Volume 107 | October 2026 | | |
January and February Registration is
Almost Here!
Ready to try something new or dive deeper into a craft you love?
Explore glass art, ceramics, painting, mixed media and more!
Class enrollment goes LIVE on
Wednesday, November 4th at 9:30am!
Important Enrollment Update: A NEW enrollment process was implemented for summer registration. If you have not signed up for a class since Spring, you will need to set up an account before you are able to enroll in any classes. Review the step-by-step guide here or watch the informational videos here.
| | November and December Classes are Still Available! | | |
We now offer art classes year round, with plenty of evening and weekend options to fit your schedule. Try the pottery wheel, fused glass, mixed media, and more.
No experience needed, just bring your curiosity!
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DRAWING FOR BEGINNERS
Mondays
Nov. 2 - Nov. 23
10a.m. - 1p.m.
REGISTER
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EXPRESSIVE MIXED MEDIA
Mondays
Nov. 2 - Nov. 23
2 - 4:30p.m.
REGISTER
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INTRO TO ACOUSTIC GUITAR
Tuesdays
Nov. 3 - Nov. 24
4 - 5:30p.m.
REGISTER
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JOY OF OIL PAINTING
Wednesdays
Nov. 4 - Nov. 18
1:30-4:30p.m.
REGISTER
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THE ART OF HEALING
Saturday
Nov. 14
10a.m. - 12p.m.
REGISTER
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THE ART OF ICING: FRIENDSGIVING
Saturday
Nov. 14
12 - 2p.m.
REGISTER
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COLLAGE AND STORYTELLING:
LAYERS OF MEANING
Thursday
Nov. 19
6 - 8p.m.
REGISTER
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FUSED GLASS ORNAMENTS
Thursday
Dec. 10
6 - 8p.m.
REGISTER
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THE ART OF ICING: CHRISTMAS
Sunday
Dec. 13
12 - 2p.m.
REGISTER
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UNTANGLE YOUR MIND: BEGINNER ZENTANGLE
Thursday - Saturday
January 14 - 16
6:30 - 8:30pm
REGISTER
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PLUMERIA JEWELRY WORKSHOP
Friday
January 29
9am - 1pm
REGISTER
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FELTED VESSEL WITH PALM INFLORESCENCE
Tuesday - Thursday
February 9 - 11
9am - 4pm
REGISTER
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Is there an instructor outside of OTAS you've been wanting to learn from?
Let us know HERE!
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Discover your inner artist in
Paint Your Own Pottery!
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Now that the kids are back in the swing of school and the holidays are just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to carve out a little fun together. Our Paint Your Own Pottery studio is a welcoming spot for families, friends, and creatives of every age, no experience needed!
Choose a piece, pick your colors, and settle in for a morning or afternoon of relaxed, hands-on creativity. Whether it’s a weekend outing with the kids, a get-together with friends, or a one-of-a-kind keepsake for someone on your holiday list, there’s something here for everyone.
Open Monday-Saturday | 10am-5pm
Last seating at 3pm
Your studio fee includes paints, glazing, firing, and staff guidance.
Gather your people, pick your piece, and make something you’ll treasure!
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Three OTAS Artists Heading to The Cheech
Frank Lemus, Angel Prudencio, Isaac Vargas
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Made in Coachella opens October 31 at The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art and Culture in Downtown Riverside.
We’re proud to share that three members of our Old Town Artisan Studios family, Isaac Vargas, Frank Lemus, and Angel Prudencio, are part of Made in Coachella. The exhibition celebrates the collaborative spirit of Coachella Valley artists and how community, environment, and shared experience shape the region’s creative output. Meet the artists below, then see their work in person!
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Frank Lemus
Frank came to art through graffiti in 2007, studied in art school in 2015, and took his first wheel-throwing class at OTAS in 2022, which shifted his focus to ceramics. “Working at Old Town Artisan Studios has made all the difference,” he says.
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“There is so much to learn and everyone is supporting each other.” The desert shows up in his work, he says, “more in the relationship between artists than literally.”
He describes his work in three words: balanced, patterns, graffiti. His favorite places to find inspiration are community and family events. Up next, Frank is focusing on larger ceramic works and incorporating new techniques into them.
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Angel Prudencio
Angel’s piece, Desert Rats, is a love letter to the Coachella Valley. The title plays on terms like “gym rat,” “mall rat,” and “river rat,” for someone who spends a lot of time in a place they love. The story behind it is personal. Angel moved to the Valley in 2013 from Guadalajara, Mexico, and it was a culture shock. “As the weeks, months, and years passed, I began to feel a sense of belonging and community,” he says.
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“Being a desert rat means more than living in the desert. It is feeling connected to this place and being proud to call it home.”
Inspiration is everywhere, he says, from patterns, colors, shapes, and textures on a walk or drive to the Valley’s flora and landscapes. Angel has felt a creative “itch” since he was very young, and curiosity and playfulness keep him making. Being surrounded by talented artists at OTAS has pushed him outside his comfort zone. His advice for everyone: “Check out the creative community the Valley has to offer.” Next, he’s developing a new series of ceramic glazes.
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Isaac Vargas
For Isaac, having his work at The Cheech is deeply personal. “Growing up as a Latino, it was always very rare to see artworks of our people at museums,” he says. “To be able to display my work is very, very honorable.”
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Isaac’s creative path began around age six, watching his grandmother’s husband, a true Renaissance man who built his own frames and brushes in his wood shop. Years later, his creativity blossomed, and the Valley’s art community gave him the encouragement to keep going.
The desert runs through everything he makes. His backgrounds, pastels, paints, and ceramics lean on earthen tones that lead back to the desert landscape, and his characters often carry pieces of his own story: luchadores, animals, and masks.
| | Made in Coachella opens Saturday, October 31 at The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art and Culture in Downtown Riverside. Come see our artists’ work alongside others from across the Valley. | |
Frank's Fall Festival Brings Autumn Fun to the Community
More than 400 local residents filled our campus on Saturday, October 24, for our very first Frank’s Fall Festival, an idea sparked by OTAS staff member Frank Lemus! Families in costume went trick-or-treating, got their faces painted, played lawn games, and dove into hands-on art activities. Visitors also wandered through our Pumpkin Lantern Patch, where more than 40 one-of-a-kind handcrafted ceramic pumpkins, lit up the afternoon. These pumpkins were created by staff for the benefit of the OTAS ceramics program.
Thanks to the families, volunteers, and community members who made the day so special. We’re delighted to share that Frank’s Fall Festival is now a signature OTAS tradition, so mark your calendars for next fall!
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OTAS Expanding Youth Arts Programming Thanks to Grant
More valley children will have opportunities to explore their creativity, thanks to an Impact Grant from the H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation. OTAS plans to expand its Youth Art Outreach Programs, bringing hands-on art experiences to underserved and under-resourced children throughout the Coachella Valley. OTAS expects to reach about 150 to 250 additional underserved youth during the 2026–2027 program year through the funding, which will support transportation, art supplies, equipment upgrades, and improvements to the organization’s outreach classroom and mobile programming infrastructure.
We extend our gratitude to the H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation, as well as KESQ news. Watch the story HERE!
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SoundCheck - Calling all Teen Musicians!
SoundCheck is a program for high school musicians (ages 14–18) to collaborate, create, and perform with peers in a supportive environment. Teens in the program will gain access to mentorship, group meetings, and guest speakers focused on musicianship, creativity, and collaboration. Each session cycle culminates in a live showcase where friends, family, and the community are invited to celebrate the growth and talent of these emerging artists. Whether you’re refining your technique, exploring new sounds, or gaining stage experience, SoundCheck empowers young musicians to find their voice and thrive together.
To join SoundCheck, complete the interest form HERE.
For questions, please contact submissions@oldtownartisanstudios.org.
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SWING INTO FALL
PLEIN AIR QUICKDRAW
Friday, November 13
9:30am - 11:30am
LEARN MORE
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HOLIDAY ART MARKET
Saturday, November 28
10am - 4pm
LEARN MORE
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GINGERBREAD LANE
Saturdays
December 12 & 19
11am - 4pm
LEARN MORE
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VISITING ARTIST SERIES
Multiple events and workshops throughout the season.
LEARN MORE
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OPEN STUDIO TOURS
Friday, February 26 and
Saturday, February 27
11am - 4pm
LEARN MORE
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SPRING ART MARKET
Saturday, March 20
10am - 4pm
MORE INFO COMING SOON!
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Are you passionate about community, creativity, and making a lasting impact? With your help, we can bring art and music to everyone in our Coachella Valley community.
Please fill out the online volunteer application by clicking the button below. Afterwards, we encourage you to come to our next Volunteer Orientation.
November 11th from 10:00-11:00am
Now seeking volunteers for our annual Gingerbread Lane event! Learn more HERE!
| | | COMING SOON! Something Exciting is Brewing! | | |
You may have noticed there are some renovations happening on campus! OTAS is thrilled to be adding two new additions: Fran's Café and Old Town Art Supply. We’re creating even more reasons to stay on campus longer to gather, create, and find inspiration.
There’s lots to look forward to! Stay tuned for more details!
| | | Caregiver Appreciation Program | | |
We're grateful for all you do! For each of the selfless caregivers who walk through our doors, we will be offering one FREE class a year to thank you for your work and the help you provide our students.
All caregivers who have supported their student on the Old Town Artisan Studios campus at least once are eligible. Each free class must be used within one year of the date it was awarded and may not roll over into the next year.
To apply, click HERE.
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We're Growing Our Team - Now Hiring!
If you're passionate about art, community, and creativity,
we’d love to have you on board!
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Art Instructors (Part-Time)
We're looking for talented instructors in various mediums to inspire students of all ages. Inquire with Angel Cunningham at angel@oldtownartisanstudios.org.
Visiting Artist Instructors
We're looking for visiting instructors in various mediums to teach new and exciting workshops. Inquire with Angel Cunningham at angel@oldtownartisanstudios.org.
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Old Town Artisan Studios is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit committed to providing art experiences for all people regardless of age, ability, or financial condition. We believe art is healing and has an everlasting impact on each of us and the world around us.
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