Housed inside a former textile mill, Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment is more than just a venue to browse galleries and shop; it’s also a place to try something new. From music and movement to metal, fiber, and clay arts, the 150-plus working studios here invite visitors to step into the creative process alongside local artists.
Whether you’re looking for a hands-on class, a casual drop-in experience, or a one-of-a-kind memory to take home, these art classes and experiences at Lowe Mill make it easy to turn a visit into something interactive, inspiring, and just plain fun.
Credit: Cigar Box Guitar Store
Play a Cigar Box Guitar
Learn to tickle the strings at the only brick-and-mortar cigar box guitar store in the world at Lowe Mill! Every Saturday afternoon, the Cigar Box Guitar Store (Studio 106) offers free lessons, with loaner instruments available. These guitars can be used acoustic or electric and the creative designs turn them into playable art pieces. To level up the experience, you can book a group class with at least five people to build your own cigar box guitar – public build classes are offered occasionally as well.
Forge Iron
Ever dreamed of being a blacksmith? At Warrior Forge (Studio 1017) at Lowe Mill, you can do just that! The blacksmith building is outside the North Hall and offers short experiences to craft pendants and other small souvenirs, as well as four-hour workshops to learn the skills behind the art form. Visitors can stop by to watch blacksmith and Army veteran owner Marc Steenbergh crafting everything from small decorations and household items to furniture pieces.
Credit: Ravenwood Meadery
Sample Craft Mead
The only craft meadery in North Alabama, Ravenwood at Lowe Mill (Studio 2069), is woman-owned and sells small batches of the drink known as “honey wine.” The venue in Studio 2069 has a tasting bar and hosts occasional tours, but you can also pop in weekly on Thursday evenings for Tea & Coloring events – just order a drink and grab one of the provided pictures and pencils, or bring your own. It’s a relaxing way to enjoy a low-key art experience at Lowe Mill.
Record an Album
Did you know you can record an album at Lowe Mill? Studio Zero (Studio WT2) offers a space for anyone interested in dabbling in the recording arts, with a digital audio workstation, house instruments, and more. Owner Matthew Bakula is an audio-visual artist and has been in the Lowe Mill space for 15 years.
Credit: Saturn Jive Dance Space
Learn to Lindy Hop
Learn the lindy hop, Brazilian zouk, capoeira, Argentinian Tango, and so much more at the Saturn Jive Dance Space at Lowe Mill (2008). Performance artist Josephine Glass runs the studio, and movement teachers lead the classes and social dances. A multi-discipline dancer, Josephine studied kinesthetic cognition in grad school and has practiced ballet, gymnastics, swing dance, ballroom, and several martial arts through the years.
Tuft a Rug
AT Cut a Rug Tufting (Studio 326) in Lowe Mill, you can literally design and make your own floor mat from scratch. The studio owner, Brent Hobbs, is a textile artist who hosts classes in his space. A creative with experience in graphic design, Brent teaches small group and private workshops where participants design a rug and learn to use a handheld tufting gun to craft their project. Brent also makes and sells custom pieces in his studio.
Craft With Clay
There’s no better way to get your hands dirty and tap into your creativity than working with clay. Lowe Mill ceramic artist Calvin Hubbard (Studio 1066) offers the chance to do just that at walk-in pottery classes. Whether you’re looking for a fun date night or want to explore the basics of the art form, the classes will teach you how to work with clay and design a unique piece to take home.
Experience Art Classes at Lowe Mill
Lowe Mill makes it easy to tap into your creativity while visiting Huntsville. From music and dance to mead sampling, these Huntsville art classes and experiences invite you to learn a new skill and connect with the artists who make the creative space so special. Even if you arrive with no experience at all, you’ll leave with a deeper appreciation for the Huntsville arts scene — and maybe a one-of-a-kind souvenir you made yourself.
