arts education and experiences for people of all ages and abilities in the Alleghany Highlands of Virginia
Our current business hours are:
Tuesday-Saturday 10:00 am-2:00 pm
or later by appointment (call 540-862-7275 or email info@cfsota.org)
CLOSED SUNDAY AND MONDAYWEBSITE UPDATE IN PROGRESS
Please come back soon for new content!
GET CREATIVE!
Sign Up for a Class
See all of our upcoming classes on the Sign Up For a Class page of our website. You can search for classes by category or instructor, register to pay online or pay later at the School, and find your next creative endeavor!
If you prefer a printed schedule, go to bit.ly/cfsota-schedule where you can view, download, or print the full summer schedule.
Happening Soon!
Join us for an Open House event at Clifton Forge School of the Arts! 
Date: Friday, May 19
Time: 5:00-7:00 pm
Location: 518 Church Street, Clifton Forge, VA 24422
We’re excited to introduce you to our incredible new staff, provide an opportunity for you to connect with our talented instructors, and present artist Mark Cline along with his work which is currently featured in our Gallery. Whether you’re a budding artist, art enthusiast, or simply curious about what we have to offer, this event is the perfect opportunity to explore Clifton Forge School of the Arts.
Meet the Artist Reception:
Get a chance to meet West Virginia artist Mark Cline during our special “Meet the Artist” reception in the Gallery. Immerse yourself in the beauty of nature through his unique perspective, engage in insightful conversation, gain artistic inspiration, and learn the stories behind his brilliant paintings in our current exhibit, “The Color of Nature.”
Exciting Discounts on Summer Classes:
Have kids in your life who would enjoy our mini-camps? Looking to enhance your own creative skills this summer? Then you may be excited to know that we are offering a 10% discount on our summer classes, available exclusively at the Open House event. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned artist, our diverse schedule of courses has something to offer everyone. Don’t miss this fantastic opportunity to learn from our talented instructors and take your creativity to new heights!
Light Refreshments:
Have a bite and sip some libations as you mingle with fellow art enthusiasts, learn about upcoming classes, and soak in the vibrant atmosphere of creativity.
Mark your calendars and spread the word! Invite your friends and family to join us to celebrate art, sign up for a class, meet our new staff, connect with talented instructors, and immerse yourself in the mesmerizing world of “The Color of Nature” by Mark Cline.
Following the Community Open House from 5-7 pm, make your way downstairs to the historic CFSOTA Mill to enjoy our monthly Bluegrass Jam session; you are welcome as a participant or as the audience, as always, free of charge!
We have some great new kids mini-camps this summer at Clifton Forge School of the Arts! Here are just the ones coming up in June- more in July! Easy online registration at bit.ly/cfsota-minicamps or stop by our Community Open House event Friday, May 19 from 5-7 pm for a 10% discount on summer classes!
PAINT YOUR HEART OUT! MINI-CAMP
1:00-5:00 pm, June 7, 8, 9
Ages 8-12
Instructor: Heather Baker
Join us for summer painting fun! Our paint camp will introduce a variety of painting techniques to create several projects during this mini-camp. Paint projects will include watercolor, acrylic, and tempera painting. Artists will take home many wonderful masterpieces at the end of camp. Tuition includes all materials.
UKULELE MINI-CAMP
1:00-5:00 pm, June 14, 15, 16
Ages 6-12
Instructor: Rhonda Painter
Come explore this fun instrument! Campers will learn the foundations of playing the ukulele, no experience needed. A mini-concert will be held at the end of camp on stage at the CFSOTA Mill. *Students will need to bring their own ukulele; recommended options can be found here https://www.musiciansfriend.com/ukuleles.
FAIRY MINI-CAMP
1:00-4:00 pm, June 21, 22, 23
Ages 7-10
Instructor: Ruth Ann Hannah
Let’s enter the world of fairies! We will explore fairies, where they live and whether they glow at night. Join me to make several projects, including a fairy house. Tuition includes all materials.
ANIMALITOS MINI-CAMP
1:00-4:00 pm, June 28, 29, 30
Ages 7-10
Instructor: Ruth Ann Hannah
Animalitos is Spanish for small animals. We will look at the animal art work of Maurice Sendak and Frida Kahlo for inspiration to make our own animalitos. Students may choose to work either in clay to sculpt their creation or in felt to make a stuffed animalito.
Clifton Forge School of the Arts announces the opening of an exhibit of oil paintings by West Virginia artist Mark Cline, in the School’s Gallery at 518 Church Street in Clifton Forge, Virginia.
The exhibit, titled The Color of Nature, features natural forms in their habitat, painted in oil on wood panels.
There will be a Meet the Artist reception on Friday, May 19, from 5-7 pm as part of the School of the Arts’ seasonal open house. The public is invited to attend this free event. Light refreshments will be served.
The exhibit will be open through Friday, August 25, 2023 during the School’s regular business hours with occasional exceptions when the Gallery may be used for a class or private event.
For more information please call 540-862-7275 or email info@cfsota.org.
Clifton Forge School of the Arts
For the Artist in Everyone!
The Clifton Forge School of the Arts is a private non-profit organization dedicated to teaching the fine and applied arts to people of all ages and abilities living in the Alleghany Highlands and beyond. Located in the heart of downtown Clifton Forge, the School of the Arts opened its doors in January 2011. The School is housed in two historic buildings on Church Street with a nearly two-acre specimen garden between them.
Clifton Forge School of the Arts is funded by tuition fees, rental revenues, individual and corporate donations, and grants. Our arts education programs would not be possible without generous donations of private individuals and the support of the following: The Alleghany Foundation, the Town of Clifton Forge, the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, WestRock Corporation, the Virginia Commission for the Arts, the Richard S. Reynolds Charitable Foundation, the William Reynolds Foundation, the Nettleton Foundation, and local community organizations including the Covington/Hot Springs Rotary Club and Kiwanis of the Alleghany Highlands.
The gift of creating art = lasting memories.
The perfect gift for any age!
GIFT CARDS CAN BE APPLIED TOWARDS ANY CLASS.
Click below to purchase a digital gift card that you can send to your recipient immediately! You may also purchase paper gift certificates in person at the School. Questions? Call 540-862-7275 or email cfsota@lumos.net
Housed inside Clifton Forge School of the Arts, The Art Store is the only high-quality art store in the region carrying a wide range of supplies for professional and student artists. Please stop by during the School’s hours of operation or call proprietor Judith Sivonda at (540) 968-3639 to discuss your individual art supply needs. Store gift certificates available for the budding artists in your life.