You're in the right place.
Whatever brings you here,there's a place for you here.
CAC has been a gathering place for Dallas artists for over 60 years. Whether you've never held a brush or you've been throwing pottery for decades — our instructors, our studios, and our community are ready for you. This page will help you find your footing.
60+
Years serving the Dallas arts community
500+
Classes offered every year across all disciplines
All Levels
Complete beginners to working professionals, side by side
Whatever door you walk through — you'll find your people.
Our students come for the classes. They stay for the community. Many have been returning session after session for years. The studio is a gathering place as much as a classroom.
✦ 1,500 students share this space each year
✦ Small classes mean real connection
✦ Many students return every session
Where are you right now?
I want to try something new
You're curious about making art — maybe you have a medium in mind, maybe you don't yet. You don't need to know where you're going to take a first step.
And you'll find your people here. Most of our students remember exactly what their first class felt like. That shared experience is its own kind of welcome.
I'm getting back into art
You've made art before. Maybe it's been years — life got in the way. You know what you love. Our instructors will meet your skills exactly where they are.
And you'll find your people here. You'll be surprised how many students in the room have the same story.
I want to develop my craft
You already work in a medium and you want instruction that challenges you. Our teaching artists are working professionals — they'll push your work and tell you the truth about it.
And you'll find your people here. Serious students learn from each other as much as from instructors.
How much time do you have?
What makes CAC different?
Expert Instructors
Our teachers are working artists with BFAs, MFAs, and active exhibition histories. They're not just teachers — they're practitioners.
Small Classes
Class sizes are intentionally small. Your instructor knows your name, your work, and where you want to take it. You're not a seat number
Studios & Tools Provided
Show up ready to work — our studios are fully equipped. Most classes include materials. Check individual class listings for any class-specific requirements.
Real Community
Our students return session after session — not just for the classes, but for each other. The studio is a gathering place as much as a classroom
In their own words
I have nothing but respect for Nathan and my ceramics courses at CAC have fostered the flame of creativity within me. I also enjoy interacting with the other students, seeing what they are doing, and learning from them.
Working with such an amazing artist and getting to watch him work alongside us during our class is very inspiring.
Working artists. Real teachers.
Kay Byfield
Kay Byfield is a watercolor artist and educator who holds a Master of Fine Arts degree and spent nine years teaching college-level art, including five as a college art professor. President of the Southwestern Watercolor Society, she brings decades of experience and a passion for helping adult learners at every level find their own path to meaningful artistic expression.
Brad Ford Smith
Brad Ford Smith is a Dallas-based visual artist, fine arts conservator, and gallery-represented ink draftsman whose work spans drawing, painting, photography, and sculpture. As featured in the Lakewood/East Dallas Advocate, he recently published three books including a chapbook of drawings documenting forgotten sites of Dallas history — bringing a deep, locally-rooted artistic perspective to every class he teaches.
Nathan Portnoy
Nathan Portnoy is a Texas-trained ceramicist with a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Dallas and over 15 years of hands-on experience working in clay, including studio time alongside renowned potter Randy Brodnax. With 8 years of teaching experience ranging from at-risk youth to college students and currently at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, he brings both serious craft credentials and a genuine passion for making art accessible to everyone.
Questions we hear most often
Do I need any experience?
No experience is required for most of our classes. Our instructors teach to the room — if you're new, they'll meet you there. Check individual class descriptions for any prerequisites.
What do I need to bring?
Just yourself. Our studios are fully equipped with tools and equipment. Most classes include materials — check the individual class page for any specific supply requirements.
Are materials included?
Most classes include core materials in the class fee. Some classes that use specific consumable supplies may list additional requirements. This will always be clear on the individual class listing.
What if I miss a class?
We understand life happens. Contact us directly if you need to miss a session and we'll let you know your options. Make-up policies vary by class and instructor.
Can I take the same class more than once?
Absolutely — and many of our students do exactly that. Repeating a class is one of the best ways to go deeper on a technique. Each session brings a slightly different group and your skills compound session over session.
What's your refund policy?
See our full policy for all details.
Find your class and save your spot. Ready when you are.
Classes fill up — especially in popular disciplines. Browse now, enroll when you're ready. Registration takes about 2 minutes and your spot is confirmed immediately.
✦ Small classes — real individual attention
✦ Most classes include all materials
✦ You can take the same class again
✦ Refunds available 14+ days before class
✦ Questions? info@creativeartscenter.org
Not ready to enroll? Sign up below to hear when new sessions open.