What a wonderful venue for pursuing your creative interests. We completed the beginning stained glass course and enjoyed it very much. Staff has been reduced to a minimum to help offset COVID-related budget issues, so there can be a delay in receiving responses. This is a community resource, so help where you can by joining and participating.

Open space with collaborative spaces. Came here to see an exhibit created by three friends and artists. We were the only ones here, which gave us the opportunity to peruse at our leisure. The prices they were asking for some of the artwork were outrageous though... something created on craft paper really shouldn’t cost thousands of dollars.

I received a $200 gift certificate to the center to enroll in an art class for christmas two years ago. I was very excited and enrolled in a course that looked interesting and fun. I showed up on the first day of the course to find that nobody was there. The course had been cancelled and for some reason, I did not receive the email stating the change. The course was then offered again in the fall of that year, so I decided to re enroll and try again to use a substantial portion of the $200 on the course in the fall. Come fall, the course was cancelled again at the last minute. The gift certificates expire after one year and because of the timing of the cancellation, I did not have another opportunity to enroll in any course. I was forced to let my $200 gift certificate expire without receiving any of the benefits. They were unwilling to work with me to get any value from it. I was really excited to be a part of the rva vis arts center community, but now they have left me with a bad taste in my mouth and i really want nothing to do with a center that blatantly rips off the people that are trying to support it.

Excellent place nice art work

Taking the fundamentals of drawing class has been the change I needed in my life. Its a nice chill class in a great environment with an excellent teacher! If you think you cant afford it they offer a very generous sliding scale.

What are you going to a gallery trying to find some space for your own artwork or going to a class this place is pretty incredible juul to have near the center of the city. our family has taken several classes there and the caliber of teachers and the type of classes they have are really pretty incredible. they also have an awesome volunteer structure so if youre looking for a place to give back a little bit, this is a great opportunity

My kids have been doing camps and classes here for years and we love it. Great programs for teens, which can sometimes be hard to find! Always have interesting and cool class topics. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. Only downside it the parking can be tight and it is a bit crazy when dropping off and picking up to get in and out of back alley.

Very interesting presentation and exhibition. Truly a place of the people trying to connect our present experience to our place and our collective past.

I take classes here regularly. Really knowledgeable teachers in a great environment to explore and learn

Amazing facility, there is so much that can be learned here, they frequently do workshops and have summer camps for ages 5 and up. Many of the students come back as volunteers in the future so there are always familiar faces. Im so glad I located this art center!

I give it 2 snaps up...They do a very good job of providing workspace and educational outreach for crafts in the Richmond area. They provide courses and workshops suited for all ages. They also host exhibitions and special programs.They have been doing good work since the day they opened their doors as The Hand Workshop and have kept it steady as they grew into The Visual Arts Center.Stop by, see the art, peek into the studios, sign up for a class, or even sign up as a member and get some fringe benefits on top of helping strengthen the Richmond Arts Community.

Nice place for art enthusiasts and also for those who want to get their hands dirty and gave some fun. Also an acceptable place for hosting wedding events.

Wonderful place to take classes and attend events.

This place is the best! They have everything you need to be a part of a community and learn to work with your hands!

Interesting and unique programming. Knowledgable instructors. Great supplies. Well organized.

Great place for artistic people. Friendly staff.

I always have a good experience here. I have taken a few classes in writing and love the space and the different studios

Its wonderful that a place like this is available to everyone in Richmond. Studio space and talented instructors cover a wide variety of arts, including textiles, ceramics and jewelry. There are classes for beginners, one sessiom to learn specific techniques, multiday programs for more in depth study. To be able to get serious art instruction without being a college art student is amazing.

A lot of great classes to learn some new art skills.

So happy a place like this exists in the city. The facilities and teachers are great. Unfortunately, many students are late or dont show up to class consistently, but as we are all busy I understand. However, this just leads to more 1 on 1 time with the teacher.

Edit. Dropping a star because this is not the first time Ive registered for a class and shown up only to find it cancelled without having been provided either notice or a proactive refund. I had to request one instead of doing what was first offered to me (which was taking a different class if any actually happened to be open). While the front desk staff were very polite and helpful when I arrived this is just such a frustrating experience that I think Im done with the space for the foreseeable future. If you want to take painting classes or do childrens art I guess thats a good thing but it seems like all other media are subject to more frequent cancellation. The lack of communication cost me time and energy and kept me from making other plans during the six weeks the class was supposed to run, including some things its now too late to take part in. Will see if refund shows up; I got an email confirming it.Edit: refund did show up, as expected, so at least that was handled. Still not understanding why they continue to offer sessions of the same classes that never seem to happen while taking money for them in the interim. If people arent signing up for those classes, why continue to show them as options over and over again, accepting money?Old reviewI enjoy the concept of this space and feel good about the experiences Ive had. I do wish, however, their offerings were more expansive in some areas. Some other writing workshop styles and classes, for instance. I took a beginning pottery class and enjoyed myself even though Im absolutely terrible at wheel throwing. (Not because the instructor was bad but simply because Im not very talented at it.) I like the gallery exhibitions as well

We came here for an open house event and absolutely loved it. The staff and volunteers were very friendly and helpful. If the demos and crafts available were any indication of the classes here they would be well worth taking. Cant wait to sign up and come back.

Richmond Va. is lucky to have a place like this, that encourages the arts on so many levels!!! I took a digital photography course there, and was amazed at how much I learned. Great facility and programs!

Knowledgeable and friendly staff. Great programs for kids, teens and us big kids too.

Great place for kids to explore art! We had a great time!

Excellent Excellent in opening young and old fans and non-fans of art minds to awareness of one self.

Across the board excellent instructors and a nurturing environment. Cant recommend enough!

Enjoyed seeing my daughters art but had a hard time finding. Need to label somehow where peoples art is.

Great place to further your art skills as an adult. Computer animation classes, painting classes, pottery, jewelry making, blacksmithing, pen and ink, etcetera

I love the drop in class on Fridays

Every class Ive taken here, Ive walked away learning so much more than Ive ever signed up for. Professors are artists in their own rite and make the education fun, not laborious.

How lucky we are to have such a lovely community and space in Richmond to express ourselves! I was intimidated at first as I had never tried art classes outside of high school photography. Fear not! you will rarely be the only beginner and the staff is always welcoming & happy to teach you with openness, warmth and humbleness. The teachers I have had this far have been Marisa G and Julie E. for ceramics and Cathy C. for painting, all of which have been inspiring to me. I highly recommend their classes. VisArts has been the best therapy for me. I recommend this place to anyone seeking good art “therapy”, a new hobby, or anyone interested in exploring or expanding their artistic scope. The customer service is great - Adam at the front desk is extraordinary at his job! I am very excited about continuing classes at VisArts. ️

Fascinating classes, great instructors, and a wide range of activities to choose from. I usually take at least one class a year here to learn something neat or brush up on an old skill.

Nice staff, cool events and programs. The building is well designed.

Went to the VPA Filmmakers Showcase there. It is a good venue for such events.

You can take a wide variety of classes from writing to painting. They often have events for members and a great space for it too. They also host a small rotating exhibit that is always worth checking out.

A great place to learn new arts skills!

Wonderful camps for all ages.

First going there as a child was the best thing ever, given I was just starting out in art. They exposed me to various different ways to make art and made it fun as well. Id most definitely go back. I love it there

This places business model is the extortion of artists trope. Ask your teachers how their classes are promoted, and how theyre paid. There is virtually NO security on the premises, and hundreds of children regularly. Ask them whos currently on their security staff.

Great range of classes with talented teachers

My daughter took two classes this summer and really enjoyed both. We will be back next summer for more classes!

I clean there I did one class

There for a class. Loved the class. Hated the parking situation.

Excellent instruction.

High quality classes and teachers! Beautiful facility with great equipment. Loved the classes Ive taken here.

Excellant summer camp programs

Ive taken classes here since I was fifteen and will continue for quite a while.

Love this place! Took 2 photography classes here and it was a great experience.

The Visual arts center is an excellent resource to gain further knowledge in the Fine and Handmade arts industry. The biggest challenge for me is being located in a rural area and the long commute to get this there.

My kids love it here

!Wow! Something this great in Richmond should be for all artists and not just VCU people.

Good teachers here and plenty of various classes for people of all ages

The art classes and workshops here are some of the best around. My mother has been going to the wet plate colloidal photography class for 3 years now and loves it.

Awesome art studio!

I work in the jewelry industry and took a jewelry fabrication class here that I really enjoyed. The instructors are knowledgeable, the classes are affordable and the parking is crap but that is to be expected in the Fan.

I brought my granddaughter here for The Connors Heroes Cancer Foundation Art Session & she had a ball....just wish there was a more comfortable area for the parents to sit & wait......

Great place to try new things

Buyer Beware...I registered for an advanced photography class in July. When I took it, it was clear the course was not advanced at all, as basics like aperture, ISO, and shutter speed were totally foreign concepts to many students.When I requested a refund, I repeatedly got sent to voice mails that were never returned. When I finally reached the registrar, she told me she was reducing my refund from the original course cost $160 to $105. Its now been a month and I havent seen a cent, and once again Im left leaving voice mails.

Such a fun and inspiring place to take classes.

Ita neat

Cool place to create. Jay Sharpe has a spot there!

Watercolor classes resonate with me the most. This is a great community with wonderful instructors!

Very nice art opening show.

Fun place for friends to do art together

Really awesome spot in Richmond.

Excellent Center if your into Art. Love it

Went to a night time craft event. My kids really enjoyed it.

Kids love the after school classes.

Need to know.

Love the classes

Great summer art classes for kids

Lots of visual arts possibilities there

Loved it

Love this place!

Great place to learn

Always awesome.

One of the places to learn more about the Arts Industry.

Beautiful facility

Great place to take classes.

Fascinating

Very talented, compassionate group

Very moving

Great jazz music, beautiful and artsy

Great classes!

Great classes!

Great outlet for creativity