Arts and Crafts for Kids Around Town

After a fun day of art-making, what can parents do about the chaos? Local art studios for kids take care of the mess so parents don’t have to.

My kids love crafts.

I hate crafts.

Not because they aren’t cool, but because I don’t like the messy time — glue, crayons, oil pastels, acrylic paint, watercolors, markers left for me to clean up. Oh my! So messy! Which is so funny because I have a very messy house. That aside–and the contradiction it is–I love to take my kids places to be creative. Where I don’t get upset because they made a crazy mess to create something cool.

Lucky for me and you, we live in one of the best places in the country for this very thing.

The Twin Cities is stuffed with all kinds of artistically expressive outlets, and I keep finding new ones. Anywhere you live in the Twin Cities, you can find a studio or a class being offered for artists of all ages. So, parents can join in, too. Besides art activities for people of all ages, these art studio adventures can help kids develop social skills, get a start on a quality art education and maybe leave with something to display in your own home!

I’m not exaggerating. There is something for everyone anywhere you go.

Artmaking Events

Children’s Art Studios for Drop-In Artmaking

We have chosen the studios on this list based on their kid-friendly atmospheres, helpful staff and overall great experience when attending classes, workshops or open studio time.

ARTrageous Adventures

2121 W 21st St, Minneapolis, MN 55405
One of our favorite art studios for kids, ARTrageous Adventures offers drop in studio times on Saturdays from 10 am to 2 p.m. We love the organized scraps and the open passion of the staff.

Preschool: Look for Preschool Art Classes weekdays while the big kids are in school.

Appleberry’s Attic

228 E. Main Street, Anoka, MN 55303
This came to us as a reader recommendation. Appleberry’s Attic offers walk-in workshops on the 2nd and 4th weekend of each month with three times: Thursday 5pm-8pm; Friday 1pm-9pm; Saturday 11am-5pm. They also have craft crates available and offer private and public craft events, including kids birthday parties.

Mess Hall

906 Mainstreet, Hopkins, MN 55343
Not finding what they were looking for locally, the owners of Mess Hall decided to create their own studio. Participants book a studio time, art supplies and gear will be available for them at the studio. At the end of the process they take home their creation. Kids Activities: Book Messy Jessy parent-child studio times for ages 4 to 11 (available Saturday and Sunday mornings), Messy Monsters for parents and tots ages 2-6 (Friday mornings) or Family Mess on weekends, when the whole family can join in.

Kid-Friendly Craft Shops

These shops stock craft supplies (whether that be canvas and paint or paper and crayons) and offer instruction and/or art lessons, as well as local events or open studios.

Tinker + Nudge Art Studio for Kids

 3346 Hennepin Ave S, 2nd Floor, Minneapolis, MN 55408
Tinker + Nudge offers classes, kids’ parties and Family Fun Days that focus on the artistic process over the finished project. Expect to get messy (but at least you get to leave it behind). All programs require pre-registration.

Preschool: Look for Mini Makers – a 45-minute, single-session class for parent and child (toddlers through 4 years old).

Creative Workshops & Art Programs

Artlet26

2327 Wycliff St, Suite 100, St. Paul, MN 55114
Artlet offers classes, camps and workshops for artists of every skill level. Many classes can be taken drop-in, pay-as-you-go style or pay for the full semester at once.

ArtStart / ArtScraps

1459 St. Clair Ave., St. Paul, MN 55105
This Saint Paul reuse art supply store does not offer regular studio hours, but does offer camps, community workshops and special events, like their annual EcoArts Fest – now being held at the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. Families can also order creativity kits to do art at home.

Gallery Navarre

4310 Shoreline Dr, Spring Park, 55384
Offers Second Saturday creative workshops for kids in kindergarten through 5th grade with a focus on the Lake Minnetonka region. Pre-registration is required.

Leonardo’s Basement

2 Malcolm Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414
Beyond typical art studios for kids, Leonardo’s Basement offers kids workshops and classes that encourage designing and hand-building of engineering, art, and technology projects. Whatever masterpiece your child creates at Leonardo’s Basement, you can guarantee it will be their own unique creation..

The Makery

2230 Carter Ave #7, St Paul, MN 55108
This Saint Paul studio/workshop is full of tools and materials for bringing an idea to fruition. Sign up for workshops or book a private event.

Minnesota Center for Book Arts

1011 Washington Ave S #100, Minneapolis, MN 55415
MCBA does not have drop in crafts or studio hours, but what it does have is monthly classes for the family.  It is located in the Open Book Building which houses the Loft Literary Center, Milkweed Publications, and MCBA.  Check out their schedule for their next family class and sign up.  My daughter once made a dragon book there.  It was amazing and so much fun!  Highly recommend them.  It’s a little pricey but worth it.

The Textile Center

3000 University Avenue Southeast, Minneapolis, 55414
If sewing, knitting or other textile arts are your child’s passion, than they may love offerings from the Textile Center. Besides classes and workshops, kids can join the Youth Fiber Art Guild and receive monthly art kits by mail.

Preschool Pottery Studios & Ceramics for Kids

Color Me Mine

3324 Promenade Ave, Eagan MN 55121
12155 Elm Creek Boulevard North, Maple Grove MN 55369
Woodbury 9140 Hudson Rd. E511, Woodbury MN 55125
We like color me mine for their monthly Toddler Tuesday and Family Day programs. Preschool: Look for Toddler Tuesdays.

Dock 6 Pottery Gallery

2701 39th Ave NE E110 #112, Minneapolis, MN 55421
Now located in Silverwood Village in St. Anthony, Dock 6 doesn’t currently offer specific child or family programs, but adult classes are open to age 9+.

Northern Clay Center

2424 E Franklin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55406
Northern Clay offers family classes and workshops, kids classes and camps and teen programs.

FREE Monthly Art-Making Opportunities

These local events offer art activities for all skill levels, demonstrations and special activities related to the works of professional artists.

Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia)

2400 3rd Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55404
Monthly on the second Sunday, Mia offers Free Family Days, where kids and adults can explore the museum, learn about current exhibits and try their hand at some art of their own.

Rumriver Art Center

2665 4th Ave #103, Anoka, MN 55303
Monthly Free Family Art Days are offered virtually when in-person isn’t practical.

Walker Art Center

1750 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55403
The Walker’s monthly family event, Free First Saturdays offers monthly themes incorporating artmaking, screenings and free gallery admission.

Splurge

Crayola Experience

Mall of America, 300 South Avenue, Bloomington, MN 55425
The Crayola Experience at the Mall of America offers am amusement-park-style art experience. Besides craft stations, there is an indoor playground and a snack bar. Save by making reservations on line.

Find Kids Art Classes & Programs

If you are in anyway like me–someone who wants her children to be creative but don’t want to go through the work to make that happen–check out one of these amazing studios for art education for all ages.

• Eden Prairie Art Center
• Edina Art Center
• Highpoint Center for Printmaking – Classes are great for teens who are interested in print arts. Families will enjoy the occasional Free Ink Days.

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*This article is open for both free and upgraded entries. In the past we have worked closely with some of the studios on this list, and have been offered free opportunities to attend programs to facilitate reviews. You can read more at the links provided.