Upcoming Events
Opportunities to Connect, Create, and Collaborate
Explore Batik, Shibori, and Indigo
Explore Batik, Indigo & Shibori: A Two-Session Fiber Arts Workshop
Join us for a hands-on fiber arts workshop where you’ll explore three traditional textile techniques while creating two one-of-a-kind pieces to enjoy and use.
Session One: Batik & Indigo
We will begin by exploring the ancient art of batik, a wax-resist technique practiced across cultures to create beautiful textile designs. You’ll paint your own designs onto a cotton shopping bag with wax, then transform your work with the rich blues of natural indigo dye.
Session Two: Wax Removal & Shibori
In the second session, we will learn techniques for removing the wax and revealing the patterns beneath. You’ll also be introduced to shibori, the traditional Japanese art of folding, binding, and dyeing fabric to create intricate patterns. Apply these new skills to a second cotton bag or a beautiful silk scarf.
By the end of the workshop, you’ll have two unique, handmade textile pieces that you’ll be proud to use in your everyday life!
No previous fiber arts experience is necessary—just bring your curiosity and creativity!
This workshop will be led by fiber artist Christine McHenry Glenn.
Booked for the Weekend Literary Festival
Day One Schedule:
Book Launch Party and Poetry Readings by Allison Wilkins and Christopher Bakken
Allison Wilkins is the author of House of Broken Tables (2026) , which won the 2025 Donna Wolf Palace Poetry Prize, and Girl Who (2014). Other poems and essays have appeared in Sierra Magazine, Hayden’s Ferry Review, Birmingham Poetry Review, Michigan Quarterly Review, Superstition Review, and The Lyric. She is the assistant director for Writing Workshops in Greece and a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT 500), who teaches weekly classes at Yoga Spot. When not in the Novice Room at The Learning Center, she can be found hiking or playing outdoors with her family.
Christopher Bakken is the author of four books of poetry, most recently Driving the Beast (a 2025 Sewanee Poetry selection from LSU Press), as well as the culinary memoir, Honey, Olives, Octopus: Adventures at the Greek Table. His work has appeared or is forthcoming in places including POETRY, The Paris Review, The Southern Review, Ploughshares, and Best American Poetry. Twice a Fulbright Scholar, Bakken is Director of Writing Workshops in Greece and he teaches at Allegheny College.
Open Studio w/ Ashley Cloud
Bring a project to work on in our space, or use materials from our designated Open Studio shelves.
Free for Headwater-, Estuary-, and Watershed-level members/ $10 for non-members.
Ashley R Cloud is a printmaker and painter based in Meadville, PA. Her work is rooted in realism, often referencing humankind’s relationship to nature.
Our printmaking studio will be open during Ashley’s Open Studio hours. Participants will be able to purchase blocks for relief printing and make use of our inks and presses, as well as receive guidance from the host.
After School Art w/ MCA
The MCA's beloved after school art program is back, in a new location! We're teaming with French Creek Arts Collective to host classes in their Cussewago Square studio. Participants will spend 12 weeks immersed in art projects that explore a variety of media and techniques!
Tuesdays, September 8- November 21
Fee per session: $300/ 12-week session
Instructor: Kate McKeown
Space is limited to 12 students
Payment can be made via cash or check (made out to French Creek Arts Collective) or by credit card at the first session or online.
Art Lab @ LCK8
The Learning Center and the French Creek Arts Collective are teaming up for an afterschool art club hosted at The Learning Center K-8 School!
Tuesdays, 3:30-4:30, September 8-29, October 6-27, November 3-24
Each session has a different theme- September (Paint Lab), October (Stamp and Print Lab), November (Collage Lab)
Ages 6-10
Fee per session: $60 (LCK8/ FCAC members)/$80 (Community)
Instructor: Emily Cicora (emily@learningcenterk8.org)
Space is limited to 12 students
Payment can be made via cash or check (made out to French Creek Arts Collective).
Open Studio w/ Brooke Brace
Bring a project to work on in our space, or use materials from our designated Open Studio shelves.
Free for Headwater-, Estuary-, and Watershed-level members/ $10 for non-members.
Known for her colorful palette choices, Brooke specializes in mixed-media illustrations with an emphasis in animals, nature, and simple life settings. Brooke loves to tell a story in all of her artwork. She strives to make each piece express a sense of comfort, happiness, and nostalgia, not only for herself, but for those who view her artwork as well.
Needles and Nibbles Fiber Arts Meetup
Join FCAC for a monthly meet-up for all things needlecraft! Whether you are a veteran of stabbing things or want to learn the art, this meet-up is for you. Bring a snack to share and join your fellow sharp object connoisseur's for a night of needles and nibbles.
This event is free and open to the public!
Explore Batik, Shibori, and Indigo
Explore Batik, Indigo & Shibori: A Two-Session Fiber Arts Workshop
Join us for a hands-on fiber arts workshop where you’ll explore three traditional textile techniques while creating two one-of-a-kind pieces to enjoy and use.
Session One: Batik & Indigo
We will begin by exploring the ancient art of batik, a wax-resist technique practiced across cultures to create beautiful textile designs. You’ll paint your own designs onto a cotton shopping bag with wax, then transform your work with the rich blues of natural indigo dye.
Session Two: Wax Removal & Shibori
In the second session, we will learn techniques for removing the wax and revealing the patterns beneath. You’ll also be introduced to shibori, the traditional Japanese art of folding, binding, and dyeing fabric to create intricate patterns. Apply these new skills to a second cotton bag or a beautiful silk scarf.
By the end of the workshop, you’ll have two unique, handmade textile pieces that you’ll be proud to use in your everyday life!
No previous fiber arts experience is necessary—just bring your curiosity and creativity!
This workshop will be led by fiber artist Christine McHenry Glenn.
Jazz Cafe ft. Freshwater Jazz!
We’ve got another evening with Freshwater Jazz, this time at the Crawford Trust Building located at 231 Chestnut St! Bring your own food, and grab a drink from Meadville Distilling’s Vault Lounge, and enjoy some fantastic music!
Thanks to the Crawford County Visitor’s Bureau for their generous sponsorship of this event!
Polaroid Transfer Workshop
An Experimental Photography Workshop
Join us for a hands-on workshop exploring the beautifully unpredictable process of Polaroid image transfers.
In this session, participants will use images from their cell phones, print them with a Polaroid printer, and learn how to transfer the developing gelatin emulsion onto a new surface such as watercolor paper. As the emulsion lifts and moves, it stretches, distorts, and responds to touch, creating soft, painterly, one-of-a-kind images.
No prior photography experience is required. This workshop is ideal for visual artists, photographers, mixed media makers, and anyone curious about process-driven experimentation.
What to Bring:
• A fully charged cell phone with a few images you’d like to work with
All additional materials will be provided.
Workshop Details:
Location: FCAC Studio in Cussewago Square, Meadville, PA
Open to Ages 12 and up
Workshop Fee: $35 (Members receive a 25% discount!)
Saturday, September 26, 12-2pm
About the Artist:
Heather Brand is a local photographer and educator based in Meadville, PA. Heather is an associate professor of photography and digital art at Allegheny College.
Open Studio w/ Emily Cicora
Bring a project to work on in our space, or use materials from our designated Open Studio shelves.
Free for Headwater-, Estuary-, and Watershed-level members/ $10 for non-members.
Emily is a teaching artist at The Learning Center K-8 School.
Open Studio w/ Ashley Cloud
Bring a project to work on in our space, or use materials from our designated Open Studio shelves.
Free for Headwater-, Estuary-, and Watershed-level members/ $10 for non-members.
Ashley R Cloud is a printmaker and painter based in Meadville, PA. Her work is rooted in realism, often referencing humankind’s relationship to nature.
Our printmaking studio will be open during Ashley’s Open Studio hours. Participants will be able to purchase blocks for relief printing and make use of our inks and presses, as well as receive guidance from the host.
After School Art w/ MCA
The MCA's beloved after school art program is back, in a new location! We're teaming with French Creek Arts Collective to host classes in their Cussewago Square studio. Participants will spend 12 weeks immersed in art projects that explore a variety of media and techniques!
Tuesdays, September 8- November 21
Fee per session: $300/ 12-week session
Instructor: Kate McKeown
Space is limited to 12 students
Payment can be made via cash or check (made out to French Creek Arts Collective) or by credit card at the first session or online.
Art Lab @ LCK8
The Learning Center and the French Creek Arts Collective are teaming up for an afterschool art club hosted at The Learning Center K-8 School!
Tuesdays, 3:30-4:30, September 8-29, October 6-27, November 3-24
Each session has a different theme- September (Paint Lab), October (Stamp and Print Lab), November (Collage Lab)
Ages 6-10
Fee per session: $60 (LCK8/ FCAC members)/$80 (Community)
Instructor: Emily Cicora (emily@learningcenterk8.org)
Space is limited to 12 students
Payment can be made via cash or check (made out to French Creek Arts Collective).
Open Studio w/ Brooke Brace
Bring a project to work on in our space, or use materials from our designated Open Studio shelves.
Free for Headwater-, Estuary-, and Watershed-level members/ $10 for non-members.
Known for her colorful palette choices, Brooke specializes in mixed-media illustrations with an emphasis in animals, nature, and simple life settings. Brooke loves to tell a story in all of her artwork. She strives to make each piece express a sense of comfort, happiness, and nostalgia, not only for herself, but for those who view her artwork as well.
Art Sangha
Art Sangha is a gathering that combines mindfulness and art-making.
Participants will engage in guided and silent meditations, followed by time for independent creation of artwork and time for sharing and discussion afterward.
Art Sangha is free and open to the community, free-will donations to help provide supplies are gratefully accepted.
Participants are encouraged to bring a sketchbook, preferred drawing materials and a cushion or pillow.
Ryan Brooks Leslie is an artist and registered art therapist based in Meadville, Pennsylvania.
He hopes to share the healing power of art with the community through facilitation of this group.
Art Bar
Join us for a drop in craft party!
Choose from our regular menu of crafts and a seasonal special. Each craft is $10-$15 which includes all the supplies and a hard or soft drink of your choice.
Craft Menu:
Smudge and Shade (charcoals)
Blend and Layer (oil pastels)
Carve and Stamp (linocut)
Paint and Mix (watercolor)
Cut and Layer (collage)
Shape and Sculpt (air dry clay)
Open Studio w/ Brooke Brace
Bring a project to work on in our space, or use materials from our designated Open Studio shelves.
Free for Headwater-, Estuary-, and Watershed-level members/ $10 for non-members.
Known for her colorful palette choices, Brooke specializes in mixed-media illustrations with an emphasis in animals, nature, and simple life settings. Brooke loves to tell a story in all of her artwork. She strives to make each piece express a sense of comfort, happiness, and nostalgia, not only for herself, but for those who view her artwork as well.
Open Studio w/ Ashley Cloud
Bring a project to work on in our space, or use materials from our designated Open Studio shelves.
Free for Headwater-, Estuary-, and Watershed-level members/ $10 for non-members.
Ashley R Cloud is a printmaker and painter based in Meadville, PA. Her work is rooted in realism, often referencing humankind’s relationship to nature.
Our printmaking studio will be open during Ashley’s Open Studio hours. Participants will be able to purchase blocks for relief printing and make use of our inks and presses, as well as receive guidance from the host.
After School Art w/ MCA
The MCA's beloved after school art program is back, in a new location! We're teaming with French Creek Arts Collective to host classes in their Cussewago Square studio. Participants will spend 12 weeks immersed in art projects that explore a variety of media and techniques!
Tuesdays, September 8- November 21
Fee per session: $300/ 12-week session
Instructor: Kate McKeown
Space is limited to 12 students
Payment can be made via cash or check (made out to French Creek Arts Collective) or by credit card at the first session or online.
Art Lab @ LCK8
The Learning Center and the French Creek Arts Collective are teaming up for an afterschool art club hosted at The Learning Center K-8 School!
Tuesdays, 3:30-4:30, September 8-29, October 6-27, November 3-24
Each session has a different theme- September (Paint Lab), October (Stamp and Print Lab), November (Collage Lab)
Ages 6-10
Fee per session: $60 (LCK8/ FCAC members)/$80 (Community)
Instructor: Emily Cicora (emily@learningcenterk8.org)
Space is limited to 12 students
Payment can be made via cash or check (made out to French Creek Arts Collective).
Open Studio w/ Brooke Brace
Bring a project to work on in our space, or use materials from our designated Open Studio shelves.
Free for Headwater-, Estuary-, and Watershed-level members/ $10 for non-members.
Known for her colorful palette choices, Brooke specializes in mixed-media illustrations with an emphasis in animals, nature, and simple life settings. Brooke loves to tell a story in all of her artwork. She strives to make each piece express a sense of comfort, happiness, and nostalgia, not only for herself, but for those who view her artwork as well.
Annual Meeting
Following our Member Mixer (2-4pm), we’ll hold our annual meeting. We’ll present our annual report, vote on open board positions, and set goals for the upcoming year!
Member Mixer
Our quarterly Member Mixer is open to members and those interested in our studio, programs, and benefits of membership! Come meet other creatives and get inspired!
Our annual members’ meeting will take place directly after the mixer. All are welcome to attend, only member-owners may vote!
Saturday Morning Cartoon Trivia!
Gather your team of up to 4, put on your coziest PJs, and bring a box of your favorite cereal! Hosts Geoff and Alicia will test your knowledge of beloved Saturday morning cartoons from the last few decades.
There is no cost to participate, but donations to support the arts are gratefully accepted!
Open Studio w/ Emily Cicora
Bring a project to work on in our space, or use materials from our designated Open Studio shelves.
Free for Headwater-, Estuary-, and Watershed-level members/ $10 for non-members.
Emily is a teaching artist at The Learning Center K-8 School.
Open Studio w/ Ashley Cloud
Bring a project to work on in our space, or use materials from our designated Open Studio shelves.
Free for Headwater-, Estuary-, and Watershed-level members/ $10 for non-members.
Ashley R Cloud is a printmaker and painter based in Meadville, PA. Her work is rooted in realism, often referencing humankind’s relationship to nature.
Our printmaking studio will be open during Ashley’s Open Studio hours. Participants will be able to purchase blocks for relief printing and make use of our inks and presses, as well as receive guidance from the host.
After School Art w/ MCA
The MCA's beloved after school art program is back, in a new location! We're teaming with French Creek Arts Collective to host classes in their Cussewago Square studio. Participants will spend 12 weeks immersed in art projects that explore a variety of media and techniques!
Tuesdays, September 8- November 21
Fee per session: $300/ 12-week session
Instructor: Kate McKeown
Space is limited to 12 students
Payment can be made via cash or check (made out to French Creek Arts Collective) or by credit card at the first session or online.
Art Lab @ LCK8
The Learning Center and the French Creek Arts Collective are teaming up for an afterschool art club hosted at The Learning Center K-8 School!
Tuesdays, 3:30-4:30, September 8-29, October 6-27, November 3-24
Each session has a different theme- September (Paint Lab), October (Stamp and Print Lab), November (Collage Lab)
Ages 6-10
Fee per session: $60 (LCK8/ FCAC members)/$80 (Community)
Instructor: Emily Cicora (emily@learningcenterk8.org)
Space is limited to 12 students
Payment can be made via cash or check (made out to French Creek Arts Collective).
Open Studio w/ Brooke Brace
Bring a project to work on in our space, or use materials from our designated Open Studio shelves.
Free for Headwater-, Estuary-, and Watershed-level members/ $10 for non-members.
Known for her colorful palette choices, Brooke specializes in mixed-media illustrations with an emphasis in animals, nature, and simple life settings. Brooke loves to tell a story in all of her artwork. She strives to make each piece express a sense of comfort, happiness, and nostalgia, not only for herself, but for those who view her artwork as well.
Art Sangha
Art Sangha is a gathering that combines mindfulness and art-making.
Participants will engage in guided and silent meditations, followed by time for independent creation of artwork and time for sharing and discussion afterward.
Art Sangha is free and open to the community, free-will donations to help provide supplies are gratefully accepted.
Participants are encouraged to bring a sketchbook, preferred drawing materials and a cushion or pillow.
Ryan Brooks Leslie is an artist and registered art therapist based in Meadville, Pennsylvania.
He hopes to share the healing power of art with the community through facilitation of this group.
Open Studio w/ Brooke Brace
Bring a project to work on in our space, or use materials from our designated Open Studio shelves.
Free for Headwater-, Estuary-, and Watershed-level members/ $10 for non-members.
Known for her colorful palette choices, Brooke specializes in mixed-media illustrations with an emphasis in animals, nature, and simple life settings. Brooke loves to tell a story in all of her artwork. She strives to make each piece express a sense of comfort, happiness, and nostalgia, not only for herself, but for those who view her artwork as well.