The Art Center School & Galleries

★★★★★Diane Porterfield

I've taken pottery classes on and off through the years. It always has a creative, chill vibe. Everyone is helpful and supportive. This is great place to explore your creativity. Jodi is wonderful at working with all skill levels and provides lots of encouragement. Tina looks out for us, making sure we have everything we need.

★★★★★Zack Raugh

I’ve been taking pottery classes at The Art Center for the past few weeks with Kim on Thursdays, and it’s been a wonderful experience! The facility is clean, well-organized, and welcoming. The staff is incredibly kind and helpful, and the community of students is diverse and friendly. Kim is a fantastic instructor—knowledgeable, encouraging, and fun to learn from. I always look forward to class and can’t wait to continue growing my skills in future sessions!

★★★★★Amanda Shartle

The Art Center in Mechanicsburg has been a sweet spot in my life and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for an artistic outlet. I've been attending pottery classes for almost 2 years now and I cannot say enough how wonderful the staff are. Tina and Bill, who run the programming are friendly and professional. The instructors are easygoing and knowledgeable. When I'm in the studio I feel supported and encouraged. Recently I witnessed a former patron come into the studio with her daughter unexpectedly requesting the instructor to show her daughter how to throw on the wheel putting the instructor in an extremely uncomfortable position. Tina was professional and calm when explaining that since they hadn't paid for this class they would need to finish up what they had started to free up the space for others in the class. This former patron lost control of her emotions and made the situation uncomfortable for everyone present. Tina assertively handled the situation with grace and composure. The mechanicsburg art center is a treasure to the community for all the enrichment they provide.

★Laurel Soriell

I’m writing this review to express my deep disappointment with something that happened while I was visiting The Art Center. I witnessed someone yelling at a mother and teen daughter. From what I gathered from what was said, they had prepaid for classes before the pandemic and were excited to return and nurture the girl’s love for art. Unfortunately, they were met with an extremely unprofessional and hurtful confrontation by a staff member, not the teacher. I gathered they were not signed up, but were given permission, since they had been strong patrons in the past, and had a balance of prepaid classes. This person accused them of taking time away from other students, which was not the case, and did so in a manner that was both embarrassing and disrespectful. She kept saying, “everyone in the class agrees with me, she should not be here.” After the class we were assured by the other students that this was not the case. As the only person of color in the class, this girl was particularly vulnerable in this situation, and the way this was handled was not only insensitive but also felt discriminatory. It’s disheartening that it took the other students reassuring them after the fact to acknowledge that they were indeed welcome. This kind of treatment is unacceptable, and I hope the center takes steps to ensure all families feel welcomed and respected in the future. I feel bad that I didn’t speak up in the moment, and that’s on me, but everyone should be treated with respect. If they were truly there in error, the conversation should have taken place personally, rather than in an “on show” manner clearly meant to embarrass.

★★★★★S B

The Art Center is an absolute gem! I've been taking pottery lessons here for a year, and it's been an incredible experience from day one. Tina is absolutely wonderful—she makes everyone feel welcome and creates such a warm, encouraging atmosphere. Jodi and the rest of the pottery instructors are amazing. Their expertise and passion for the craft shine through in every lesson. They are patient, knowledgeable, and always willing to help you improve. I’ve learned so much in my time here, and I can’t wait to continue my pottery journey with them. If you’re looking for a place to explore your creativity and be part of a fantastic community, The Art Center is where you need to be!