Creative Classes at Bridgeport Art Center

Creative Classes at Bridgeport Art Center include ceramics classes where participants work with clay, throw clay on the pottery wheel, dry their work, trim, bisque fire, and glaze their work. The program also includes bridal sewing classes, sewing and pattern making classes, encaustic painting workshops, printmaking workshops, drawing workshops, metal sculpture classes that include creating a tabletop sculpture made in steel, stainless steel, or aluminum, Make Mine Art 3-hour art-making workshops, and Sip and Sew Chicago sewing classes.

• Ages: 14–18 years old
• Schedule: Shared Floor Ceramics classes run in 5-week sessions; Bella's bridal sewing and pattern making classes start at the beginning of each month with 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. and 12:30 p.m.–2:30 p.m. options; Chris Newman metal sculpture studio times are 12 p.m.–2 p.m. and 3 p.m.–5 p.m. on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday; Make Mine Art workshops are 3-hour sessions; Sip and Sew Chicago classes are 3-hour sessions; a 1-day class with Jeffrey Hirst is 6 hours.
• Price: Riverview Workshops membership is a monthly contribution of $500; Shared Floor Ceramics 5-week classes cost $190; a 1-day, 6-hour class with Jeffrey Hirst costs $200.

Shared Floor Ceramics classes are for ages 14+ and are limited to a maximum of 12 students, with all materials included in the course cost, free open studio practice time, and small class sizes for personalized help from the instructor; these courses start with the basics of working with clay and include foundational science and safety behind working with clay. Bella's bridal sewing and pattern making classes teach basic skills to design and make fashion creations and are taught by María Lira, who has more than 50 years of experience in sewing and design. Encaustic painting and printmaking workshops, along with independent studies for private instruction, are taught throughout the year by Jeffrey Hirst. Chris Newman metal sculpture classes include materials, tools, and equipment, provide access to welding equipment, hand tools, and sanders for cutting and finishing, emphasize personal safety with mask use and only non-alcoholic beverages permitted, and are limited to 2 persons. Make Mine Art workshops introduce the basics of creating works of art and crafts while participants listen to music, chat with friends, and enjoy beverages and snacks in a gallery/workspace described as a beautifully inspirational gallery/workspace. Sip and Sew Chicago is designed for groups and is appropriate for beginner and intermediate seamsters, supplies all materials and sewing machine usage, provides complimentary drinks and light snacks, and teaches participants to use the sewing machine, make basic seams, and creative finishings.

Riverview Workshops at the Bridgeport Art Center is a collective, membership-based workspace for urban makers with membership limited to 10 spaces and includes a dedicated workspace of approximately 80 sq. ft., full access to a tool library, two large shared work benches, a wide range of professional workshop tools such as table saws, lathe, surfacer, joiner, drill press, surface sander, band saws, miter saw, and more, opportunities to teach and learn, and 24-hour secure access. Bridgeport Art Center is described as a multi-disciplinary creative home for artists, designers, and professionals working across various art forms, media, and vocations, and as an inspirational place to work, create, and share ideas with peers, and it hosts more than 120 artists, a Fashion Design Center, and three dedicated galleries presenting eight rotating exhibitions annually. The center is home to over 300 tenants, more than a third of whom are artists working in disciplines including ceramics, painting, sculpture, fiber arts, and fashion design, and it hosts Project Onward and the Chicago Maritime Museum along with other tenants such as Shared Floor Ceramics and Wateriders Kayak Rental.

The Bridgeport Art Center was established in 2001 in a building originally built in 1911 and formerly used as the Spiegel Catalog Warehouse, and it is a 500,000 square foot building with high ceilings with wood beams, exposed brick, and large windows with city views. The Sculpture Garden & Event Space features granite pavers that mirror the original rail siding of the historic train shed and an ever-changing display of large-scale sculptures from the Chicago Sculpture Exhibition and the center’s permanent collection, and the building features a giant vintage elevator with a chandelier that can have a bar in it. The leadership team includes General Manager Malik Dervis, Property Manager Alan Colindres, Leasing contact Michelle Paluch, Marketing/Programming/Partnership Inquiries/Press contact Jeff DeLong, Venue Manager Event Spaces Adriana De Mira-Bueno, and Gallery Exhibitions/Art Sales contact Marci Rubin.

Testimonials about events at Bridgeport Art Center describe the venue as stunning with a giant vintage elevator with a chandelier that can hold a bar, a wooden lofted feel, and a space where guests ride up in the elevator, and they mention that the Skyline Loft has amazing views of the city and a warehouse style with unique characteristics like the freight elevator that takes guests up to the Skyline Loft. Other testimonials state that the space is in great condition, that the Sculpture Garden was used for a wedding, and that staff such as Kate were extremely helpful throughout the process.

Last updated April 18, 2026.