Capitol Hill Arts Workshop

I love this place! It feels like my jr high art class — with all of the freedom to create that came with it. I’ve taken photography and guitar classes and used the open darkroom. I especially love that they offer tuition assistance so that anyone who wants to take a class can regardless of ability to pay the fees. Arts for All!

CHAW has been on the Hill for years, providing arts classes in all the art forms to children and adults. It has remained consistently excellent in offerings, while continuing to grow and change with the community. CHAW says YES to new and exciting as well as old and tried and true classes!

A real mixed bag. I took a class here once and enjoyed it. But the Friday night open sessions are terrible. Expensive and the guy who runs the sessions talks constantly.

There was a Unilocal event here where you make pottery for a charity, and they sold the bowls we made for the non profit.
I had so much fun making the bowls, I would love to come back and work on some other art projects :)

I’ve now taken two classes here — both in ceramics, and I really feel at home in the chill atmosphere. I get enough guidance to learn a new skill — but not a lot of rules, regimens, and pressure.
There are plenty of options too, and while some of the basics seem to be available consistently each semester (oil painting, figure drawing, theater) — there are always a few new and different options (I’m still wishing I’d taken taiko drumming when it was offered!)
It is definitely a bit of a budget stretch — but more reasonable than some other local art classes I’ve checked out. Also of note they have financial assistance available, I’ve never applied but have heard people discuss getting tuition help who were really happy with it.
They’re super convenient to metro (eastern market) as well, maybe a 4 minute walk?

Yeah, so there is a DC Unilocaler who is the exec director of this place, and he invited anyone on over to check out the Workshop. Guess who finally checked it out? Yep– that would be me, Miss Punctual.
Totally keep an eye on Capitol Hill’s Arts Workshop’s (CHAW) website because that’s what I did and I saw there was an Open House. Not only was it a fun event, but they offered FREE classes in yoga, art, hip-​hop and pilates. If you signed up for a class at the Open House, they would give you a discount. I was waffling on the jewelry making class and the instructor happened to be there and she took my info and said if I called her this week, she would still give me the lower price. Sweet!
I would feel good about taking a class here as it is a non-​profit, community-​based group. Other than the classrooms there is a recital hall, an art gallery, an open photo darkroom and a pottery studio. CHAW also presents movies in a series called «Films on the Hill.» Classic and not so classic flicks for $ 5.