Top 5 Arts and Craft Classes for the Elderly

Trying something new is a great way of keeping the brain active, along with getting out of the house and meeting new people. Over recent years, with the help of programs such as The Great British Bake Off, The Great British Sewing Bee, and The Great British Pottery Throw Down, there has been an explosion of arts and craft classes.

These might be independently run classes by artisan makers or provided and subsidised by your local council. In your area, you’re almost guaranteed there will be something that takes your interest. So here are our picks of the top five arts and craft classes:

5. Silversmithing

Silversmithing is an ancient art, going back millennia. Metalworking is a fun pursuit and there’s a range of metals to choose from. Silversmithing is one of the most popular. It’s surprisingly quick to pick up the basics too. You could create a handmade ring in around two hours. It probably won’t be an intricate masterpiece but it will be your own. Keep it up, and you could be producing high quality jewellery in no time.

There are a range of classes available out there, from two-hour workshops to an 8-week course. Just Google “silversmithing near me” and there will be a range of courses to choose from.

4. Pottery

The rise in the number of people ‘throwing’ pottery can be attributed to the Great British Pottery Throw Down. Some people may also have been inspired by classic films such as Ghost. Again, this is a much loved ancient art, going back to early civilisation. Not only does pottery look great, but it’s practical too. Furthermore, creating pottery can be therapeutic. Watching a blob of inanimate clay become a beautiful ornament, which you created, provides a fantastic sense of achievement. A personalised piece of pottery could be the perfect birthday or Christmas gift.

3. Creative Writing

Writing is something you can do anywhere, and everyone has at least one story within them. All you need is pen and paper, making this one of the most accessible arts and crafts to learn. To bolster your skills, attend a creative writing workshop or course and unlock the inner writer within you. Suddenly, time spent being idle can now become productive. Use your newfound skill on a long train journey or on a rainy day. You’re never too old to see your book on shelves – whether you choose independent or traditional publishing. Alternatively, look up literary magazines and submit a short story or two.

2. Woodwork

Perhaps better known as a professional skill, there are a number of places offering woodwork courses. With the explosion of Pinterest, there are a range of wooden gadgets people are scrambling to make. A lot of these don’t require much skill either. This means that, after a short woodwork course, you could be well equipped to make your new tealight holder or upcycled pallet bench. The more you practice, the more ambitious the projects you can work on.

You can find woodworking projects to get involved with at your local Men’s Shed.

1. Painting

Learning to paint or draw encompasses a lot of disciplines. This makes painting an extremely versatile hobby. Whether you like drawing with charcoal or fine watercolours, you can be truly creative on canvas. Or how about no canvas at all, and learn the art of spray painting. Obviously, this should be practised in a proper class and not on the streets without permission.

Finding an Arts and Crafts Class

Whatever you choose to do, taking up an arts and crafts hobby can be extremely therapeutic. Why not try them all? We’re certain there will be a class near you, so start your arts and crafts journey today.

Finding crafts classes is a simple task. Look at your local bulletin board, for example, or consider an online search. A search as simple as “arts and crafts classes near me” can show you plenty of results. If you want to make sure they’re in your area, simply remove “near me” and enter your postcode, city, or county instead.

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Editor’s Note: This article was updated on 7th March 2024 to reflect current information.