Propose a Class

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Find a Class

We welcome proposals from prospective teachers and ideas from students on an ongoing basis, throughout the year.

Call for Proposals

Propose a class in any of the disciplines we offer, for any age group. Prior teaching experience is required. 

Some of our classes emphasize traditional crafts. Others celebrate experimentation. We want to send our students home happy, fulfilled, inspired, ready to do their own work and eager to learn more.   

Ideas from students

Send us your idea for a class you would like us to offer.

Proposals from teachers

How to Submit a Proposal

The best way to submit a course proposal is to use our online survey form. Make sure to click DONE at the end. Some browsers may have trouble with Survey Monkey; if you experience trouble, please try a different browser. After filling out the survey, please separately email  your resume or CV and 3 hi-res images to our Adult Programs & Engagement Director (Adults) or Director of Youth Engagement (Kids/Teens), with “Course Proposal” in the subject line.

Terms: Winter (January-March), Spring (April-June), Summer (July-September), Fall (October-December).  Please submit at least 2.5 months prior to your proposed start-date.

Create your own user feedback survey

Or download a printable form and email it to us along with a resume/CV and 3 high-resolution images.

Classes that are not submitted with 3 high-resolution photographs will not be considered.

 

Deadlines

We produce our printed catalog twice a year, so we hold a proposal deadline once in fall (for the following spring/summer) and once in spring (for the following fall/winter):

• October 1 for our Spring/Summer catalog

• March 1 for our Fall/Winter catalog

 

Disciplines & Details

We actively seek proposals for new classes and workshops:

  • for any age

  • of any length, from 1 to 10 sessions

  • within our interest areas

  • to be held in-house at the Eliot Schoolhouse or our Amory Street Annex (or in any nearby location that is covered by adequate liability insurance)

This year we are particularly interested in:

     • Classes taught by and for people of color
     • Classes from Boston’s many immigrant traditions• Book and Paper workshops and classes
     • Fashion and Fiber Arts workshops and classes
     • Classes making a specific piece of furniture
     • Workshops that produce object to be used in cooking, serving and eating 
     • Workshops that embody our vision and core values

 

Schedules

During the School Year

  • Workshops and classes from 1 session to 10 weeks and anything in between.
  • Fall semester: September–December
    Winter semester: January–March
    Spring semester: April–June
  • We teach children ages 2–17. 
  • Teens age 17 and up may take adult classes. Younger teens are often allowed into adult classes, pending permission from parents and instructors.
  • Children are most often grouped by age: 6–8, 9–12, 11–14 and 13–17.
  • Adult classes may be geared to any level of experience and skill.
  • We are particularly interested in attractive daytime workshops and classes for adults.

Summer for Adults

Options include:

  • Weekend workshops, e.g. Sat/Sun from 10am-6pm, two consecutive Sundays from 10am-4pm, one Saturday from 10am-2pm, etc.
  • Short evening courses in July, starting any time after 6pm
  • One-week intensives, Monday-Friday, in August. These can actually be anywhere from 2 to 5 days, beginning as early as 9am and ending as late as 5pm.

Summer Program for Children

  • For age groups 6–8, 9–12 and 12–14
  • Half-day classes, Monday through Friday, one week at a time, 9am-12pm or 12:30-3:30pm
  • Program runs from mid-June through July (exact dates determined each year)
  • Each half-day we offer three separate classes drawing upon four threads: woodworking, sewing, visual art and an inventions thread that can include electricity, engineering, kinesis, etc.
  • Because some children attend for multiple weeks, we offer something different each week, even if it has the same name. For example, woodworking can be Wooden Boats one week, Go-Carts one week, a model house one week, multiple projects involving moving parts one week.
  • We also entertain programs outside this box. Successful offerings in the past have included Mosaics, Photography, Printmaking, T-Shirts and Assemblages.

 

About our Facilities

In proposing or designing your class, please note that we have:

  • Wood shop with complete set of hand and power tools
  • 2nd floor sewing room (staircase access) with 8 sewing machines, 2 sergers, 2 dress forms, irons & ironing board, small drying rack, 3 laminated work tables, homosote walls
  • 2nd floor art room (staircase access) with 14 easels, 5 laminated folding tables, table risers, 11 wooden tables on wheels, model stand, homosote walls
  • Annex classroom with tables, chairs and sink, 8 easels; this is our only handicapped-accessible space.
  • 3 hot-plates
  • Dye box for mixing powdered dyes and auxilieries
  • WiFi
  • Digital projector and wall screen
  • Large open yard (but with no security, so projects cannot be left outdoors overnight)

We do NOT have:

  • Storage capacity (especially for 3-dimensional work)
  • Ventilation for batik, encaustic or other arts that generate toxic fumes
  • Exhaust hood for powdered dyes or other airborne toxins
  • Refrigerator
  • Washer/dryer
  • 3-D printer, Laser cutter, CNC router on site (We partner with The Makery for these classes.)
  • Ceramics studio
  • Metals studio
  • Computer lab
  • Darkroom
  • Handicapped access, except in our Annex classroom

 

Off-Site Options

We welcome the opportunity to offer classes in artists' studios and other spaces. However, we have strict insurance requirements. If you would like to explore this option, please contact our team.