14 Best Art Schools in Denver

artSPARK Creative Studio centers its programs on children’s hands-on artmaking, with classes, workshops, camps, after-school activities, and creative parties. Projects explore both two- and three-dimensional techniques while encouraging children to experiment, build confidence, and develop their own ideas rather than simply copy a finished example.

Puff, Pass, and Paint Denver puts a cannabis-friendly spin on guided painting classes, creating a relaxed setting where beginners and more experienced painters can work at their own pace. Instructors are patient, encouraging, and available for individual questions without rushing the process, while supplies are provided for the class project.

Colorado Media School is a Denver trade school offering hands-on media career training near the Denver Tech Center. Students work with TV studios, internet radio stations, editing labs, production equipment, and technical programs designed to build practical skills for film, broadcasting, voiceover, and related media work.

Babcock Studios is a Denver drama school offering professional film acting classes, coaching, voiceover, screenwriting, career counseling, and on-set support. Founded by actor, filmmaker, and teacher Todd Babcock, the studio connects traditional scene study with the practical demands of working on film and television productions.

ARTistic Fox Art & Design Academy teaches adults and children through painting, drawing, sculpting, design, crafts, and related creative courses. Its progression can cover pencil drawing, composition, perspective, sketching, landscapes, portraits, and multiple materials including oil, acrylic, pastel, watercolor, and charcoal.

REAL Academy of Art Colorado focuses on classical realism, guiding students from foundational drawing toward oil painting, portraiture, and sculpture. Instructors Ali and James break complex skills into practical steps, with thoughtful critiques, patient explanations, and one-on-one advice shaped around each student’s pace and interests.

Art Garage is a Denver nonprofit arts organization offering creative classes, workshops, open studios, camps, and family programming for children and adults. Its clay-focused offerings include wheel throwing, handbuilding, and glazing, with approachable instruction that encourages experimentation and skill-building.

city mud is a Denver community pottery studio with classes, memberships, and events for people exploring wheel throwing and hand-building. Instructors create a calm, supportive learning environment, helping complete beginners get started while still offering useful techniques and feedback to more experienced potters.

Neighborhood Art Studio brings together art classes, workshops, camps, birthday parties, and after-school programming in Denver. Its children’s offerings include art club, animation, tiny artist classes, sensory play, and hands-on projects designed to encourage creativity, confidence, and problem-solving.

Denver School of the Arts is an art school in Denver with a strong creative and academic focus. Its community includes dedicated teachers, challenging coursework, scholarships, student trips, and opportunities intended to support artistic development alongside preparation for college and adult life.

Students and families should plan ahead for enrollment, as places and scheduling may require advance arrangements. The school is best suited to young artists seeking a structured arts-centered education rather than a casual, drop-in class.

Art Students League of Denver gives artists in Denver room to explore a wide selection of media through classes and workshops led by working artists with regional and national recognition. There is no fixed curriculum, allowing beginners, continuing students, and aspiring professionals to shape their studies around their own interests.

@Art Gym is a Denver art center built around shared creative work, teaching, and exhibition. Its member-led Co-op provides workspace access and a collaborative environment, while The Classroom offers a customizable setting for workshops and hands-on learning. The Gallery adds a professional white-wall venue for solo shows, group exhibitions, and pop-ups.

Washington Heights Arts Center offers Denver-area classes in pottery, weaving, visual arts, mosaics, woodcarving, and other hands-on disciplines. Beginner courses provide a clear way to reconnect with creativity, while studio time after class gives students the chance to keep practicing and developing new skills.

Metropolitan State University of Denver is a broad-based university serving students in Denver with more than 100 majors and minors, graduate programs, and certificate options. Its academic environment is paired with student support through advising, case management, recreation, and specialized programs such as Immigrant Services.