Happy Valley is definitely a cultural hub in central Pennsylvania. From annual events like the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts to world-class shows at the Center for the Performing Arts at Penn State to the recently revamped Palmer Museum of Art, there’s nearly always some way to get up close and personal with myriad art forms.
However, what if you don’t want to merely observe? What if you’re itching to channel your inner creative? There’s no need to sit on the sidelines. A bevy of Happy Valley businesses are ready to inspire and empower every adult’s artistic side.
The Makery
A long-standing venue for creative classes for both adults and children, The Makery in downtown State College brings together twelve artists and artisans who provide a broad range of workshops to the community. According to founder Amy Frank, these workshop leaders are some of the best and brightest talent from the region, brought on board not only because of their credentials or skills, but also because they provide a fun, engaging presence, which is crucial for making every workshop “delightful and energizing.”
“That’s the vibe we go for and it’s served us well,” Frank says.
While The Makery serves slightly more children than adults, on average, a wealth of adult classes are always on tap, with offerings ranging from floral design workshops to modern calligraphy classes. Pop-up classes also appear on a regular basis for one-off creative fun—for example, a class on making polymer clay earrings or edible art.
For those not quite sure what they’d like to try out and who are in need of a little inspiration, The Makery opened The Makery Market, right next door. The market sells work from fifty local artists and also employs young women transitioning out of foster care, benefiting both the arts community and the broader community.
Want to get creative as a family? Three years ago, The Makery partnered with the Bellefonte Art Museum to take over the museum’s second floor, crafting a children’s studio where families can enjoy free, self-led arts activities every weekend, with the theme matching the broader museum’s primary installation.
As The Makery continues to evolve to serve Happy Valley, Frank’s favorite part of her job remains the same: “[It’s] the look on people’s faces when they realize they can do something they didn’t think they could do—especially something beautiful, joyful, and creative. It’s so empowering.”
Find The Makery’s current class lineup at TheMakeryPA.com.
Kaleidoscope PA
The heart of the relatively new Kaleidoscope PA lies at the intersection of art and wellness.
According to founder Sarah Zappe, who boasts a background in educational psychology, “Unlike typical art or craft classes, Kaleidoscope PA’s workshops are informed by principles of psychology and backed by research on the mental health benefits of art. This focus creates an experience that’s as much about relaxation and restoration as it is about skill-building.”
Kaleidoscope PA hosts traveling art workshops around the region, where each participant walks away with their own unique piece of art (unlike a traditional “paint and sip” experience where every attendee creates the same piece, more or less). Different mediums are highlighted, including watercolor, art journaling, acrylic painting, and jewelry making.
“There is abundant research demonstrating the mental health benefits of creating art,” Zappe adds about Kaleidoscope PA’s appeal. “Kaleidoscope PA’s partnerships with unique locations, such as flower farms, wineries, and mini-horse farms, also set it apart, offering participants a refreshing and immersive experience that’s far from the ordinary. This blend of wellness-focused art and distinctive venues resonates with a community that values both creativity and wellbeing.”
In the coming winter months, Kaleidoscope PA plans to offer events at University Wine Company and The Rivet. A multi-session watercolor class is also in the works for those who want to expand their technical skills while still homing in on those art-attached wellness benefits.
“I absolutely love to see how creative people are with their work. I also love meeting new people and seeing familiar faces in my classes,” says Zappe. “It makes me so happy that this is becoming a community of creators and artists.”
Check out Kaleidoscope PA’s upcoming events and find out about event hosting opportunities for businesses at KaleidoscopePA.com.
Board & Brush
Another creative business that allows your individuality to shine, State College Board & Brush supplies everything you need to make a do-it-yourself wooden sign. During the process, participants learn techniques for distressing wood, sanding, assembling, staining, painting, and more.
“Usually when you attend a ‘paint and sip,’ everyone is making the same thing using the same colors,” says owners Lyndsay Nybeck and Jena Hosband. “At our workshops, everyone can make something different, and there’s over a thousand designs to choose from. Plus, you choose your own stain and paint colors to really personalize it. Customers also don’t need to be intimidated if they don’t have any artistic ability because we use stencils, and each workshop is instructor-led and well-staffed, so there’s always someone to help.”
Regular “pick your project” workshops are offered, with new and seasonal events popping up on occasion.
Nybeck and Hosband note that, since they opened Board & Brush in 2020, “Connecting with people in the community and establishing ‘regular’ customers has been really rewarding. … We love having a business in Happy Valley.”
Find information about upcoming Board & Brush workshops at BoardAndBrush.com/StateCollege.
2000 Degrees & Main Street Ceramics
Kelly Cummins oversees two arts and experience-focused businesses in Centre County: 2000 Degrees in State College and Main Street Ceramics in Boalsburg. Cummins, with more than a dozen years of related experience, took over 2000 Degrees in 2017.
“There will always be a market for people looking for a fun way to celebrate special occasions together, to spend time with their kids, to keep their hands and minds busy during hard times, and to just pass time creatively,” she says. “2000 Degrees is such a special place for students and locals of any experience level to come in and glaze pottery while enjoying the bustle of downtown State College. At Main Street Ceramics, you can take your creative curiosity a step further and learn how to make the pottery before glazing it in the quaint and quieter setting of Boalsburg.”
Like Zappe, Cummins sees the therapeutic value her works offers and, while customers walk away with a lovingly made piece of pottery, the creative outlet and self-expression enjoyed at either studio are what have helped cement both as community institutions.
“It’s the process that’s so enjoyable, and the finished pottery piece is a souvenir of the special time spent making it,” says Cummins. “I think the functionality of the art and the therapeutic practice of making it is what makes pottery so appealing. You can make a masterpiece that you can actually use or gift to someone, and you’ll enjoy every step of the process.”
Learn more and keep an eye out for new classes and birthday packages from 2000 Degrees and Main Street Ceramics at 2000DegreesPottery.com and https MainStreetCeramics.com.
Cheers to Art
Community and art go hand in hand for many of these businesses. While not a business per se, the Cheers to Art event series at Northland Bowl and The Arena Bar & Grill has brought together dozens of budding beginner artists twice a month for nearly a decade now. As friendships have formed, many participants return again and again.
“I really enjoy the people, the conversation, the sense of community,” says organizer Karyn Morrison. “I’ve made so many friends from it, to be honest.”
During each event, led by Jackie Gianico, participants paint an acrylic piece to take home, often with the registration cost of $10 to $15 benefitting a local nonprofit.
Gianico similarly says, “I love watching people paint and it’s so affordable. Families can come together. You make friends. Some people say that they now paint and this is their hobby now. I love bringing people together and showing them that they can do this.”
To register to attend a Cheers to Art event, go to TheArenaBarAndGrill.com and find upcoming event dates under the Cheers to Art tab. Then, register by emailing [email protected], up to 11 p.m. the night before the event. Cash payments are taken at the door.
The Rivet
The Rivet at Discovery Space—with classes that touch on everything from pottery to woodworking to fused glass to crocheting—is far more than a makerspace or a place to go to learn a new skill, says Executive Director Michele Crowl.
“We are an art studio, a prototyping workshop, a social gathering place, a resource center, and more. Ultimately, we are problem-solvers through our tools, our knowledge, our space, and our community,” she says. “The Rivet offers a uniquely inclusive space for people of all ages, backgrounds, and experience levels. We really focus on maintaining an enthusiastic community where people are encouraged to try new things, make mistakes, and ‘just start’ without having to make sizable investments in supplies, education, and equipment.”
Beyond offering classes, The Rivet also offers open, independent workshop hours when members can use the skills they’ve learned in a prior class, be creative, and socialize with other makers, but without the boundaries of a class setting.
“These open workshop hours at The Rivet have also fostered a community of creative and exciting people that are all driving toward their own destinations within our space. Members socialize and get to know each other, often by sharing their skills, ideas, and enthusiasm. This creates an inspiring, self-driven environment where new ideas and projects are always on offer. We find that adults don’t get a lot of dedicated time or space to ‘play’ and be creative for the sake of it, but The Rivet provides a place for just that,” says Crowl.
As innovative as The Rivet already is, though, Crowl and team continue to push the boundaries. This January, The Rivet is launching its first-ever cohort program to specifically support arts-based businesses, in partnership with 3 Dots.
“There are a number of awesome programs locally that support entrepreneurs, but we hear from community members that if you’re not interested in manufacturing a product, selling a service, or developing an app, it can be hard to find the right fit. Our program is for artists and their craft-based businesses, defined as broadly as you can imagine,” explains Crowl. “If the program is successful, we’ll look to continue it in future years.”
Learn more about upcoming classes and other resources at TheRivet.org. T&G
Holly Riddle is a freelance writer for Town&Gown.
