Get creative on select Free Thursday nights with art-making activities designed by local artists. Plus, visit the galleries, grab a drink from the ICA Wine + Coffee Bar,* and connect over creativity. No experience necessary.
Art-making is free and meets in the State Street Corporation Lobby. While all experience levels are welcome, this workshop is designed for adult audiences. Participation is drop-in on a first-come, first-serve basis as space allows. *Refreshments available for purchase.
Art-Making After Dark: Go Figure! | December 11
Join the Boston Figurative Art Center for a night of figure drawing and portraiture! Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned artist, get ready for a night of creativity, experimentation, and fun! Learn or practice the foundational tools of drawing in two exciting workshops! You’ll start to see figure drawing in a whole new way.
Live Model Drawing: Roll up your sleeves for instructor-led drawing sessions of clothed models.
Portrait Party: Grab a pencil, meet new friends, and draw some zany portraits based on laugh-out-loud prompts in the Art Lab!
About the Boston Figurative Art Center:
The Boston Figurative Art Center is a creative community space and figure drawing studio in Union Square, Somerville. They regularly host social events, open figure drawing sessions, art workshops, multi-week classes, and creative meet-ups! They also hosted artisan markets, book readings, music events, and much more. Basically a catch-all for all things creative and communal, fit for any skill level and medium.
“We believe so strongly that creativity and community are vital to our overall health, just like going to the gym or eating vegetables. We are not just a space for practiced artists, but a home for anyone looking to weave more creativity into their life.”—Boston Figurative Art Center
This program is inspired by Portia Zvavahera: Hidden Battles / Hondo dzakavanzika.
Art-Making After Dark: Let’s Dance | January 29
Warm up and dance it out at a drop-in dance workshop led by Carolina Florez, founder of Shuffle Therapy. In this beginner-friendly session, learn the history and fundamentals of shuffle dance, a high-energy footwork-based dance style usually found in electronic music dance spaces.
Extend your evening of dance with a site-responsive performance by Mar Parrilla.
Dance sessions will pause for a 30-minute intermission at 7 PM. While all experience and ability levels are welcome, this dance class is designed for adults. Comfortable shoes and clothing are recommended.
About Carolina Florez:
Carolina Florez is a shuffle dance educator, community leader, and the founder of Shuffle Therapy, a movement program rooted in liberation through expression. She is currently getting her master’s in Dance Movement Therapy at Lesley University. With 10 years of experience in shuffle dance and as the organizer behind the Boston Shuffle Community, Carolina creates empowering spaces where dancers can explore identity, groove freely, and connect through rhythm.
Art-Making After Dark: Fabric of Community | February 12
Explore fiber arts and textiles with exhibiting artist Susan Thompson. Visit the galleries to be inspired by her work in Say It Loud: AAMARP, 1977 to Now.
Art-Making After Dark: Bead Boldly | March 12
Learn about the Indigenous history and fundamentals of beading with a contemporary twist with artist and designer Sebastian Ebarb. Get ready to explore, experiment, and express yourself through art!
About Sebastian Ebarb:
Sebastian Ellington Flying Eagle Ebarb is a designer, artist, writer, educator, and enrolled member of the Choctaw-Apache Tribe of Ebarb. Based in Boston, he is the former Design Director for the City of Boston; a Teaching Professor of Design at Northeastern University; and the founder of Nahi, a design studio focused on accessible, community-rooted work. His creative practice is grounded in Native identity, care, and cultural connection—especially for those living in urban settings.
This program is inspired by Caroline Monnet: Man-made Land.