Where to take your kids (young and old) to dabble in the arts — part one

The Enterprise Guide to art classes: With back to school season fully upon us, a little bit of exposure to the arts beyond the classroom can go a long way in helping your kids develop their talents, fine-motor skills, imagination, or just take a break from hitting the books. We’re taking stock of some of the best courses and academies around town that offer visual art classes.

More of a musical family? Stay tuned for part two of our musical activity guide next week, wherein we’ll bring you some of our top picks for music courses and academies.

#1- Place Des Arts is an art center that offers visual art workshops and classes, including comics, sculpting, collages, and drawing and painting. The comics workshop accepts students aged 16 and above, but can make exceptions for younger students, depending on the instructor’s evaluation. Sculpting workshops are also offered for kids 16+.

WHERE- The center is located at 25 Orabi street, Maadi.

PRICE TAG- Workshops range between EGP 1k-4.5k, depending on the type of art and the number of sessions in the workshop.

#2- Arts Empowers academy offers art workshops and arranges exhibitions. Their Junior Artist workshop gives singular weekly sessions to children starting from 5-12 years old, either every Tuesday from 4pm until 5:30pm, or every Saturday from 12 pm until 1:30pm.

There’s an advanced Junior Art workshop for older kids, whichaccepts children between 12-16 years old. The sessions are held every Tuesday from 6pm to 9pm and the students’ final art projects are displayed in seasonal art exhibitions. There are one-day art workshops offered seasonally that are open for all age groups starting from five years old. More details about their classes are usually announced on their social media.

WHERE- Find them in Arkan Plaza, phase two, Sheikh Zayed.

THE PRICE TAG- The Junior Art workshop tailored for 5-7 year olds is going for EGP 1.6k, and the one for the 8-12 age group is for EGP 1.8k, both including materials. The Advanced Junior Art workshop is for EGP 2.2k, excluding the materials, and EGP 2.8k including the materials.

#3- Founded by artist Hoda Kamal, Art Cafe is an art center thatoffers art workshops for kids and adults which include drawing, painting, variety crafts, clay pottery, and origami.

WHERE- One branch is in Maadi and the other in Galleria 40, Sheikh Zayed.

FOR TEENS- The drawing and painting course for children aged 8-14 costs EGP 2.5k a month, while for children aged 13-18 it costs EGP 1k a month.

FOR THE LITTLE ONES- The course is offered for kids aged 4-5 and costs EGP 1.75k.

FOR THE NOT SO LITTLE- It costs EGP 1.8k for 5-12 year olds, which covers a month with one session a week. The price tag on the origami course does not include the cost of the materials.

IF THEY GET BORED EASILY- The variety crafts is a monthly workshop where a new artistic medium is introduced each week during the session. This course is offered to two age groups: Children aged between 3-4 years and those aged 5-8.

THE PRICE TAG- The course for the 3-4 year olds age group costs EGP 1.4k per month and for the 5-8 year olds age group it costs EGP 1.85k.

DON’T MISS THE ORIGAMI COURSE- This course is designed for children from five years old and up, costing only EGP 975 a month.

FOR SENSORY SKILLS- Clay pottery is a course for children aged 5+ teaching pottery wheel techniques to learn how to make a pot, platter, or a tray. The children will be provided with special molds to place the clay in and learn how to sculpt handles and other plate designs.

THE PRICE TAG- The course costs EGP 1.75k for four sessions per month.

#4- Rizkallah Foundation , founded by the late artist Adly Rizkallah, offers both art and music courses. It also has tailored curriculums for each age group, starting from three years and with no age limits for any adult who wants to join.

START ‘EM YOUNG- We highlighted the Art Cocoon course as it targets 3-4 year olds. This course aims to enhance their usage of paints and pencil, in addition to improving their fine motor skills through the simple drawing of shapes, painting techniques, and creating 3D shapes.

WHERE- There are several branches: New Cairo 1 inside Platinum Club, Katameya Residence compound, Leap nursery inside Katameya Plaza Mall, Madinaty compound inside Leap nursery, Dokki, Maadi inside Petals preschool and Sheikh Zayed inside Hewaya Art Center.

THE PRICE TAG- The two-month course runs with eight, 75-minute weekly sessions, costing EGP 2.25k.

Art Ventures is another course offered to 5-6 year olds and 11-month-old children, giving them an introduction into perspective and proportions. It also touches on some advanced patterns, and how to create a theme and design.

THE PRICE TAG- Also a two-month course divided into eight, 75-minute weekly sessions, the course costs EGP 2.6k.

TO IMPROVE TECHNIQUE- The Art Studio course is slightly advanced, targeting 7-12 year olds that intends to teach children shading and proportion, how to draw the human figure, reflections of light, and other artistic themes.

THE PRICE TAG- This is another two-month course, offering eight 75-minute weekly sessions. The course will set you back EGP 2.6k.

THE TEENS- The Art Teens course is tailored for teenagers aged from 12-15 years and introduces them to different art styles and schools. It also focuses on how to draw real portraits.

THE PRICE TAG- This month and a half course offers six weekly sessions, each lasting for 90 minutes which will cost EGP 1.85k. You can also benefit from the early bird discount and pay EGP 1.7k. Note: The course is only available in Sheikh Zayed and New Cairo branches.