Have you always dreamed of making art, but never had the time? Are you an experienced artist ready to deepen your art practice? Or are you a parent looking for a way to feed your child’s creativity?  Center for Community Arts is the place for you and your family to explore and discover at every stage of life.  

We’re part of Arts and Recreation at the City of Walnut Creek, and we have inspired creativity for decades. More than 10,000 adults and young people from Walnut Creek and beyond make art with us each year. At Center for Community Arts, you can learn from experienced teaching artists and your fellow students in comfortable studios around the city.  

You or your child can register for classes and workshops in drawing, painting, printmaking, ceramics, glass, fiber arts, jewelry, photography and digital media. We also offer classes in dance, music and theater. Build your skills from beginning to advanced classes. We even offer intensives in dance, music and theater. Preschools and camps give youth from 2-14 the time and space to play, develop, and learn in the arts.

And we meet you where you are. We work with schools and community centers to bring arts to places where people gather. And we partner with organizations to offer financial aid for all our programs. If you or a family member has special needs, we work to make sure everyone is included.  

There is more to Community Arts than courses. We also hold free artmaking events, street fairs, festivals, student exhibits and performances. You can also drop in at one of our open studios to get a taste of Community Arts. 

We invite you to join us and let your creativity soar! We're excited to work with you!

Mission

Inspiring creativity and community through the arts.

Vision

Opportunities for all to explore and discover at every stage of life

History

Center for Community Arts is part of the City of Walnut Creek’s Arts and Recreation Department. Our instructors and programs have inspired area residents since 1964. We are proud of our rich history of providing arts education to better the lives our students.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

At Walnut Creek Arts + Rec, we recognize that implicit and explicit disparities exist due to historical and systemic barriers to equality. We believe we can support a more equitable community by uniting people through shared experiences. We aspire to intentionally learn, create, and grow together with our community. We strive to foster a diverse and reflective staff that propels our efforts toward accessible, inclusive, and culturally meaningful arts and recreation experiences.

Learn more about our diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.