A welcoming, drop-in teen art studio—where you can explore new materials, make friends, and grow as an artist.

Creative exploration and community go hand in hand at Teen Art Studio (TAS) for ages 13 to 18. Guided by a teaching artist, you can try new materials, develop your own ideas, and connect with others in a relaxed environment. It’s a space to grow as an artist and have fun doing it.

Come as you are. No pressure, just possibilities.
Every Second Saturday of the month, the studio becomes a creative zone where you can try something new, meet people who get you, and see your ideas come to life—with guidance from a teaching artist and no pressure to be perfect.

Come once or as often as you like.
Teen Art Studio is a drop-in program, so you can come once or as often as you like. Many teens return month after month to build skills, portfolios, and friendships. Teaching artist Shana Bazelmans brings experience, guidance, and creative prompts to help your ideas take shape. It’s not just about making art—it’s about feeling seen and inspired.

Reserve your spot—it helps us prep materials, and you can still drop in if you decide last-minute.

What to Know
When: Every Second Saturday, 10:30am–1:30pm
Where: American Mural Project, 90 Whiting Street, Winsted, CT
Cost: $5 materials fee per session, or free with an AMP Student Membership ($25/year)
What’s included: All materials, mural exhibit admission, and access to Family Day activities
How to join: Reserve your spot—it helps us prep materials. Walk-ins are also welcome.

The Teen Art Studio 2025–26 Season
Every Second Saturday, 10:30am–1:30pm
September 13
October 11
November 8
December 13
January 10
February 14
March 14
April 11
May 9
June 13

AMP’s Teen Art Studio is one of the few drop-in teen art programs in Northwest Connecticut where young artists can explore painting, sculpture, and mixed media in a welcoming studio environment. Whether you’re looking for teen art classes in CT or creative things to do for teens in Winsted, TAS offers a hands-on, community-based experience every Second Saturday—no prior experience needed.

Reserve your spot: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/teen-art-studio-amp-tickets-1513856307969?aff=oddtdtcreator

Spend an afternoon writing poetry that draws on your own work experiences, surrounded by AMPs monumental artistic tribute to workers.

About the Workshop:
Write about the work that shaped your life—surrounded by an indoor mural that honors it. This half-day workshop invites older adults to explore their own stories of work, purpose, and identity through poetry.

Guided by poets Steve Straight and Elizabeth Thomas, you will reflect on personal experiences, draw inspiration from AMP’s mural, and craft original poems in a relaxed, artistic setting. No prior writing experience is needed.

Who It’s For:
Adults ages 55+ who are interested in exploring creative writing, whether you’re a longtime journaler or trying poetry for the first time, you’ll find resonance with others in a group where every story matters.

What to Expect:
A guided creative poetry writing workshop designed for older adults
Inspiration drawn from AMP’s 120-foot indoor mural of American workers
Supportive instruction from two respected poet-educators
Opportunities to explore, create, share, and connect
Time to explore AMP’s inspiring mural gallery

Meet the Instructors:
Steve Straight is a poet and retired professor of English and director of the poetry program at Manchester Community College. His book Affirmation received the 2023 William Meredith Award for Poetry.

Elizabeth Thomas is a poet, educator, and founder of UpWords Poetry. A Master Teaching Artist for the Connecticut Office of the Arts and The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts, she leads poetry workshops nationwide.

About the Mural Gallery at AMP:
AMP’s spacious mural gallery, set in a renovated historic mill building, combines industrial charm with a distinctive artistic atmosphere. Its centerpiece is the incredible indoor mural—120 feet long and five stories high—that celebrates American workers on a grand scale.

With the mural as the backdrop to the workshop—and three levels for viewing and reflecting—you’ll have a rare opportunity to write in a space that honors creativity, work, and the stories that shape us.

You will leave with new poems, fresh inspiration, and a deeper appreciation for your own work stories—and how those stories connect to others and to the mural.

Register today!

Teen Art Studio is a welcoming art makerspace just for teens.

Every Second Saturday of the month, from 10:30am to 1:30pm, teens transform the program room with their laughter, inquiring minds, and art. Teen Art Studio (TAS) is a once-a-month, drop-in program that empowers teens to work independently and together on self-directed art projects.

Facilitated by beloved teaching artist Shana Bazelmans, TAS is a welcoming place for teens to:

Be themselves.

Have fun making art while making friends.

Try their hand at varied mediums (e.g., drawing, painting, sculpture, fashion, photography).

Expand their knowledge of the visual arts.

Explore major artworks.

Build their art portfolios.

Embark on a collective artistic journey in a relaxed, sociable studio environment, with the guidance of the teaching artist.

New teens can join at any time!
The program is drop-in and free with student admission ($5) or an annual AMP student pass. For details, email michelle@americanmuralproject.org.

Second Saturdays, 10:30am to 1:30pm
Upcoming Dates:
December 14
January 11
February 8
March 8
April 12
May 3
June 14

Teen Art Studio is made possible in part by The Torrington Savings Bank Foundation, Renee Chatelain and Kevin Lyle.

The Connecticut Art Trail is pleased to announce its expansion to 24 member museums and cultural sites in 2024 with the addition of Eastern Connecticut State University’s Art Gallery (Eastern Art Gallery). Additionally, The Carousel Museum and Five Points Arts join as affiliate members. The expansion brings new opportunities for residents and visitors to participate in the Trail’s unique Passport program — providing access to rich cultural and arts experiences throughout the state.

The Eastern Art Gallery has been the university’s on-campus cultural incubator for four decades. The museum features exhibitions of contemporary art intended to inspire students, faculty, and the community and has dedicated itself to advancing the school’s public liberal arts mission. Eastern Art Gallery provides exhibition programming with depth and relevance to multiple disciplines and a diverse campus and community audience.

“We are thrilled to announce Eastern Art Gallery as the 24th member of the Connecticut Art Trail and sixth location in eastern Connecticut,” said Carey Mack Weber, President of the Connecticut Art Trail and the Frank and Clara Meditz Executive Director at the Fairfield University Art Museum. “Eastern Art Gallery and the university are tremendous partners in championing our state’s incredible creative and cultural spaces. Also, the addition of The Carousel Museum and Five Points Arts as affiliate members further diversify the cultural landscape available to all Connecticut Art Trail Passport holders.”

The Art Trail’s expansion signifies an unwavering commitment to making art accessible to everyone. For $35 art enthusiasts can purchase a Passport at ctarttrail.org or a member museum. Good for the year, the Passport provides one-time admission to each of 24 locations – 24 museums and the two affiliate members. This affordability aligns perfectly with the rising trend of “third spaces” – welcoming environments outside of home and work where individuals can connect, relax, and engage in enriching low-cost or no-cost activities. With more than two dozen unique destinations to explore, the Connecticut Art Trail offers a tremendous opportunity for residents and visitors to tap into accessible cultural experiences in every corner of Connecticut.

Trail explorers can gain more than an enriching experience by visiting Connecticut Art Trail museums and cultural sites. With every sticker collected at a participating museum, Trail explorers are one step closer to being entered in a grand prize drawing. Collect all 24 unique stickers and drop the completed Passport off at your final museum destination to be eligible for an overnight stay for two at the Delamar West Hartford — complete with a couples massage.