Bristol's Workshops & Classes Scene

Creatives has always been drawn to the city of Bristol - we don't know what came first, the creatives or the workshops and classes! Whatever your poison is: pottery, dance classes, life drawing, basket weaving, yoga - Bristol has it all. Bristol Folk House on Park Street is a key public-facing arts centre - providing workshops on photography, music writing, all forms of modern dance and everything in between (usually at affordable prices).

The RWA, Bristol's oldest art gallery (and one of the only academies left in the UK) also host an art and drawing school offering everything from month long courses to drop-in life drawing events. Other key creative spaces to check out for workshops and classes in Bristol include the Maker Shed @ St Paul's Learning Centre, Hamilton House, Bristol School of Art, Bristol Print Room and Spike Print Studio (to name just a few).

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What our editors say

“Dive into the year with the wisdom of artists. Gathered from interviews, personal conversations, books and talks, How to Live an Artful Life moves through the months of the year offering you thoughts, reflections and encouragements from artists such as Marina Abramovic, Nan Goldin, Lubaina Himid, Louise Bourgeois and many more.”
From: Katy Hessel: How To An Artful Life

“The 'CUBE Of Wyrding' is the CUBE Microplex's ongoing transnational folk horror/urban frights cinema series. It showcases the best in rural folk horror and urban wyrd films, including classics, lesser-known greats, and freaky oddities from the margins, and delves into the darker recesses of the genre. It additionally features silent films brought to life with spectacular live musical accompaniments, lively screen talks, and opportunities to immerse yourself in obscure horror soundtracks.”
From: Death And Vanilla

“This year Zinezilla teams up with Bristol animation crew Animinspo (https://www.animinspo.com/) to bring you a programme of animation screenings, panels and interviews alongside an expanded illustration, comic and zine fair. Come along for comics, prints, zines, books, stickers, merch, ceramics and more! You can also get stuck in and messy with our programme of workshops and talks from local creatives.”
From: Zinezilla Arts Festival

“Helen McCarthy is a writer and speaker on anime and manga. She’s been studying anime since 1981, writing over a dozen books, over a hundred articles and essays, and giving talks all over the world. Her talk on the Art History of Studio Ghibli has wowed audiences all over the UK for Seed Talks. Exploring Howl’s Moving Castle dives deep into the studio’s inspirations with new ideas and information for even the most dedicated Ghibli fan, but even a complete Ghibli beginner will enjoy this exploration of the film’s art, story, legacy and the people who made it.”
From: The Art History of Howl’s Moving Castle with Helen McCarthy

“Fra Beecher is an artist and life model, and co-founder of United Models Life Drawing CIC. Her creative practice is informed by her modelling work and the weekly life drawing sessions she facilitates in Bristol. Through her projects, including Body of Work (2018-2020), Fra challenges the misconception that female life models are passive objects.”
From: Swim Wild, Write Free