When Delray Beach’s Creative Arts School (CAS) reopened its doors a year ago, it marked more than a return to programming. It was a renaissance of a historic building and a return to the creative arts.
But this renovation and re-creation has at its depth a new direction that heralds the arts with a large dose of reality. Classes are held to meet the needs (and desires) of those who want to expand their horizons, meet new people, learn a new craft or hone up on one left behind.
There are over 100 classes that range from ceramics to the culinary arts. There is a large industrial kitchen, open air classrooms that foster creative genius, and instructors with impressive resumes and experience.
And it’s not just the creative arts that are heralded from Tuesday to Saturday. CAS has emerged as a dynamic welcoming hub where creativity, community, and lifelong learning intersect.
The school’s renewed mission is clear: to be an integral part of Delray’s thriving creative ecosystem. You don’t have to come with a portfolio to impress. They welcome beginners, advanced artists, and lifelong learners to this experiential space.
There are 25 instructors who’s mission it is to inspire, challenge, and connect with students. And the creativity isn’t confined to classrooms. It spills into studios, kitchens, hallways, exhibitions and conversations, encouraging people not only to learn new skills, but to live out their creative dreams.
Gina Carter is the Director of the Creative Arts School. She has a Master of Fine Arts from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. The instructors are as eclectic as the arts they teach. Many are award-winning professionals whose work has been exhibited in museums and galleries around the world.
Yet what truly sets them apart is their commitment to teaching and meeting students where they are. Whether you are picking up a paintbrush for the first time, or refining a talent you want to perfect, CAS is for you. This learning environment feels both professional and personal.
One of CAS’s most popular classes is its ceramics program. Housed in a large, professional-grade studio, it buzzes with creativity and possibility.
Designed to inspire artists at every level, the space features six state-of-the-art throwing wheels and room for up to 16 hand-building students at a time. The expanded layout allows for hands-on instruction, collaboration, and a studio that is essential for artistic growth.
Students explore wheel throwing, hand-building, glazing, and surface design using stoneware clay fired at more than 2,200 degrees, creating pieces that are food-safe, microwave-safe, and built to last. Popular projects include bowls, mugs, ring dishes, spoon rests, and charcuterie boards.
“It’s very relaxing and you get to forget about the outside world,” said ceramics instructor Samantha. “Bringing ceramics to Delray means having a place to be creative, make new friends, and finding a calm space for inner peace.”
Students agree.
“I’ve taken two ceramics classes, and it’s been really fun,” said Jesaphine Lee. “I’ve met great people, learned hand-building and wheel throwing, and made pieces I never thought I could. It’s amazing to have somewhere like this to express your creativity.”
CAS also celebrates the culinary arts. The school recently added a new commercial kitchen designed specifically for cooking classes. The program blends technique, culture and creativity by offering workshops that emphasize accessibility, fun and quality.
From skill-building sessions to themed culinary experiences, students enjoy learning by doing (and tasting) the fruits of their labor in a welcoming social environment.
CAS’s second floor houses drawing, painting, photography, sewing, and textile studios, along with figure drawing sessions held Wednesday evenings and Saturday afternoons with live models.
Students work in charcoal, pencil, dry media, and paint, honing foundational skills while experimenting with new techniques. Classes in Adobe Illustrator, fluid art, oil painting, and photography round out the diverse options.
Monthly Artist Markets are held on the second Saturday of each month. The public is invited to shop, meet artists, exchange ideas, and experience creativity in action.
Exhibitions, lectures, and special events also transform the school into a gallery, performance space, and community gathering place. From showcasing plein air artists, to hosting conversations about Delray Beach history and literary heritage, CAS has elevated the arts so everyone can participate.
“I love what the Creative Arts School is building for the Delray Beach community,” said instructor Paula Fontana. “It’s a place where creativity and community come together.”
With renovated facilities, an outstanding faculty, and renewed momentum, the Creative Arts School has become one of Delray’s most dynamic new cultural arts spaces. Whether you’re exploring a new medium, sharpening your skills, or simply reconnecting with your creative side, CAS offers a welcoming place to explore and enjoy the arts.
By opening doors to creativity, connection and possibility, the Creative Arts School is strengthening Delray’s cultural life while shaping its creative future.
CREATIVE ART SCHOOL
51 N Swinton Ave Delray Beach
(561) 243-7062
