Covering over 210,000 square feet, Mesa Arts Center is a performing and visual arts complex in the very heart of downtown Mesa, Arizona. As the largest comprehensive arts campus in the state, the complex encompasses four performance venues of different sizes and configurations. There are also 5 art galleries and 14 visual and performing art classroom studios. Anchored by a variety of multi-use areas, the campus offers both indoor and outdoor gathering and presentation spaces.
Ever wanted to learn how to make jewelry? Customize hammers? Mesa Arts Center can teach you how. A wide range of classes for various aspects are offered throughout the campus. These classes can be divided into two main categories: visual arts education program classes and performing arts education program classes.
In visual arts classes, students will work with veteran and professional instructors who encourage the development of creativity. Also, they can work at their own pace on challenging projects in fully outfitted studios with state-of-the-art equipment.
Performing arts classes, taught by arts and education professionals, cover standards-based and process-oriented classes, camps and workshops. These classes could develop your creativity and performing arts skills, sharpen critical thinking and challenge the imagination.
These classes are available in three sessions each year, typically in fall, winter / spring and summer. The length of classes varies from a few weeks to 16 weeks. There are a wide range of fields for students to choose from, including acting, ceramics, dance, drama, drawing, photography, jewelry, metals, painting and much more. Now, a variety of classes are happening at the Mesa Arts Center.
1) Mommy and Me, Sing, Dance and Play - Are you looking for an opportunity to interact with your little ones? Join this class! Mommy and Me, Sign, Dance and Play is designed to encourage your kids' sense of self-expression. Parents will learn different games and songs to play and sing with their little ones. To participate in the class, parents need to register with their children and work as a team.
This class is available on each Tuesdays from January 18 to May 10, 2011, during the hours of 11am to 11:45am. The ticket price is $32.
2) Bronze Clay Bracelet - It is fun to work with bronze clay which yields beautifully rich colors out of the kiln. In this class, students can learn to create a multi-textured panel bracelet with ornamental links. Teachers will give demonstration on tips and techniques for successfully forming, joining and finishing metal clay creations.
This class applies to people aged 16 and older, with entry level workshop. The class time is from 9am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday of April 23 through December 3, 2011. To take part in the class, you will be charged $97, plus an additional material fee of $40.
3) Summer Arts Camp - Want your child to spend a meaningful summer vacation? Enter his / her name for the Summer Arts Camp at Mesa Arts Center. During the camp, trained artists / educators will teach campers a lot of knowledge including crafts, drama, dance, music, puppetry and art. This four or five-day-a-week camp applies to children entering first through seventh grades in the fall in 2011.
Classes run from 9am to 4:30pm with supervised game and activity time from 7am to 9am and 4:30pm to 6pm. The camp is available in 10 sessions. The rates are $120 for sessions 1 and 6, with four days per week, and $150 for other sessions, with five days per week. The detailed sessions include:
- Session 1 - May 31 to June 3
- Session 2 - June 6 to 10
- Session 3 - June 13 to 17
- Session 4 - June 20 to 24
- Session 5 - June 27 to July 1
- Session 6 - July 5 to 8
- Session 7 - July 11 to 15
- Session 8 - July 18 to 22
- Session 9 - July 25 to 29
- Session 10 - August 1 to 5
4) Kids on Broadway - Summer Musical Theater Camp - Join them for two or four-week theater activities! This fun-filled summer program is designed for boys and girls aged 8 to 15. Campers will take part in music, dance and acting at the center. They will also learn skills in musical theater performance from rehearsal to a final performance.
This program comprises 2 sessions. Each session runs two weeks of non-competitive, educational fun with theater. Session 1 starts at June 6 through June 17, ending up in a daytime performance on June 17. Session 2 runs from June 20 to 30, ending with a daytime performance on June 30.
These sessions have many options for the sake of your convenience. The options include:
- AM Program ($170) - Running from 8:30am to 12pm, it offers classes in music, acting and dance. The lunch and games during the hours of 12pm to 1pm are given to those attending both sessions.
- PM Program ($170) - The hours of this program are from 12:30pm to 4pm for session 1 and from 12:30pm to 4:30pm for session 2. The activities include Musical Theatre Production workshop, taking participants through audition, rehearsals and final performance on the last day of camp.
- All Day Program ($240) - All day program combines classes and activities from both AM and PM programs. The hours are from 8:30am to 4pm for session 1 and from 8:30am to 4:30pm for session 2. For those who take part in the all day program, a sack lunch needs to be brought each day.
5) Customizing Hammers - This is a fun yet practical class, applying to beginning to advanced students. Students can learn to soften the edges of new hammers or reshape found hammers to make them more useful. In this class, teachers also instruct you to create your own texturing hammers. Remember to bring your own hammers for classes.
Classes run on Wednesdays from March 30 to May 11, 2011, with class length of 3 hours from 1:30pm to 4:30pm. Only can people of 16 and older participate in the class, with fees of $100 R and $118 NR.
6) Paper Craft Card Techniques - There are three classes available for Paper Craft Card Techniques: Paper Craft Card Techniques I (April 15), Paper Craft Card Techniques II (May 16) and Paper Craft Card Techniques III (June 17). The class hours are all from 6pm to 9pm.
To participate, you will be charged $21 each class. Students will learn techniques with wet paper watercolor, spring card and pattern embossing to enhance their greeting cards and other projects.
7) Resin Jewelry: Beginning and Intermediate - Most women all want to have their own, unique accessories. If you are one of them, attend this class to make your own jewelry. The class will teach you how to create rubber molds and utilize pre-made molds to cast rings, earrings, bangles and pendants. You will also learn to add interest to your pieces by using various materials like pigments. This class starts at 9am through 5pm, on April 23 and 24, 2011, with a fee of $160.
Actually, art classes at Mesa Arts Center are more than them. To get a complete winter / spring 2011 class listing, click here:
Art Classes at Mesa Arts Center
http://www.mesaartscenter.com/index.php/classes/results
How to register for a Mesa Art Center class? Registration for winter / spring 2011 classes starts on December 3, 2010, accepting on a first-come first-served basis. If your desired class is filled or cancelled, you will be informed and placed on a wait list. If there are open seats available, classes will be filled by the wait list.
Registration may be accepted by fax and mail. You may also register for a class in person at Arts Studios of Mesa Arts Center, at One East Main Street.
Fax: 480-644-6525
Mail Address: Arts Studios at Mesa Arts Center P O Box 1466 Mesa AZ 85211-1466
You can find class registration form on this website:
http://www.mesaartscenter.com/index.php/classes/about-art-classes
The Mesa Arts Center has a new system and web-trac accounts are no longer in use for the classes. So for those who have registered for classes at Mesa Arts Center, you need to set up a new account in their new system or set it up online by following the prompts. You also can pay a direct visit to the center for registration. If you have more questions, call 480-644-6520.
