Get creative with these local workshops
Looking to get creative? Look no further than our comprehensive guide to venues around Newcastle that offer unique creative workshops. Whether it’s getting your hands dirty with a clay focused class or learning to draw with charcoal in a life drawing class; there’s a little bit of everything available to do in Newcastle.
AMS Art Studio
The AMS Art Studio is based in Wallsend and is dedicated to bringing people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities together for a creative experience like no other. Each term, the local studio runs a rotating selection of workshops including pottery, glass fusing and leadlight, mosaics, resin, alcohol inks, acrylic and watercolour painting, drawing, creative journaling, woodburning, and even kids and teen focused classes.
Where: 12 Council St, Wallsend
The Art Department
The classes at The Art Department are for any age and any level of experience. The studio hosts a selection of classes including clay and sip, wheel throwing, kids pottery classes, and more.
Where: 1/133 King St, Newcastle
Blue Kahunas cocktail class
Newcastle’s favourite tiki bar invites you in for a creative cocktail class! Based in Hunter Street Mall in Newcastle, Blue Kahunas takes you and your group on a fun and bangin’ cocktail class in their unique tiki-styled bar. For $97pp, you’ll get an arrival drink before making (and drinking) three cocktails and enjoying a tropical antipasto board to share.
Where: 3/146 Hunter St, Newcastle
Coal & Cedar cocktail and whiskey masterclasses
One of Newcastle’s renowned ‘secret’ bars, Coal & Cedar, offers two unique masterclasses; one for cocktails and one for whiskey.In the Cocktail Masterclass, you’ll try your hand at shaking and stirring some cocktails. The Whiskey Masterclass is for the big whiskey sippers out there!
Where: 380 Hunter St, Newcastle
Earp Distilling Co. Spirit School
Become a distiller for the day as you immerse yourself in the gin-making process at Earp Distilling Co. Carefully guided by the team’s head distiller, you’ll follow a hands-on interactive experience. The three-hour class is run in pairs and is the perfect offering for the spirit curious.
Where: 41 Darling St, Carrington
Grounded by Designs
Situated within the community-focused space, MOA & Co, Grounded by Designs extends an invitation to you to experience the joy of clay with her experiences. Whether it’s a casual outing with loved ones, a solo retreat into the world of clay, or a team-building activity, a session with Grounded by Designs offers an opportunity to create memories, not things.
Where: 16 Gipps St, Carrington
Hudson St Hum
The Hamilton-based warehouse offers a selection of workshops, classes and events which celebrate diversity in the creative arts. From life drawing, painting, and drawing classes, to social sewing, portrait drawing, and even lino printing; there’s always something exciting on offer at Hudson St Hum.
Where: 7 Hudson St, Hamilton
The Koutetsu cocktail masterclass
Another one of Newcastle’s ‘hidden’ bars is home to a delicious cocktail course. Running every Thursday, Friday and Saturday, the masterclass is equal parts fun, informative, educational, and enjoyable!
Where: 555 Hunter St, Newcastle West
LEDA Gallery’s drink & draw
Head into one of Newcastle’s gallery spaces, LEDA, and sit down for a unique drink and draw session. The immersive experience is based around classic nude life drawing subjects, navigating through an array of mediums and techniques each week. Whether the session is to fulfil your own creative desires and evolvement, or as a thoughtful gift to a loved one, this unique creative class is designed to suit both beginners and those more adept.
Where: 2-3/850 Hunter St, Newcastle West
Newcastle Coffee School
Brought to you by the team behind Sprocket Roasters in Lambton, the Newcastle Coffee School gives you the opportunity to master the craft of coffee with their accessible and hands-on workshops.
Where: 24 Wyong Rd, Lambton
Newcastle Food & Flower Markets
Hidden away in Sandgate is none other than Newcastle Food & Flower Markets. Home to not only a gorgeous selection of retail flowers and food, but the team are also always curating a selection of creative workshops to keep you coming back. From interior decorating and styling to dried floral arrangements and Christmas wreath workshops; there’s always lots happening at Newcastle Food & Flower Markets!
Where: 1 Rural Dr, Sandgate
Paint & Sip Studios
The traditional paint and sip offering is available at Darby Street’s Paint & Sip Studios! With a continuously rotating selection of works to sign up for, you can always count on creating something fresh and unique.
Where: Unit 7/122 Darby St, Newcastle
The Pasta Experience
Get a little floury and learn to cook like an Italian with The Pasta Experience at The Umbrian! The workshop will have you getting involved in everything from mixing and kneading the pasta, to rolling out the tagliatelle and moulding those delicious little parcels of Ricotta Ravioli.
Where: 309 Hunter St, Newcastle
Pinot & Picasso
Book into a session with Pinot & Picasso and experience their purpose-built studios as local artists guide you through basic painting techniques in a hassle-free and collaborative setting. The added bonus is that you can BYO alcohol and food!
Where: 4 Perkins St, Newcastle
Wildflower Academy
This one is for the floral lovers! If you’ve considered starting your own floristry business or are ready to take the next step in understanding the industry, look no further than the Newcastle-based Wildflower Academy. Brought to us by long-time florist and Newcastle local, Ashlee Wheelhouse of Film & Foliage, Wildflower Academy is all about supplying up-and-coming florists with the skills, education, and creativity to help grow their business.
The businesses featured within this article have not paid to be featured, the content has been curated by the HUNTERhunter editorial team. We only promote businesses we love and think our readers will love too!
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