29 Palms Creative Center

29 Palms Creative Center offers hands-on art activities including Pottery Wheel, Ready-Made Pottery Painting, Neon Canvas Painting, Clay Club, and kids and adult art classes. Participants can also do Pyrography, Encaustic, stained glass projects, make a suncatcher, make earrings, and take an introductory stained glass class.

• Ages: 5–18 years old
• Price: Pottery Wheel $45; Pyrography $135; Encaustic $135

29 Palms Creative Center is led by founder Gretchen Grunt. In 2003, Gretchen was offered the opportunity to start the Creative Center, added classes in 2004, and began serving the homeschool community in 2010. The program runs a Homeschool Program for iLEAD, Sage Oak, Granite Mountain, Compass, Springs Charter Schools, and Morongo Unified School District. Gretchen believes the creative spirit is in every person and encourages every adult and child who comes in to express themselves with their own colors, saying, “It’s just paint! There’s nothing to be afraid of!” The center offers art classes for everybody, including affordable art classes for everyone, and has a Kids Art Grant Program with scholarships supported by donations, based on a deal Gretchen made with her mom, Jane, that no student would be turned away due to financial difficulty. Clay Club is available for adults looking to build a kind, compassionate community in a creative space, and gift cards are available for adult art classes. The program also offers art party and activity options. The space is described as the Oasis of Mara, “the place of little springs and much grass.” The center uses the slogan “Art Makes You Smart!” and “Art Makes You Smart.”

Last updated March 15, 2026.