, one of which he gave me an hour free, it seemed to go well. (I got the hour free - because the the machines here aren't so good - so its not your fault, his words) We didn't finish so I suggest we meet again. An hour into the next session, Joe proclaimed that the project was not do-able and too complicated, because there isn't a left-handed table saw. He even took my piece and attempting to go forward, took it the sander and wanted to sand it down to 45 degrees (yikes). Anyhow, so I decided to cut my losses and say, okay let's stop. He decided not to charge me for this hour. So I left with a pile of wood, and also broken-hearted, because I had really wanted to complete this piece. So, I wrote Jean, asking if I could get my money back, because I was clear about what I wanted in my project and felt like I should have been told that my project was not do-able from the beginning or at minimum, warned. Not have my project unfinished, after I had spent $130, 4 hours of time, and $30 on materials. And on top of it, I now need to find and pay someone to build this model. It wasn't anything personal against Joe, he was a nice guy, but more about professionalism. For example, if you had a contractor who said they could do something, they wouldn't walk away midway through the project and say it was too hard, leaving you hanging. Same concept. But instead, I got an email that from Jean that said, we are NOT refunding you, but (as if I had won a prize) we aren't charging you for the extra two hours Joe gave you, and "at this point, I think we just need to part ways."

Amy is a gem. We were running late, but she was very flexible and upbeat. She even stayed late with…read moreus, I was so impressed. We did a Saturday night Sip and Sew, with 3 of us as completely beginners and 1 experienced sewer. She catered her lessons to each of us. We had the option to make a tote bag or pillow. I went for the tote, with a long handle to wear as a cross-body bag. We certainly got a bit buzzed with the sipping part, but she was so patient with us. I hope to go back and learn more about sewing, what a fun new skill to learn! One location note, we thought it was at the Hipstitch place on Spencer Street, but found out the class was at the retail store at 1280 Washington St. Which is very close, like less than a minute from Spencer St. Our fault for not reading the email thoroughly, made us really late. Just a heads up to future Sip and Sewers!

This review is for hipstitchers Wellesley -- not Newton…read more Business refuses to answer a phone call or numerous emails asking to cancel a class 22 days away for a credit due to a child being in school . Only response was 10 minutes after booking a course asking to apply the new customer 10% credit only to be told "no we can't do that. We will apply it to you next class". Refusal to respond at all to any other communication. Same company that will tell you you can't get a credit if you don't cancel with enough leeway. Hypocritical and terrible customer service. Will never book a class again.

I have taken two classes at Metalwerx and I can't say enough good things. Fantastic teachers, a…read moregreat studio that is run thoughtfully! Safety and care of tools is always communicated. Easy to park, easy to grab lunch up the street at the sandwich shop. Take a class and you will love it!! Great for beginners or more advanced jewelers (I wrote a book about jewelry making and I learn something every time I'm here )

I always wanted to take a jewelry making class and finally enrolled in an evening class here. I…read morewas hopeless at jewelry making, but I really tried. This class helped me realize that I am a 2-D person -- sawing and soldering are not my think. That being said, I really tried hard and was very motivated to make something. I melted a few bezels. The teacher barely gave me the time of day, but the teaching assistant took pity on me and gave me some extra help. They never asked for feedback on the experience. I haven't been back since, but for the right person it might be an amazing experience.

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.

This is an awesome community resource with very unique classes. I'm looking forward to taking more…read moreclasses there!

I find the Academy convenient because there are many classes under one roof and saves me time from…read moredriving around. My child also went for the summer camp and had a great time. The instructors were super friendly. They give her great tips with her artwork and allowed her to add her own personality to her art work. My friend's kid did the children's theater and we loved going to watch their production of Wizard of Oz. My kid and I took Bollywood dance exercise classes which was fun. This is hands down one of the best places around! Plenty of parking and very convenient location.

Our daughter enrolled in the Music Department majoring in violin since 2022-23 academic year…read more Violin to us is merely one of the ways for our children to socialize meaningfully, and, as a result, we regularly yielded to her reluctance to practice and never planned her future in music at all. Even so, she auditioned and got accepted to advanced ensembles (with two local youth orchestras), playing with full symphony orchestras ever since she was at age eight. When she started WHS, she was a very good player, but no way exceptional like kids from musical families and she noticed the differences herself. However, three years later, our daughter is assessed to be on a soloist and chamber musician track with composition to boot. During the time she has been at WHS, she was given so many opportunities to the music world outside school, such as NEC Prep YPO, Honors Chamber, CHIPS, and collaboration to lead orchestra part in professionally produced operas live with music establishments like Boston Lyric Opera and also has her composition works performed not only at school, summer camp (senior division), but also aired on NYC Public Radio, WQXR, showcased as a young artist. For a high school student, that certainly is unbelievable! Seeing our daughter flourishing into a confident, accomplished young lady, we know without the care and dedication from WHS's beloved faculty members, it probably would have happened at all! Thank you from the bottom, Walnut Hill! We highly recommend Walnut Hill School for the Arts to aspiring students interested in the Arts with no reservation.

Disappointing. It's 50K+ per year + fees. They make you go thru hoops to provide a ton of…read moreinformation, academically and financially. They don't listen to your requests/communication. A bit of hubris/attitude when you talk to folks there. Then they come back with a 5K financial aid. What a joke. This school is only meant for folks who are very well off or dirt poor (my guess). If you are blue collar/middle class, forget about it. Just move to a town with a very good school system. This is an elite snob factory.

Awesome place for a fun crafternoon!…read more I came with a few friends on a rainy day to do a project, and had never done anything with mosaics before. We bought about 3 hours of time which is really the minimum amount of time it will take for a project. They had all of the supplies and colors and textures you could ever want and helped us every step of the way! It was about $15/hour plus the cost of the actual item you are putting the mosaics on. And note, you will need to let the tiles dry for 24 hours and grout it at home (if you are not local and can't return) The staff was incredibly friendly and helpful, and it was a great experience.

Nice teacher, good glass selection, good choice of shapes for making fused plates and bowlsread more