The Art Connection

When

Saturday, September 28, 2024–March 1, 2025
10:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m. or 1:15–3:15 p.m.

Where

Carnegie Museum of Art

Program Fee

$105, $85 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 96th year, The Art Connection will challenge students 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 semester, educators will facilitate a new art experience in either painting, drawing, mixed and new media and sculpture or ceramics. Students 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.

Themes

Drawing

How can you make a mark? Students will explore the myriad of techniques, materials, and tools that can be used to create an artwork. From composition and perspective to the proportions of the face and abstraction, we will build from the basics to self-expression.

Painting

We will explore this timeless art-making medium from Realism to Expressionism. Students will build up a surface, create translucent colors, mix colors, learn the unique properties of painting materials, and experiment with tools and techniques that let the material take the lead.

Mixed and New Media

Why stop with one medium? Combine drawing, painting, and sculptural concepts to create one cohesive artwork. Explore the unique properties of each and how they work together. Experiment with additional mediums like digital art, filmmaking, and printmaking, and create an installation or collage to bring the themes together.

Sculpture

Extend your vision from 2-D to 3-D using a variety of sculptural mediums and techniques. Utilize clay in our professional ceramics studio, assemble cut glass to create a mosaic, or transform found objects into an engineering masterpiece.

Exhibition

The culminating exhibition will be on view April 12–21, 2025. A Youth Celebration and Opening Reception will take place on Sat., April 12, 2025. Any student that completes a project will be eligible to take part in the Exhibition.

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 28–October 19
Term 2: November 2–November 23
Term 3: January 4–January 25
Term 4: February 8–March 1

Registration