Celebrating everyone’s creative potential.
Arts and Humanities programs at the Y celebrate that potential, giving opportunities for people of all ages to explore their creative side.
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Arts and Humanities programs help us understand others through their languages, histories and cultures, teach empathy, and help everyone learn how to deal critically and logically with subjective, complex information. Encouraging creativity in childhood is a playful and fun way to develop the informed, critical citizens of tomorrow.
Upcoming Early Childhood & Youth Arts and Humanities Programs
Crafty Kids Club
Crafty Kids Club at Birmingham Family YMCA
Join our weekly craft class, where creativity knows no bounds! Each session, we explore a different art style, from painting and sketching to mixed media and sculpture. Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned artist, you’ll have the chance to experiment with new techniques, learn foundational skills, and discover your unique artistic voice. Come for the fun, stay for the inspiration!
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Parent and Child – Music and Art
Parent and Child – Music and Art at Downriver Family YMCA
Each week your preschooler will make a beautiful piece of art while we dance and sing to our favorite songs. We will use different mediums to allow our little ones the opportunities to express themselves through art. This is a parent and child class.
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Photography and Movie Making
Photography and Movie Making at Downriver Family YMCA
Y Media Works Fall program
Founded in 2008, Y Media Works is a fun and engaging program that provides youth the opportunity to learn photography, content creation, and video production while making friends and working with experienced media arts professionals.
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Tiny Chefs
Tiny Chefs at Downriver Family YMCA
Each week children will follow a simple recipe to create a new healthy snack or food dish. Recipes change with each new session to introduce youth to new foods and to provide opportunity to practice and learn new skills.
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Tiny Chefs – Preschool
Tiny Chefs – Preschool at Downriver Family YMCA
Each week children will follow a simple recipe to create a new healthy snack or food dish. Recipes change with each new session to introduce youth to new foods and to provide opportunity to practice and learn new skills.
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Tiny Chefs Cooking- Level 1
Tiny Chefs Cooking- Level 1 at Farmington Family YMCA
We’re cooking up fun for your kids! All kids ages 6-12 are invited to join us to create a new snack or food dish. Recipes change weekly to introduce youth to new foods and provide learning opportunities to practice new skills. Participants will learn how to use basic kitchen gadgets, small appliances (hand mixer, blender), practice measuring, blending, rolling, cutting, and layering. Participants will practice safe use of equipment, proper sanitary procedures, and will be encouraged to use manners.
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Tiny Chefs Cooking – Level 2
Tiny Chefs Cooking – Level 2 at Farmington Family YMCA
We’re cooking up fun for your kids! All kids ages 6-12 who have taken Tiny Chef’s Level 1 (or have advanced cooking skills) will be learning more advanced cooking skills and complex dishes. Participants will practice safe use of equipment, proper sanitary procedures, and will be encouraged to use manners.
For more information, contact our Youth & Family Program Director:
mallory.kasper@ymcadetroit.org
(248) 488-7482
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Youth Art
Youth Art at Downriver Family YMCA
Each week your young person will make a beautiful piece of art. We will use different mediums to allow our young ones the opportunities to express themselves through art.
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Upcoming Adults Arts and Humanities Programs
Art for Adults: 2D Exploration
Art for Adults: 2D Exploration at Farmington Family YMCA
Do you remember going to art class as a kid? Well now you can as an adult! This class is for those with or without any art experience to come create and explore. Each week the teaching artist will show students a variety of 2D materials and techniques. Every session students will explore different mediums including printmaking techniques, painting, and abstract ways of drawing. The teaching artist will work with students and gear lessons towards their interests along the way. So join us to come play with art materials, maybe get a little messy, and create with others!
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Ceramics – Open Studio Dec 14th
Ceramics – Open Studio Dec 14th at Boll Family YMCA
This is for current or former Y Arts Ceramics/Pottery Students only. If you have taken our 6 week Hand-building & Wheel Throwing class and you want to get back in the studio to create again you are invited to attend an open studio session! For $25 you can get up to 5lbs of clay to work with (on the wheel or hand building) or glaze 2 pieces between 12pm-2:30pm! (If there is something else you have in mind email jessica.cooper@ymcadetroit.org and we can work something out)
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Ceramics – Wheel-Throwing & Hand Building
Ceramics – Wheel-Throwing & Hand Building at Boll Family YMCA
Join us for this 6 session ceramics class! We will dive into the world of using the Pottery Wheel as well as learn Hand Building techniques. On average most students will leave the class having made at least 4 pieces (some may make more, some may make less, it matters on the size and details of the pieces.) Students will have plenty of options to curate what they make to their own interests.
The class will also offer two opportunities to come to Open Studio Time on Saturdays from 12-2:30 at no charge during the class.
*Some pieces may need to be picked up after the last class, pick up will be arranged at that time.
YMCA Member Cost: $165
Non-member Cost: $200
Dates: Mondays, 6:30pm – 8:30pm
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Ceramics Workshop – Galentines Day!
Ceramics Workshop – Galentines Day! at Boll Family YMCA
Join us to celebrate this Galentines Day as we use hand building techniques to create your own mug to celebrate love and friendship! Bring a friend, come solo and make a friend, and come play with dirt with us!
YMCA Member Cost: $30
Non-member Cost: $40
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Mosaic Class
Mosaic Class at Farmington Family YMCA
Learn how to make your own mosaic piece for your home, garden, or for a gift. Teaching Artist Rebecca Berdy will teach students the elements of design used to create a mosaic piece, layout techniques, and more! Learn about the various types of tesserae (mosaic pieces,) and how to grout your piece to finish it. See our instagram @yartsdetroit to see some former mosaic student creations
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Upcoming Family Arts and Humanities Programs
Ceramics Saturdays (for all ages) Workshop – Heart Dish
Ceramics Saturdays (for all ages) Workshop – Heart Dish at Boll Family YMCA
Welcome to our Monthly Family Ceramics Saturday workshop! This is for family members, friends, or individuals to come learn how to create a ceramic piece alongside a teaching artist. No experience is necessary, but those with experience are invite to join as well!* This months project will be to create a heart shaped bowl. Workshop attendees will create a piece from start to finish.
*All artists under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a REGISTERED adult enrolled in the class
*Those under 5 are welcome to attend for free to create alongside an adult registered in the class
Note: Pick up for project will be 3-4 weeks after the workshop. You will be emailed a list of times you can pick up your piece, or if those time don’t work for you other pick up arrangements can be made.
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Creative Connections (Ages 3-6 + Parent/Guardian)
Creative Connections (Ages 3-6 + Parent/Guardian) at Boll Family YMCA
Welcome to our Monthly Creative Connections Workshop! This is for adult family members and their young artists (Ages 3-6) to create pieces of art together! Januarys project will feature a winter time theme! So bring your young artist and create together!
*Every young artist 3-6 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian who is also registered in the workshop
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Creative Connections (Ages 3-6 + Parent/Guardian) at Downriver Family YMCA
Welcome to our Monthly Creative Connections Workshop! This is for adult family members and their young artists (Ages 3-6) to create pieces of art together! January’s piece will feature a winter favorite! So bring your young artist and create together!
*Every young artist 3-6 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian who is also registered in the workshop
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Creative Connections (Ages 3-6 + Parent/Guardian) at Farmington Family YMCA
Welcome to our Monthly Creative Connections Workshop! This is for adult family members and their young artists (Ages 3-6) to create pieces of art together! Bring your young artist and create together!
*Every young artist 3-6 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian who is also registered in the workshop
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Theatre Games Workshop
Theatre Games Workshop at Farmington Family YMCA
The whole family can join us to learn and play theatre games together! You will meet with a Professional performing artist who will guide everyone in a night of theatre games aimed to get the creativity, mind, (and laughter) flowing!
Ages 6-Adult*
*All minor participants must be accompanied by an adult
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