- When
- Saturday, September 27, 2025–February 28, 2026
10:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m. or 1:15–3:15 p.m. - Where
- Carnegie Museum of Art
- Program Fee
- $130 ($140 for ceramics), $105 ($115 for ceramics) for Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh members per term
Register 🎟
Your ideas, your voices, your neighborhood art museum.
The Art Connection is the longest continually running series of art classes for young artists in Pittsburgh. Now in its 97th year, The Art Connection will challenge young artists in grades 5–8 to create unique artworks inspired by the work in our galleries, culminating in an exhibition of their own at Carnegie Museum of Art. Each term, educators will facilitate a new art experience in either painting, drawing, ceramics, or photo and film. Artists will have access to a wide variety of materials and tools to pursue art-making that is in line with their interests and creative passions. In addition to art-making, artists will make connections to the exhibited artworks and engage in peer discussion.
Tuition
$105 (members $85) for 4 classes or $400 (members $320) for 16 classes. Scholarships are available. All materials included.
Schedule
The Art Connection is organized by grade level. Students enroll in morning or afternoon classes:
Morning classes: 10:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m.
Afternoon classes: 1:15–3:15 p.m.
The Art Connection is 16 classes in total and is split between four terms. Each term is four sessions. Each grade level will pursue a new medium each term and a student can register for as many terms as they would like.
Term 1: September 27–October 18, 2025
Fifth Grade
Photo and Film
Looking to photographer Charles “Teenie” Harris, artists will explore concepts like dynamic composition, lighting, focus, and expression to create photographic portraits.
Sixth Grade
Drawing
Using oil pastels, artists will learn to express a story through objects in a customized still-life composition. Artists will concentrate on accurately capturing the likeness of an object, utilizing the medium, building surface, and creating texture.
Seventh Grade
Painting
Artists will explore painting surface and utilize unique materials in this painting with clay project. Using the oil clay medium, artists will have the opportunity to build thick and textured surfaces while also inventing colors and creating a unique composition.
Eighth Grade
Ceramics
Artists will merge wheel-thrown construction, hand-built alterations and the addition of found objects to create artwork all their own. Inspired by the work of Charles Harlan in our Forum Gallery, artists will focus on the method of wheel throwing and assembling separate pieces to form one cohesive artwork.
Term 2: November 1–22, 2025
Fifth Grade
Drawing
Artists will concentrate on value, mark-making, and drawing from observation through charcoal portraits inspired by their own photographs.
Sixth Grade
Painting
Experiments with watercolor will lead to discoveries about the unique properties of the medium. Artists will use their newly discovered knowledge to create compositions of their own design, focusing on layering, light, and mark-making.
Seventh Grade
Ceramics
Inspired by the Pittsburgh Satellite Reef exhibition, artists will learn to combine separate organic forms to construct one finished ceramic artwork. Artists will utilize the electric wheel to construct basin shapes and alter forms using hand building and surface design.
Eighth Grade
Photo and Film
Utilizing the Black Photojournalism exhibition, students will learn how to artfully document their communities and subjects that are most important to them. Combining photography with poetry, narrative, or expository writing, each student will contribute to a collaborative printed newspaper.
Term 3: January 3–24, 2026
Fifth Grade
Painting
Color mixing, technique, and style will be in the forefront for this acrylic paint-based project. Artists will use monochromatic tones to explore the science of color including the combinations that create new pigments, as well as dark and dull tones.
Sixth Grade
Ceramics
Artists can expect to incorporate handmade ceramic tile and glass to create mosaic artworks. In addition to low relief tile creation, artists will focus on surface design and glass cutting as well as simplifying forms and choosing color combinations to express intention.
Seventh Grade
Photo and Film
Artists will utilize stop motion animation to create customized film artworks. Constructing vision boards, conceptualizing narrative, and designing the aesthetic of the work will be points of emphasis for the project.
Eight Grade
Drawing
Creating dynamic marks, mixing materials, and building techniques will be the focus for this drawing project. Artists will incorporate hand-drawn images, painted surfaces, and screen prints of personal photography to create narrative artwork.
Term 4: February 7–28, 2026
Fifth Grade
Ceramics
Artists will build foundational hand building ceramic skills like slip and score, relief, and sculpture in the round construction, as well as glazing methods in their creation of a narrative sculpture on a slumped base.
Sixth Grade
Photo and Film
Merging sculpture, photography and collage, artists will create a three-dimensional artwork that will expand their understanding of the photography medium. Artists will concentrate on form, construction, and the integration of multiple mediums.
Seventh Grade
Drawing
Concentrating on line, contour, visual texture, and design, artists will use relief printmaking as their drawing medium. Artists will learn to carefully cut away their image and create multiples, curating a collection of prints in alternate colors.
Eight Grade
Painting
Looking to our collection as inspiration, artists will discover that paintings can extend beyond the flat rectangle canvas. Artists will construct new or utilize found objects as painting surfaces to contribute to the artist’s intention, mood, and expression.
Open Studio
Students participating in The Art Connection and Youth Art Studio are invited to attend open studio for additional time to complete projects. December 6, 2025 and March 14, 2026, 10:15 a.m.–1:15 p.m. in the Art Studio.
Registration
Registration will open Friday, August 22, 2025.
