Frequently Asked Questions
Berkeley Art Studio: Monday-Friday: 12-10pm, Saturday & Sunday: 12-5pm
Berkeley Art Studio West: Monday: 4-9pm, Tuesday-Friday: 12-9pm, Saturday & Sunday: 12-5pm
Subscribing to our newsletter is the best way to find out when classes will be posted. Winter & Spring classes are posted in late November. Early Fall & Late Fall Classes are posted in mid-July. Summer registration is typically posted in late April.
Go to the course listing you want on our website and click on register. This will take you to Active Networks, our registration system. Community members and faculty/staff/alumni may pay with a credit card. UC Berkeley students pay with their SIS account through Cal Central. Students still need to register for the class through the Active Networks system.
Our classes are for adults ages 18+.
You may enroll in as many waitlists as you like. You will be emailed immediately if a spot opens up and you are next on the waitlist. After the email is sent, you have 24 hours to accept the spot, and if you omit the spot or take no action, it will go to the next person. There is no penalty or charge for omitting a waitlist spot.
Community members & UC Berkeley alumni/faculty/staff can self-cancel their classes. UC Berkeley students cannot self-cancel. To request a cancellation please contact artstudio@berkeley.edu & include your student ID# in the email.
We do not process cancellation requests over the phone. No credits are issued.
Refund Policy for Classes (6-9 week long courses):
If you cancel at least 7 days before the first class, you will receive a refund minus a $35 fee. You can transfer to a different available class or workshop in the same session to avoid the cancellation fee.
If you cancel 6 days before the class begins until the day before the second class, you will receive a refund minus a $75 fee. You can transfer to a different available class or workshop in the same session to avoid the cancellation fee.
No refunds are given starting the day the second class begins.
Refund Policy for Workshops (single day – 4 week long courses):
If you cancel at least 7 days before the first class, you will receive a refund minus a $35 fee. No refunds starting 6 days before the workshop begins. You can transfer to a different available class or workshop in the same session to avoid the cancellation fee.
No transfers are issued within 24 hours of the workshop start date.
Here are instructions for how to self-cancel. Please get in touch with the Berkeley Art Studio via email at artstudio@berkeley.edu if you need help canceling your registration and receiving a refund.
Yes, we offer free art classes to low-income EOP and low-income UCB grad students. Please visit out “New & Events” page for more information.
Yes! Gift certificates for the Studio make an excellent gift for friends and loved ones. Gift certificates may be purchased through our registration system. Gift certificates are good for 1-year and may be applied to any type of class, assuming the class fees are the same, regardless of which class you initially purchased.
No, the Art Studio classes are not for units. Our program is a co-curricular offering. Reasons people sign up for our classes: Classes are fun. Classes are relaxing. Classes teach new skills. We are a welcoming, creative community.
What does it mean to pay later with CalCentral? This is the required payment option for UC Berkeley students to pay the class fee through their tuition bill. You will see the charge about 2 weeks after your class begins. The charge will be labeled with Berkeley Art Studio, the class name, and the fee amount.
2-hour metered street parking is available on Bancroft and the surrounding area. These are convenient for classes beginning after 6 pm.
Parking lots for Berkeley Art Studio & Creative Lab (Ceramics, Photography, Printmaking, & Digital Classes):
- Lower Sproul Parking Lot (underneath the ASUC Student Union). The entrance on Telegraph, just before Dana
- Berkeley First Pres. Church: Entrance on Channing between Telegraph & Dana
- Parking Concepts Garage: Entrances on Durant and Channing between Telegraph & Dana
- Douglas Parking Lot: Entrance on Bowditch between Durant and Bancroft
Parking Lots for Anthropology and Art Practice Building (some Painting & Drawing Classes):
- Bancroft Hotel Public Parking: Entrance on Bancroft, across from the Kroeber building
- Bancroft Parking Structure: Entrance on the north side of Bancroft, under tennis courts, between College and Bowditch
Parking Lots for Berkeley Art Studio West (Printmaking, Textile Arts, Crafting, Painting & Drawing Classes):
- Two- and four-hour metered street parking is available in downtown Berkeley and is payable by credit or debit card.
- Nearby paid parking garages include the Allston Way Parking Garage (between Shattuck and Milvia), the Oxford Parking Garage (on Kittredge west of Oxford), and the Center Street Garage (at 2025 Center Street, accessible from Center or Addison Streets).
This facility is located in room 230, 1950 Oxford Street, Berkeley, CA 94704. Please enter the main doors at the Helen Diller Anchor House on the Oxford Street side. Take the elevator to the 2nd level or the grand staircase by the lobby.
Digital Photo, Design, & Digital Arts classes are held in the Creative Lab, Room 155, MLK Student Union. If you are a UC Berkeley affiliate, please expect to have your Cal1 card with you to enter the building. If you are a Community Member (non-UCB affiliate), please make sure to enter the building through the Berkeley Art Studio to access the Creative Lab. This entrance will be open till 10 pm Monday-Friday.
Some of our painting and drawing classes are held on the 3rd floor of the Anthropology and Art Practice Building, which is located at the corner of Bancroft Way and College Ave.
All clay must be purchased through the Berkeley Art Studio. Please come to class 10-15 minutes before your first lesson to buy a 25-pound bag of clay and a toolkit from our office. The price range for clay is $20-$30. Our recycled studio blend is $10 a bag and toolkits cost between $10-$20.
You will need to purchase film and paper, which can be purchased in the Studio office.
Yes, camera rentals are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Signed rental agreement forms must be completed and terms and conditions apply. It costs $50 to rent the film camera for the duration of the class. There is a $250 deposit (credit/debit card only), and a $200 refund issued when the camera is returned. Please email the studio for more details.
If you are a registered UC Berkeley student attending a digital arts class with us, you may rent a DLSR camera or iPad Pro & Apple pencil for free for the duration of the class. Please note that there are terms and conditions for the rentals detailed on the agreement forms.
- Rental Hours: Monday-Thursday 10am-5:30pm. Please plan accordingly if your class starts after 5:30pm.
- Rental Location: Creative Lab, Room 155 MLK Student Union (1st floor).
- Please be prepared to complete your loan agreement form when checking out your equipment.
- Digital Camera loan agreement form
- iPad & Apple pencil loan agreement form
Because most of our drawing and painting classes are held in the Anthropology and Art Practice Building, we are unable to offer open studio access.
No, the Studio does not offer ceramics studio access. Studio access is open only to students currently enrolled in our classes. Access may be limited when classes are in session.
You may register for darkroom access without taking a class; however, you must be familiar with darkroom use. You must also bring your own paper and film, which can be purchased at the Studio.
No, we do not allow outside materials (clay, glazes, etc.). We sell clay in the studio and provide a variety of glazes.
Yes! Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive members receive 10% off at the Berkeley Art Studio. Visit the Studio with your BAM/PFA member card to register and receive the discount.
The Berkeley Art Studio follows the UC Berkeley Principles of Community, which can be found at chancellor.berkeley.edu/about/principles-community. Core values include:
HONESTY
INTEGRITY DIVERSITY
DIGNITY FOR ALL RESPECT
PARTICIPATION
LEADERSHIP
EQUITABLE ACCESS
The Berkeley Art Studio follows UC Berkeley campus policies and guidelines on COVID-19. You can find updated information here: coronavirus.berkeley.edu/campus-access.