The Duluth Art Institute enriches daily life with dynamic, innovative visual arts programming that upholds excellence and promotes inclusive community participation.

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EVENTS & EDUCATION

Before registering, please review the registration information & policies at the bottom of this page. 

Upcoming

  • Weekly Afternoon Open Studio

    • 09 Jan 2024
    • 01 Apr 2025
    • 117 sessions
    Register


    Weekly Open Studio 

    Tuesdays, 12:30pm-3:30pm


    Lincoln Park Building

    Ages 16+

    Nonmembers: 1 free session, then $10/session

    DAI Student, Individual, and Family Members: 3 free sessions, then $5/session

    DAI Collector, Contributing, and Benefactor members: FREE


    Bring your supplies and artistic visions to the beautiful and inspiring historic Lincoln Park Building. Connect with other creative people and spend time experimenting with your medium of choice. Each session will include time to create and optional end-of-session group critiques.


    How to Sign Up for Open Studio Sessions: 


    1) Purchase sessions online or in person prior to session, or claim your free sessions

    - Nonmembers receive 1 free session, then may register weekly for $10/session.

    - DAI Student, Individual, and Family members receive three free open studio sessions, then may purchase sessions for $5/session in increments of 1, 5, 10, and 15.

    - DAI Collector, Contributing, and Benefactor members may attend open studios for free!


    2) Arrive at the Lincoln Park Building, sign in, and create art! 

    Check in with Karen, Kris, or Sarah and sign in on the sign up sheet. The DAI will track the number of sessions you attend. 


    Scholarships are available. Please email jswitters@duluthartinstitute.org for more information. 



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  • Independent Study in Clay with Sheila Staubus

    • 04 Jan 2025
    • 01 Mar 2025
    • 8 sessions
    • DAI Lincoln Park Building (2229 W. 2nd St.)
    • 0
    Registration is closed


    Independent Study in Clay with Sheila Staubus

    Saturdays (8 sessions) 

    January 4–March 1 (No class February 15)

    Registration Deadline: December 30


    10:00am–12:30pm

    DAI Lincoln Park Building 

    2229 W. 2nd St. 

    Ages 16+

    $285 ($330 Non-Member)


    Join us in creative clay work this winter!  We will have 7 weeks for making wet work.  Class will end with a gas cone 10 firing and an electric cone 7 firing.  Previous clay experience preferred.


    Students are encouraged to work outside of the arranged class time. The studio is open 7 days a week depending on clay studio monitor availability. All students will be given a monitor schedule. 


    Previous clay experience required. Structured for exploring techniques to create functional pottery, but students are welcome to explore other interests as well.


     


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  • Figure Drawing Open Studio

    • 04 Jan 2025
    • 06 Dec 2025
    • 12 sessions
    • DAI Lincoln Park Building (2229 W 2nd St)
    Register


    DAI Lincoln Park Building

    First Saturday of the month 10 AM - 12 PM

    $10 for members and $15 for non-members

    Artists must individually register online for each session.

    Check-in at the door is required.

    Attendees must be 18+

    Sessions are open to all serious artists, from beginner to expert. Every session includes a live model, starting with short gestural poses and moving into longer holds. Work time is self-directed, no instruction offered. Headphones and water bottles are welcome. Paper, sketching materials, and easels are available.


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  • Weekly Evening Open Studio

    • 08 Jan 2025
    • 30 Dec 2026
    • 104 sessions
    • DAI Lincoln Park Building (2229 W 2nd St)
    Register


    Weekly Evening Open Studio 

    Wednesdays, 5:00pm–8:00pm

    Lincoln Park Building

    Ages 16+

    Nonmembers: 1 free session, then $10/session

    DAI Student, Individual, and Family Members: 3 free sessions, then $5/session

    DAI Collector, Contributing, and Benefactor members: FREE


    Open Studio is a flexible space designed for artists to make connections and foster growth in our local art community.

    Artists are encouraged to bring their artwork in any medium to create in the studio. In this supportive community space, artists can socialize or focus on their creations. Each meeting facilitates an optional group critique at 7pm. Artists may also request critique before they work.


    How to Sign Up for Open Studio Sessions: 


    1) Purchase sessions online or in person prior to session, or claim your free sessions

    - Nonmembers receive 1 free session, then may register weekly for $10/session.

    - DAI Student, Individual, and Family members receive three free open studio sessions, then may purchase sessions for $5/session in increments of 1, 5, 10, and 15.

    - DAI Collector, Contributing, and Benefactor members may attend open studios for free!


    2) Arrive at the Lincoln Park Building, sign in, and create art! 

    Check in with Lin or Jesse and sign in on the sign up sheet. The DAI will track the number of sessions you attend. 


    Scholarships are available. Please email jswitters@duluthartinstitute.org for more information. 



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  • Ceramic wheel throwing for absolute beginners

    • 29 Jan 2025
    • 19 Mar 2025
    • 8 sessions
    • DAI Lincoln Park Building (2229 W 2nd St)
    • 0
    Join waitlist


    Ceramic Wheel Throwing for Absolute Beginners

    Wednesdays (8 sessions)

    January 29–March 19, 2024

    5:30–8:00 pm

    DAI Lincoln Park Building

    2229 W 2nd Street

    Ages 16+

    $285 ($330 Non-Member)

    Registration Deadline: January 15, 2025

    This class is intended for students with no or very limited experience throwing pots on the wheel to explore the medium and gain a solid foundation helpful in more advanced classes.

    Learn to center, create basic forms on the wheel, and trim and finish your pots, practicing the basic forms to get comfortable working with clay on the wheel. Try multiple techniques to find what works best, and experience the properties of clay as a material.

    Using stoneware clay and an electric kiln, students will create handmade dishwasher and microwave-safe original ceramics.

    (Previous attendees of "Beginning Clay" are encouraged to register for an independent study or advanced ceramics class as this class is for students who haven't attended a ceramics class at the DAI)

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  • Drawing with Confidence with Matt Kania

    • 04 Feb 2025
    • 25 Feb 2025
    • 4 sessions
    • DAI Lincoln Park Building (2229 W 2nd St)
    • 2
    Register



    Drawing with Confidence with Matt Kania

    Tuesdays (4 sessions)

    February 4–25

    5:30pm–8:30pm

    DAI Lincoln Park Building

    2229 W 2nd Street

    Ages 18+

    $190 ($215 Non-Member)

    Registration Deadline: January 27

    This class will be a great opportunity to use a variety of art materials to create captivating images. We will use charcoal, graphite, chalk, contè crayon, ink, textured paper, color paper, and more while learning how to observe, measure, sketch, and craft compelling compositions. 

    Students will learn fundamental drawing skills – finding shapes and edges, measuring proportions, determining values, and using perspective. Most importantly, students will learn to overcome doubts about their ability to draw and render with confidence. Matt will demonstrate techniques, and together we will practice, review, and share.  

    This class is designed for beginners wanting to learn the fundamentals of drawing and seasoned artists looking to develop new skills.

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  • Youth Photo Club

    • 10 Feb 2025
    • 12 May 2025
    • 4 sessions
    • 2229 W. 2nd St. Duluth, MN 55806
    • 4
    Register


    Youth Photography Club (Ages 13+)

    Mondays February 10, March 10, April 14, May 12

    4:15pm–6:45pm 

    DAI Lincoln Park Building 

    2229 W 2nd Street

    $80 Member ($100 Non-Member)

    Join the Youth Photography Club at the Duluth Art Institute. For teens aged 13 and up, this monthly educational session is open to anyone wanting to express themselves creatively through photography. Our time together includes field trips, individual and group projects, short info sessions,1 to 1 skill development and discussion of each other’s work. Participants are allowed to use any type of camera, including their phones. We also have a few digital cameras to use during the sessions when needed.

    Students are encouraged to explore new techniques, think outside the box, develop their own ideas, and learn to collaborate on projects, all while learning technical and aesthetic skills pertaining to photography. We use fun games and short assignments to introduce basic photography skills, and strengthen approaches to composition. Students also get to experiment with studio lighting and darkroom techniques. 

    Artists are encouraged to bring their own equipment (digital cameras, film cameras, phones, etc), but the DAI will have a limited number of cameras on hand. Contact Jesse at jswitters@duluthartinstitute.org with questions about equipment.

    Partial and full scholarships are available on a first come first serve basis. Please email Jesse at jswitters@duluthartinstitute.org if you're interested in registering with a scholarship!


    This program supported by:



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  • Beginning Watercolor 1 with Linnaea Borealis Rose

    • 10 Feb 2025
    • 31 Mar 2025
    • 8 sessions
    • DAI Lincoln Park Building (2229 W 2nd St)
    • 1
    Register


    Beginning Watercolor 1

    Mondays (8 sessions)

    February 10–March 31, 2025

    6:00pm–8:00pm

    DAI Lincoln Park Building

    2229 W 2nd Street

    Ages 16+

    $190 ($220 Non-Member)

    Registration Deadline: January 27, 2025

    Enter the world of watercolor with instructor Linnaea Borealis Rose. Through this 8-week course, you will learn the basics of watercolor—perfect for brand-new beginners or artists looking to strengthen their fundamentals. Supply list for paper and paints will be provided upon registration. 

    Meet your instructor: https://www.instagram.com/linnaea_borealis_rose/

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  • Valentines Day Wine and Clay Night

    • 14 Feb 2025
    • 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
    • DAI Lincoln Park Building (2229 W 2nd St)
    • 0
    Join waitlist


    Valentines Day Wine & Clay Night

    Friday, February 14
    6:00pm-9:00pm
    DAI Lincoln Park Building
    2229 W 2nd Street
    21+

    $160 per couple

    Registration deadline January 31, 2025


    Immerse yourself in an evening of creativity and connection led by Ashley Hise. Beginner-friendly and perfect for partners, this experience will include a professional clay demonstration, hands on experience at the throwing wheel, and personalizing your own mug. End the night with a selection of delicious wines and appetizers.

    Each person will receive their own personalized mug from the evening once they have been fired, roughly two weeks following class.

    Meet your instructor! https://www.ashleyhise.com/

    No single tickets available—one ticket good for two partners.
    Email info@duluthartinstitute.org to add additional tickets to bundle.



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  • February Free ArtDAI

    • 15 Feb 2025
    • 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
    • DAI Lincoln Park Building, 2229 W 2nd Street
    Register


    February Free ArtDAI

    Saturday, February 15  |  1:00pm–4:00pm

    DAI Lincoln Park Building, 2229 W 2nd Street

    All Ages

    FREE

    Sign up here to volunteer to teach an art project!

    A beloved tradition. Stop in for a FREE, casual, creative art-making afternoon and learn to make simple, fun crafts that can be customized for artists of all ages.

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  • Art Night Out: Ellen Sandbeck and Tali Margolin

    • 20 Feb 2025
    • 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM
    • DAI Downtown, 130 West Superior Street, Suite 400
    Register

    Art Night Out: Ellen Sandbeck and Tali Margolin

    Thursday, February 20, 2025

    5:30pm–8:00pm

    DAI Downtown, 130 West Superior Street, Suite 400

    All Ages

    FREE

    Volunteer for this event here

    Public event, all are welcome! Gather in the galleries to learn from on-view artists Ellen Sandbeck and Tali Margolin at this double reception and artist talk that will explore, through two artists' perspectives, the human habitat.

    Uncover the stories behind the wildlife featured in As Long as The Rivers Shall Run, and take part in conversation about the role humans play in our changing natural landscape. Then, explore the more psychological, autobiographical notion of home featured in Navigating Moments. Snacks, beverages, and portable in-gallery seating provided.

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  • BAM Birkenstein Art movement (Lincoln Park)

    • 13 Mar 2025
    • 22 May 2025
    • 10 sessions
    • DAI Lincoln Park Building (2229 W. 2nd St.)
    • 9
    Register


    BAM Birkenstein Art Movement (Lincoln Park)

    Thursdays (10 sessions) 

    March 13-May 22 (No class April 3)

    5:00pm–7:00pm

    DAI Lincoln Park Building 

    2229 W. 2nd St. 

    Grades 7

    FREE (Please register here on the website)


    The Birkenstein Art Movement (BAM) for 7th graders is a project inspired by civil rights leader Jean Birkenstein. The goal of BAM is to use the creative process as a tool to support individualized learning.

    Hosted weekly at the Lincoln Park Building of the DAI, the program is provided at no cost to participants. The session runs from 5-7pm. This is an ideal opportunity for students to delve into their creative interests while gaining leadership experience. We are also happy to compensate participants fuel cost for transportation. (Available on request)

    Middle schoolers explore disciplines such as ceramics, multimedia, painting, sketching, photography, and murals while also learning the difference between social movements, social activism, and protests. Each year, the program offers different opportunities for students to showcase their growth and achievements. Past projects have included presentations, exhibitions, and even a visit to city hall.


     This program is made possible by a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board

    Questions? Please email jswitters@dulutthartinsttitute.org


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  • Kids Clay Camp at the DAI

    • 31 Mar 2025
    • 03 Apr 2025
    • 4 sessions
    • DAI Lincoln Park Building (2229 W. 2nd St.)
    • 2
    Register



    Kids Clay Camp at the DAI

    Monday–Thursday (Spring break)

    March 31–April 3

    9:30am–11:30am 

    Ages 9–13

    FREE



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  • BAM Birkenstein Art movement (Duluth Public Library)

    • 03 Apr 2025
    • 22 May 2025
    • 8 sessions
    • DAI Lincoln Park Building (2229 W. 2nd St.)
    • 9
    Register


    BAM Birkenstein Art Movement (Duluth Public Library)

    (Gold room)

    Thursdays (8 sessions) 

    April 3–May 22

    5:00pm–7:00pm

    (6:15pm–8:00pm on 4/24 and 5/22)


    Duluth Public Library 

    520 W Superior St.

    Grade 7

    FREE (Please register here on the website)


    The Birkenstein Art Movement (BAM) for 7th graders is a project inspired by civil rights leader Jean Birkenstein. The goal of BAM is to use the creative process as a tool to support individualized learning.

    Hosted weekly in the "Gold room" of the Duluth Public Library, the program is provided at no cost to participants. The session runs from 5-7pm. This is an ideal opportunity for students to delve into their creative interests while gaining leadership experience. We are also happy to compensate participants fuel cost for transportation. (Available on request)

    Middle schoolers explore disciplines such as ceramics, multimedia, painting, sketching, photography, and murals while also learning the difference between social movements, social activism, and protests. Each year, the program offers different opportunities for students to showcase their growth and achievements. Past projects have included presentations, exhibitions, and even a visit to city hall.

     This program is made possible by a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board

    Questions? Please email jswitters@dulutthartinsttitute.org


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  • BAM Summer Camp

    • 16 Jun 2025
    • 20 Jun 2025
    • 5 sessions
    • DAI Lincoln Park Building (2229 W. 2nd St.)
    • 8
    Register



    BAM Summer Camp

    Monday–Friday (Five sessions)

    June 16–20, 2025

    9:00am–4:00pm 

    7th Grade

    FREE

    The Birkenstein Art Movement (BAM) for 7th graders is a project inspired by civil rights leader Jean Birkenstein. The goal of BAM is to use the creative process as a tool to support individualized learning.

    Hosted daily at the Lincoln Park Building of the DAI, the program is provided at no cost to participants. The session runs from 9am-4pm. This is an ideal opportunity for students to delve into their creative interests while gaining leadership experience. We are also happy to compensate participants fuel cost for transportation. (Available on request)

    Middle schoolers explore disciplines such as ceramics, multimedia, painting, sketching, photography, and murals while also learning the difference between social movements, community engagement, and protest. Each year, the program offers different opportunities for students to showcase their growth and achievements. Past projects have included presentations, exhibitions, and even a visit to city hall.


    Pick up is at 4pm


    Please fill out the release and Permission Form attached here. All Campers will need this form on file to participate. Completed forms can be emailed to jswitters@duluthartinstitute.org prior to the first day of camp, or printed and returned on first day of camp.


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  • SUMMER CAMP | Mystical Magical Me with Mx. Rose

    • 23 Jun 2025
    • 27 Jun 2025
    • 5 sessions
    • DAI Lincoln Park Building (2229 W. 2nd St.)
    • 15
    Register



    Mystical Magical Me with Mx. Rose

    Monday–Friday (Five sessions)

    June 23–27 2025

    9:00am–4:00pm 

    Ages 9-13

    $240 ($290 Non-Member)

    Explore the art journey of telling stories through different methods of children's illustration with local artist and teacher Mx. Rose. Youths will explore fantasy art in different art mediums: paper-cutting art, sword and wand building, pastel etchings, watercolor painting, and line drawing. Each medium will be focused on the theme of the day: "Castle in the Sky" with watercolor, "Fantasy Self Portrait" in pastel etching, and more.


    Pick up is at 4pm


    Please fill out the release and Permission Form attached here. All Campers will need this form on file to participate. Completed forms can be emailed to jswitters@duluthartinstitute.org prior to the first day of camp, or printed and returned on first day of camp.


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Registration Policies

  • Tuition must be received one week prior to the class start date and two weeks prior to camp start dates to ensure both your place and adequate class materials.
  • If there is insufficient enrollment 7 days prior to event date, the DAI may cancel the event, notify registrants, and refund all payments including deposits. Last-minute cancellations may also occur for weather, emergency, or instructor illness.
  • Class tuition includes a $10 non-refundable registration fee, not including subsequent sessions of multi-day classes. Camp tuition includes a $25 non-refundable deposit due upon registration.
  • Students cancelling one week before the first class session or two weeks prior to the first day of camp are eligible for a refund, not including deposits or registration fees. Refunds cannot be made after classes begin.
  • Student Members are not eligible for membership discounts on classes.

Online registration with credit card payment preferred. To pay by cash or check, contact Jesse Switters jswitters@duluthartinstitute.org. Following payment, check all inboxes for a confirmation email.

Check calendar details for event-specific policies.

Accessibility 

Depot events- Accessible parking is available on Michigan Street and in the pay lots to either side of the Depot. An elevator to all floors is available in the Depot. DAI galleries are located on the 4th floor. In-gallery seating available.

Lincoln Park Building events - There is accessible parking in the lot at the back door, and a ramp to access the second floor.

Building hours, locations, and driving instructions

Scholarships

Scholarships may become available at times. For more information, or to request a partial or full scholarship for a class, camp, or workshop, contact Jesse Switters jswitters@duluthartinstitute.org.

Registration for the Birkenstein Art Movement (BAM) please contact Jesse Switters jswitters@duluthartinstitute.org 








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