Arts & Crafts Center

At the Reitz Union Arts & Crafts Center, anyone can explore their artistic side in a fun and welcoming environment. Located in the heart of the University of Florida campus, our purpose is to provide you with opportunities for relaxation, creative expression, community building and personal growth.

Hours of Operation*

Monday - Friday
1 - 10 pm

Saturday
12 - 5 pm

Sunday
Closed

The Arts & Crafts Center is is closed during home football games.

*For adjusted hours during break weeks and holidays please refer to the Reitz Union Hours of Operation page.

Upcoming Events

Play with Clay
July 1 | 12-2 pm
Reitz Union Outdoor Tabling Area

Have you ever wanted to try wheel throwing? Get your hands dirty with the Arts & Crafts Center at the Outdoor Tabling Area near the North Lawn. No advanced registration, walk-ups welcome. Please not no work will be fired and wheel space is limited.

What We Offer

Preformed Pottery

Button Making

Jewelry Making

Ceramics Studio

Throwing Wheels

Kilns

Paint-a-Pot

The Arts & Crafts Center has a wide variety of unglazed pottery pieces available for painting on your own. You don’t need to be a member or have any previous experience to paint a pot. The price of the pottery piece includes the clear glaze coat and kiln firing. Glazes are sold separately, and we have an exciting assortment of colors to choose from. Our studio assistants and full-time Arts Specialist are available to help you with most anything you would need.

If your group is interested in painting pots, you can reserve the space by scrolling down and click on the Social Request button.

Memberships

Individuals with proficiency in ceramics or jewelry making may purchase a membership to the Arts & Crafts Center (ACC) for a week or semester. New Members must complete an orientation upon purchasing a membership. Memberships can be purchased in person at the ACC.

Membership allows a customer to use the facilities (equipment, tools, pottery glazes and patinas) when the ACC is open to the public and includes all kiln firing of Member work. Only Member work created with clay purchased at the ACC will be fired in ACC kilns. Clay and jewelry metals must be purchased separately.

The Arts & Crafts Center is primarily a teaching facility. Our objective is to engage and support both beginning and experienced makers as hobbyists. As such, our facility cannot accommodate production potters or Members making quantities of items to supply a personal business.

Rates: Summer

To purchase a membership, locker, or to pay for a Leisure Course facility fee, please visit the Arts & Crafts Center and speak with one of our staff members.

SEMESTER MEMBERSHIP: STUDENT AND STUDENT SPOUSES/DOMESTIC PARTNERS

SEMESTER MEMBERSHIP: GENERAL PUBLIC (MINIMUM AGE 16)

WEEKLY MEMBERSHIP

LOCKERS

Creative Classes

We offer a variety of courses on wheel throwing, hand building and sculpture as well as painting, drawing, and jewelry making.

Summer schedule

PLEASE NOTE: Registration for Summer B Creative Classes will take place in-person at the Arts & Crafts Center on Wednesday June 29 and Thursday June 30 from 4:30pm to 8:30pm. There will be no telephone or website registration.

Ceramics: Beginning Throwing

This four-session course is an introduction to throwing pots on a wheel with the goal of creating functional pieces that can be thoroughly used and enjoyed in your home. Learn the process of centering the clay, creating cylindrical forms such as tumblers and mugs and finishing the pieces by trimming and glazing. Beginning methods of surface decoration will also be covered. The registration fee includes access to the studio in addition to your class time through August 5. Six pounds of clay is also included at the first class. You will need to purchase any additional clay from the Arts & Crafts Center. No previous ceramics experience is required. Must be 16 years or older to participate. Limit of 8 participants per class. Registration Fee:UF Students: $60; Non-student: $80 Meeting Times: Tuesday 2:30 – 4:30 pm Meeting Dates: 07/05/22 – 07/26/22 Instructor: Chris Gallup Meeting Times: Tuesday, 5:30 - 7:30 pm Meeting Dates: 07/05/22 – 07/26/22 Instructor: Mariana Baquero Meeting Times: Wednesday, 4:30 - 6:30 pm Meeting Dates: 07/06/22 – 07/27/22 Instructor: Chris Gallup Meeting Times: Wednesday 7:00 – 9:00 pm Meeting Dates: 07/06/22 – 07/27/22 Instructor: Chris Gallup Meeting Times: Thursday, 4:30 – 6:30 pm Meeting Dates: 07/07/22 – 07/28/22 Instructor: Chris Gallup Meeting Times: Thursday, 7:00 – 9:00 pm Meeting Dates: 07/07/22 – 07/28/22 Instructor: Chris Gallup

Ceramics: Handbuilding cups, bowls, and plates

This four-session course is an introduction to hand building functional objects. We will focus on cups, bowls, and plates using coil building and soft slab techniques. Texture and surface decoration techniques will also be covered. No previous ceramics experience is required. The registration fee includes access to the studio in addition to your class time through August 5. Six pounds of clay is also included at the first class. You will need to purchase any additional clay from the Arts & Crafts Center. Please note we will not be working on the wheel in this class. Must be 16 years or older to participate. Limit of 8 participants per class. Registration Fee: UF Students $60; Non-student $80 Meeting Times: Thursday 5:30 – 7:30pm Meeting Dates: 07/07/22 – 07/28/22 Instructor: Mariana Baquero

Ceramics: Beginning Sculpture

This four-session course is an introduction to sculpting animals with clay. Learn how to sculpt animal forms of your choice incorporating your own style and personality. You will learn how to sculpt realistically but experimentation and conceptual expression is encouraged. We will focus on small scale projects, working within the scale of 12” X 12”. The registration fee includes access to the studio in addition to your class time through August 5. Six pounds of clay is also included at the first class. You will need to purchase any additional clay from the Arts & Crafts Center. Please note we will not be working on the wheel in this class. No previous ceramics or sculpting experience is required. Must be 16 years or older to participate. Limit of 8 participants per class. Registration Fee: UF Students $60; Non-student $80 Meeting Times: Wednesday, 5:00 – 7:00 pm Meeting Dates: 7/06/22 – 7/27/22 Instructor: Veronica Villasenor

Jewelry: Silver Rings and Pendants

This four-session course is designed to teach students the basics of jewelry making to design and create a sterling silver ring or pendant featuring a simple, smooth domed, flat bottomed gemstone with a bezel setting using a variety of jewelry tools including a jeweler’s saw and torch, forming pliers, files, hammers, buffing and abrasive wheels. Additional techniques including cutting, texturing, finishing, soldering and stone setting will also be explored. The registration fee includes access to the studio in addition to your class time until August 5. No prior jewelry experience is required. Sterling silver is available for purchase at the Arts & Crafts Center and will cost approximately $15 per project. The instructor will also have some gems available for purchase. Must be 16 years or older to participate. Limit of 8 participants per class. Registration Fee: UF Students $60; Non-students $ 80 Meeting Times: Wednesday 7:30 – 9:30 pm Meeting Dates: 07/07/22 – 07/28/22 Instructor: Dave Hall

Socials & Events

Looking for something fun and creative to do with your group? Schedule a social with us. Perfect for parties, team building, or student organization events. Instruction for the craft activity will be provided by our knowledgeable staff. Social Crafting Kits can be purchased at the Arts & Crafts Center prior to the social. Groups will have access to a variety of creative and artistic activities such as paint-a-pot, origami, and canvas painting while socializing and building community.

Socials can be scheduled Monday - Friday after 1pm.

Social Request

Grab & Go Items

Pick up your kit, and complete your project at home.

More Information

Choose from our wide selection of preformed pottery. Please note: Glaze and brushes are sold separately. Choose your own colors to create a piece that is uniquely yours. Once you have finished painting your pot with the glazes, simply bring it back to the studio to be fired in our kilns. Purchase price includes a final clear glaze and the glaze firing. Kiln firing times generally require 7-10 days per piece. How to Purchase Kits are available in person at the Arts & Crafts Center front desk. If you would like to check availability please contact us at ReitzUnionACCStudio@ufsa.ufl.edu.

More Information

Newsletter

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Contact

352-392-2378
ReitzUnionACCStudio@ufsa.ufl.edu

686 Museum Rd, Lower Level
Gainesville, Florida 32611