As someone with a disability who is also a creative, there's no question I resonate with ArtMix's…read moremission to transform the lives of people with and without disabilities through the creation of art. ArtMix is an Indianapolis-based non-profit organization that has been in existence since I was a kid in school, though it began life as Very Special Arts. They have four core programs, a variety of special projects, and quite a few opportunities to support them ranging from visiting their art gallery to joining them for First Fridays and others. As they note on their website, in the early days of public education for those with disabilities it was uncommon for us to be integrated into regular classrooms. An organization like this was used to fill in that gap. While I was often discouraged from creativity, this was an organization that encouraged it. The fact that I'm now a published writer, film critic, producer, and occasional actor is proof positive of how positive their influence can be. It should be noted that shopping in their gallery is by appointment only. Like a lot of non-profits, they have a small staff. The core programs for ArtMix include urban artisans, entrepreneur artisans, community classes, and artists-in-residence. In terms of accessibility, despite being in a challenging building they do well with ramps at the back entrance (and free parking in the back lot). The building itself is locked - there's a call box that you'll use (again, they request appointments). First Friday events are cool, the gallery is wonderful (and does support artists with disabilities. Yay.). I'm very pleased with this organization. It's only gotten better over the years. While I'm no longer that student sitting in a classroom, ArtMix reaches out even more these days and is truly a community organization. If you've never checked them out, I definitely recommend it.

Interested in supporting local artists, giving back, and purchase beautiful art? Art mix is the…read moreperfect place for this! I went for the second year to their holiday open house to do my yearly ornament shopping for family and friends. There are beautiful, one-of-a-kind ornaments, plates, bowls, and other ceramic pieces. All of the pieces are carefully made by the artists, fired on-site, and then made available in their gallery. I have been thrilled by the items I've purchased and the recipients love them!

I had a great experience. I was greeted when I walked in. This was my first time doing this as an…read moreadult. I remember taking a pottery class in middle and high school. It was definitely different than 25 years ago. I decided to try a new hobby every month in 2026. I'm so glad that I tried it. I was getting stressed because I couldn't get my bowl just right but the instructor was so helpful and got me together. The studio tour was also nice. Make sure to check them out if you're in the Fountain Square area. I can't wait to see the final product. I went solo but there were couples there. I didn't feel awkward going by myself. Everyone was super friendly. The 3rd bowl was an extra $5.

Every time my mom from out of town visits, I try to find something unique and fun to do. A coworker…read morerecently told me about this place and I thought it would be perfect! We signed up for the beginners night class from 7-9PM. It was $45 a person which included 2 of 3 pieces you make. I'm not gonna lie, we were both pretty nervous. Neither of us had ever taken a pottery class and we knew we were going to be bad at it. Turns out, we were pretty good!! And all 3 pots were suitable for glazing. The first 45 minutes to an hour is a guided instruction, then the last hour we are free to throw our other 2 balls of clay with the help of the instructor whenever we needed her. I believe her name was Katie and she was great! Funny, nice, and always willing to help. This is such a fun way to spend an evening. Makes for a good date night or I could see a bachelorette party too. Highly recommend this unique experience.

Went to a gathering for a friend's birthday. It was fun and frustrating at the same time…read more Instructions were great and easy to follow. In a few weeks we will have our finished product. Their classes fill up as soon as they are posted. I was irritated that my husband did better than I did. He isn't crafty at all and he caught on really fast.

WOW, what a cool place that's tucked away in a small neighborhood to let your pottery talents come…read morealive. I had such an amazing time last night learning how to create pottery. This was my very first time doing this, and instructor Tracee Ellis was absolutely OUTSTANDING!!!! She taught 8 of us, some first-timers, others had some experience, but she made getting messy a dream come true for me. I'm so glad my daughter in law gifted me this experience as a Christmas gift last year. The classes fill up super quick, but man, was this truly worth the wait!!!! Thank you, Yellow Door Ceramic Studio and Tracee Ellis, for an incredible way to end the work week and begin the weekend. #potteryrocks

Attended my first mosaic workshop here with a few friends and was amazed at the results…read more First off this is located at the Stutz building, on the third floor, quite near the elevator, so it's not that hard to find. There are plenty of paid parking lots and street parking available around the area. Keep in mind that street parking is free on Sundays. Communication is outstanding, with reminder e-mails, detailed maps on how to find the studio, where to park and after your class instrutions on applying the grout. But let's get to the classes. Currently this location "only" offers Turkish Mosaic Lamp workshops. However, you can choose your type of lamp, or just a globe or candleholder. Entirely up to you and your budget. It is not cheap, but neither are the materials needed. You will be seated at a tablel with seemingly endless mosaic glass options in so many great colors, it's going to be tough to choose a color combination. There are a few suggestions on their website as far as color combinations go. And of course you will need to decide what type of pattern you will be creating. Another tough decision. You will get a two-sided sheet with various patterns you could follow, or you can feel free to create your own. Our instructor was Kurt, a most patient man, as I dragged about a dozen of folks with me as usual and there were a couple of other folks besides our group and with that every last seat was taken. He answered question after question and refilled bead and glass shapes continuously. Showed us how to glue things in place, made suggestions, helped here and there with project gone awry and somehow still managed to share a bit about his home country of Turkey. There are little lit platforms where you can check what your lamp will look like when completed, and also an actual lamp you can hold your masterpiece to and get a better idea. Once you are done with your pattern, you get to create your own mix of tiny glass beads and apply those in all the 'free' spaces. then you are done with studio time. You are given grout and instructed on how to apply this once your project has reasted at least 12 hours. (you will also get an e-mail the next day, reminding you and a link for the instructions again). You will also get your lamp part , if you chose to make a lamp, and the bulb to go with it. All is neatly in a nice sturdy bag so you can add your globe and your grout to it also and have it all together in one place. Highly recommend this experience and I am hoping that they will add some of the different workshops that are offered at other locations. Fingers crossed.

The session was a gift from my daughter. Really fun. Our instructor was helpful and encouraging!…read moreOverall a relaxing experience.

My friend and I had the best time designing our own custom sneakers. The vibe was relaxed,…read moreinspiring, and perfect for getting creative without feeling rushed. There were tons of paint colors and supplies to choose from, and the staff was super encouraging and helpful if you needed ideas or guidance. I went with a cartoon-style design on mine, with a sketch outline, bold details, and a hand-drawn look. I LOVE how they turned out. They look like wearable art! My friend went in a totally different direction, which made it even more fun seeing how unique each pair became. It's such a cool concept for a girls' night, date night, birthday, or just something different to do. You walk out with something you actually get to wear and show off. Highly recommend if you're looking for a creative experience that's both fun and memorable!

This was a top favorite birthday gift/experience! While I ran out of time and will have to finish…read morepainting my shoes at home, I learned a lot and was able to get the largest part of the process finished. We all really enjoyed the experience and were so pleased with the help and advice we received from their instructors. I was really appreciative of the way they really stepped in to help my 2 children as they needed, allowing me to keep on working away in my own art project. They have some examples to help give you ideas and believe them when they tell you that they can help you draw items onto your shoes for you to paint. It felt like they are dedicated to helping people carry out the vision they have for their project.

My boyfriend surprised me with a Indy Fused Glass class for my birthday! We've been watching Blown…read moreAway and have wanted to try it. Glass fusing is a great first step to glass blowing to understand the element of glass The owner is awesome and very patient with answering questions! You have a ton of options to choose from and really able to make it your own. You can explore different types of glass, textures, colors, etc. I would totally recommend taking a class here!

Amazing experience and the result was a beautiful piece. I signed up for a class as an activity…read morewith low-covid risk (small class sizes, large studio, and masks) and I've always wanted to try it. The owner/artist/teacher was great. Very hands on without being overly hovering. It was really cool to have so many options both in what we made and the colors and styles to choose from. The class was listed as two hours but we were not rushed in any way which I really appreciated. I also learned a lot about glass fusing! We will definitely come back to make something else- it was fun and our projects turned out great. This would definitely be something fun to do with a group of friends or coworkers.

This is an adorable spot that I had no idea existed until a friend asked me to attend a wine and…read morecardology class here. Such a sweet space with several designated parking spaces right in front. I arrived a few minutes early to our class and was able to look around at the great selection of gift and home products at the front of the space. For our class, snacks and drinks were included in the price and we had a lovely time laughing and learning more. I look at their schedule of upcoming events and they host so many fun events! Perfect for girls night out.

Create Art Studio is an amazing place for any art enthusiasts or people that just want to explore…read moretheir creativity! I've been to 2 workshops and both have been incredible. The founders Chrissy and Alissa are so nice and welcoming every time! The instructors are also so warm and the vibe of the place is just perfect, of course I have to mention the refreshments are on point too :) 100% recommend taking a class and they have parking!

Wheel throwing class was a fun local activity in a really cool location. We enjoyed going as a…read morefamily and spent a day exploring the area afterwards. Jody the owner/ instructor was super informative and patient. We hope to go back and take another class. We had no to very little experience and ended up with two great creations each. Recommend for anyone looking for new and different staycation ideas or date night or friends day out. :). Especially fun if you enjoy discovering new activities. Make it an adventure and schedule a half or entire day in the fountain square area and/or mass ave.

My daughter had been asking to do a sculpting class. I found Get Dirty Ceramics. The classes were…read moreso reasonably-priced! We got her scheduled in advance. She went for the first time yesterday and she loved it so much she wants to go every week. We will definitely be back!

If you are a woman of a certain age, and you suffer from hot flashes, I'm not sure that this is the…read moreplace for you! Aside from the extreme heat required to sculpt and blow glass, my experience here was amazing! Lauren (I'm not sure if that is how she spells her name) lead our class and she was a great teacher. She smiled the entire time and didn't mind repeating the instructions for each and every student in the class as she lead us through the process of making our very own, uniquely designed, glass paperweight. I can't wait to see how ours turned out when I pick them up in two days. I'm already looking forward to taking another class, for glass blowing this time. Hopefully, Lauren will be there again. She had great energy, which made the process feel less intimidating and very fun.

GRT Hot Glass Studios - The Best Way to Play with Fire (Safely!)…read more If you've ever wanted to wield molten lava like a wizard but also not burn your eyebrows off, GRT Hot Glass Studios is the place for you! We took a two-hour class and made glass hearts, and let me tell you--watching a blob of fiery goo transform into something beautiful (and not just a puddle on the floor) was magic. Our two instructors were phenomenal--equal parts patient, skilled, and probably part-time firefighters just in case. They walked us through every step, from gathering the glass to shaping it like pros (or at least convincing us we looked like pros). At one point, I was so focused I almost started referring to myself as a glassblowing master, but then I remembered I had to be reminded not to touch the glowing red-hot end of the rod. Highly recommend this experience! Whether you're an artist, a thrill-seeker, or just someone who wants to impress your friends by saying, "Yeah, I totally made this heart out of 2,000-degree molten glass," this class is for you. We had an absolute blast and will be back!