• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Orange Co. Arts Commission

Promoting and strengthening the artistic and cultural development of Orange County, North Carolina

  • About
    • Advisory Board
    • Programs
    • Orange County Arts Alliance
    • Contact Us
  • Discover
    • Artist Directory
    • Arts Map
    • Guest Blogs
    • News
  • Classes
    • Classes at the Mill
    • Teach with us
  • Eno Arts Mill
    • Eno Mill Gallery
    • Artist Studios
    • Our Artists
    • How to Find Us
  • Give
  • Resources
    • Grants
      • OPEN NOW: Emerging Artist Grant
    • For Artists
    • For Organizations
    • Grantee Resources
  • Events
    • First Fridays at the Mill
    • A Gathering of Voices: Celebrating North Carolina Music
    • Hillsborough Holiday Bazaar
    • The Athenaeum
    • Events Calendar
      • Submit an Event

Classes


UPCOMING CLASSES

CeramicsCollage & PaperCrochetMusic & Performing ArtsPainting & DrawingYouth Classes

    

Ceramics

All ceramics classes include: 25 pounds of clay (firing & glaze included), a personal cubby for works in progress, and access to open studio hours
Open Studio hours (we hope to expand as we grow):
– Wed: 2:00pm–6:00pm
– Thu & Fri: 1:00pm–6:00pm
– Sat & Sun: 1:00pm–4:00pm


clay luminary with tea light in itLet It Glow: Clay Luminaries with Ryan Catalano
Saturday, November 7th
10:00 AM – 12:30 PM
$75
Ages 18+

Make a glowing clay luminary to light up your home this winter. Ryan covers building a hollow form, then carving and piercing patterns into the walls so candlelight shines through. 
Register


blue ceramic bowl

Get Centered: A Night on the Wheel with Ryan Catalano
Friday, November 13th
6:30 PM – 9:00 PM
$75
Ages 18+

Curious about the pottery wheel? This one-night workshop is the perfect way to try it out. Ryan walks you through the basics of centering, opening, and pulling up walls, and you’ll throw a cup or small bowl of your own. Just come ready to get a little muddy. No experience needed. All materials included.
Register


clay hearts with patterns stamped in them

Homemade for the Holiday: Clay Ornaments with Aliyah McAllister
Saturday, November 14th
10:00 AM – 12:30 PM
$75
Ages 18+

Create a set of one-of-a-kind ceramic ornaments in this festive handbuilding workshop. Aliyah guides you through rolling slabs, cutting shapes, and pressing in texture with stamps, lace, and found objects, then adding color with simple hand-painted underglaze designs. 
Register


 ceramic mushrooms in grassMagical Mushroom Garden with Aliyah McAllister
Friday, November 20th
6:30 PM – 9:00 PM
$75
Ages 18+

Bring a little forest magic home. Aliyah, the artist behind SunSoul Bowls, shows you how to sculpt whimsical clay mushrooms using pinch and coil techniques. You’ll shape caps and stems in all sizes, add character with texture, gills, and spots, and try marbling contrasting clays for an earthy, organic look.
Register


ceramic pot in the shape of a bellyBelly & Bloom with Kaylin Tsukayama
Saturday, December 5th
10:00 AM – 12:30 PM
$75
Ages 18+

A body-neutral art workshop for fat, plus-size, and bigger-bodied folks. Kaylin guides you through building a planter modeled on your own form: curves, folds, and all. You’ll shape your figure in clay, then add the details that make it personal.
Register

  

Collage and Paper Arts

paper accordion bookSeasonal Concertinas: Exploring Micro Seasons with Accordion Books with Stacey Hayes
Saturday, November 14th
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
$40
Ages 18+

In this session, we will slow down to notice subtle shifts in the current landscape. We will use expressive watercolors, found natural materials, and writing prompts to map the ‘glimmers’ of the present season and house our reflections in a hand-crafted accordion book. Also known as a concertina, the accordion book with its small format and ability to expand and contract, is an ideal container for images and words informed by the unfolding season. No previous art or writing experience is required. All materials are provided.
Register

 

Crochet

Crochet Solstice Lanterns with Amanda Blanchard
Saturday, December 5th
10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
$90
Ages 18+

Celebrate the Winter Solstice! In this class, you will learn to create an open-work crocheted lantern for the Solstice season. We will form the loose crocheted sphere from cotton tread yarn and then stiffen it. These lanterns are perfect for gifts, home decor, or to walk around with at the Hillsborough Solstice Walk! Some crochet experience needed.
20% of sales will support the Hillsborough Arts Council, coordinator of the lantern walk.
Register

   

Music & Performing Arts

Rounds for Peace community sing with audrey smith

Rounds for Peace: Community Sing with Audrey Smith
Wednesdays: Oct. 28th, Nov. 4th, Nov. 11th
6:00 PM – 6:45 PM
$25 per individual session (or Pay What You Can: Sliding scale $5-$25)
Ages 18+

Rounds for Peace: Community Sing invites singers of all skill levels to join together in song for one night a week on select Wednesdays. The class will focus on finding your voice and experiencing the joy and power of group singing while learning a collection of 2, 3, and 4 part rounds centered on themes of peace, friendship, understanding. We welcome the spectrum of all singers!
Register

   

Painting & Drawing

Drop-In Life Drawing Studio with Tom Stevens
2nd Tuesdays of the month: 6:30 – 8:30 PM
4th Tuesdays of the month: 2:30 – 4:30 PM
Eno Arts Mill Classroom
$15 per session
Ages 18+

Join us for Life Drawing sessions facilitated by Tom Stevens. Each session will start with a round of 2 and 5 minute poses, followed by three rounds of 20 minute poses. No instruction, but a great opportunity to practice your life drawing/painting skills from poses by a live nude model. Artists provide their own materials. No photography or video allowed in the sessions.
Register


watercolor of two bicyclistsIntermediate Watercolor Course (Watercolor 2) with Ryann Carey – SOLD OUT: Waitlist only!
Wednesdays, November 11th – December 16th
6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
$175 for 6 weeks
Ages 18+

This intermediate watercolor class is designed for students who have completed an introductory course (does not have to be one from Ryann) and would like to continue their skills. We’ll continue working on foundational techniques, explore style and composition, and develop our own independent project. 
Register


hanging watercolor ornamentsWatercolor Ornaments with Ryann Carey
Saturday, December 12th
3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
$90
Ages 18+

Create unique watercolor ornaments with Ryann Carey. You will learn basic watercolor skills and ideas for creating good compositions in a small format. Students will have an opportunity to practice skills before turning your vision into a ready-to-hang ornament. Each student will take home finished ornaments for keepsake holiday decoration or gifting.
Register


Winter Watercolor Postcards with Rachel Brown
Saturday, December 19th
12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
$85
Ages 18+

“Let go” and explore the unique, spontaneous nature of watercolor while painting several seasonal winter postcards perfect to send to friends and loved ones. Rachel will guide participants through simple techniques that emphasize play rather than perfection. This class is suitable for complete beginners as well as intermediate painters who would like to loosen up, try new approaches, and connect with fellow artists. All supplies are provided. 
Register


Travel Watercolor: Capture the Moment with Rachel Brown
Saturday, January 9th
12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
$75 (+ optional $10 supply fee)
Ages 18+

Do you wish you could capture the beautiful moments from your travels in watercolor – before your travel companions get bored waiting for you? Learn how to pack light and turn travel memories into simple, expressive watercolor paintings. 
Register

 

Youth Classes

Teen Arts Collective: LGBTQIA+ with Natalia Torres del Valle
Every Tuesday
5:00 – 6:00 PM
Eno Arts Mill Classroom
FREE

This weekly group is a safe and creative space for LGBTQIA+ identifying teens. Group sessions are led by Natalia Torres del Valle, MA, Registered Expressive Arts Therapist #2104. Interest in any art form is welcome. Basic visual art materials are provided and teens are encouraged to bring supplies to express themselves in their favorite artistic medium (i.e. visual, music, writing, movement, drama). Sessions begin with a grounding exercise, an art exploration centered on a theme, and ends with group processing. Email Natalia with interest at: Natalia Torres del Valle contact@littlehouseartstherapy.com


FAQ’s

Cancellation Policy

No refunds will be given for cancellations within 7 days before the beginning of class (first date in a series, or a single workshop). If a cancellation occurs due to weather or low enrollment, we will either work with the instructor to offer a make-up class or provide a refund. Please note that no refunds will be given for missed individual classes within the a larger series.
We reserve the right to cancel or reschedule classes to adjust for enrollment.

Financial Assistance

We want everyone to be able to enjoy the benefits of self expression, regardless of financial standing. If you would like to take a class but need financial assistance, please fill out our scholarship request form here.

Footer

Copyright © 2026 Orange County Arts Commission
(919) 245-2129
437 DIMMOCKS MILL RD., SUITE 17 | HILLSBOROUGH, NC 27278
Website by Tomatillo Design

Search Orange Co. Arts Commission

Subscribe to Our Monthly Newsletter

Stay up to date on local arts news, happenings, and more!

Enter your email address

No thanks, I’m not interested!