Thank you for celebrating Kala's 50th with us and for supporting Kala's annual fund!

We loved seeing you all Saturday for Kala's 50th birthday, reunion, holiday party and the opening of Kala's art-making annex! Thanks for coming and for celebrating Kala's resilience, vision, impact, and creative community. Special thanks to all who have given generously throughout 2024, making our work and these gatherings possible.

With momentum from Giving Tuesday and December year-end gifts, we are halfway to our goal of raising $200,000 before December 31, 2024. These funds directly support core programs including Kala's artist residencies, exhibitions, and art classes and workshops for youth and adults. Your support makes all the difference as we look ahead to a new year of art-making and exchange.

Thank you for giving what you can to support the arts and Kala!

Support Kala Today

Give by Venmo

The Gift of Art: Highlights from Kala Art Sales & Holiday Pop-up Dec 19th

Looking for the perfect holiday gift? Kala has something distinctive and inspired for everyone on your list. Kala's Art Sales and Consulting Program supports exceptional work by local, national, and international artists – many of whom have participated in Kala’s artist residency programs.

Every purchase you make supports the local arts community and independent artists. Reach out to [email protected] to find out more.

Kala will also be offering a Pop-up Holiday Art Shop through December 19th in the Kala Gallery from 12-5pm. Be sure to check it out!

View Available Works on Kala's Artsy Page

We Have Gift Certificates!

Are you looking for holiday gift ideas? We have gift certificates available for classes! Let your creative loved ones experience the inspiring workshops taught by Kala’s community of professional artists. To learn more, visit the Adult Art Classes page on our website.

Purchase a Gift Certificate Today

Winter / Spring Arts Education Programs for Children, Teens and Adults

Registration is open for Kala's After School Studio and Teen Studio classes! Whether learning a new art medium or developing technical and conceptual skills, students will explore a variety of visual art media, experiment with techniques and materials, and dive deep into the creative process. Tuition assistance and enrollment tiers are available for all programs - please visit our website for more information. Tuition includes all materials. 10% discounts for multi-session and multi-sibling registrations.

After School Program

1st-5th Grade

The After School Program offerings include:

Tuesdays from 2:45 to 5:30

January 7th - May 20th

Thursdays from 2:45 to 5:30

January 9th through May 22nd.

Kala also offers trial days throughout the year.

Register Today

Teen Art Studio Program

6-12th Grade

Drawing For Teens

9 Tuesdays, 4 - 5:30pm

January 13th - March 10th 

Teen Studio After School

9 Wednesdays, 4:30 - 6pm

January 15th - March 12th

Teen Studio: Sculpture - 3D Exploration (NEW!)

5 Mondays, 4 - 6pm

February 24 - March 24

Trial Days available throughout the year.

Register Today

Winter Season of Adult Classes Open for Registration

Members receive 10% off classes and workshops. Join the Friends of Kala membership program here.  Scholarship tiers are available for all classes. Learn more about scholarships and assistance.

Upcoming Adult Class Highlights

Intro to Printmaking (January)

8 Thursdays

January 9 — February 27 (6-9pm)

Instructor: Tomoko Murakami

Location: Heinz Printmaking Studio

This introductory, 8-week course will provide an intensive experience with printmaking. Students will have the chance to learn and work in relief printing, intaglio, monotype, collagraph and more!

All levels welcome.

Register Today

Batik Dyeing: From Wax to Color (January)

Saturday, January 11 (10am - 2pm)

Instructor: Vyjayanthi (YJ) Malladi

Location: San Pablo Community Classroom

This one-day, 4-hour introductory workshop will cover the A to Z of Batik – a method of hand painting fabric using wax as a resist – in just a few hours. Participants will be designing patterns, transferring the designs to fabric, applying wax, and hand painting the final piece to take home. This workshop is perfect for artists and enthusiasts who want to understand the nuances of an ancient craft and apply it to various cloth-based pieces of their choice. All levels welcome.

Register Today

Intro to Watercolor Painting (January)

6 Wednesdays

January 15 - Feb 19 (6-8pm)

Instructor: Jennifer Mazzucco

Location: San Pablo Community Classroom

Explore the basics of watercolor painting ! Participants will learn fundamental concepts such as brush strokes, color theory, composition and watercolor techniques (wet-on-dry, wet-on-wet, etc.) through guided painting prompts. There will also be room for experimentation as participants are encouraged to embrace spontaneity and the playful dance between water and color. No skills required, all are welcome.

Register Today

Watercolor Explorations: Painting Botanicals

6 Wednesdays

Jan 15 - Feb 19 (10am - 12pm)

Instructor: Jennifer Mazzucco

Location: San Pablo Community Classroom 

During this course, students will explore techniques in watercolor such as color mixing, wet on wet, wet on dry, blending, and more while creating paintings inspired by botanicals, plants and flowers. We will be using still life objects and photographs as reference to understand how to build layers, create depth, and capture the beauty we see in the world around us. This course is for those who want to explore this magical medium, whether you’ve taken the intro class or are new to watercolor painting! No skills required, all are welcome.

Register Today

All Adult Classes

Accessibility – Please email [email protected] regarding any accessibility needs prior to enrolling so we can assess if we are able to accommodate you safely and efficiently.

More News... In Brief:

• Congratulations to Kala artist-in-residence Doug Winter, who received a special prize for photography at this year’s Arté Laguna Prize in Venice, Italy.

• Gallery Holiday Closures: Kala Gallery will be closed for holidays from Dec 20, 2024 - Jan 6, 2025.

• Kala's fellowship applications are live and open for submissions! Find out more here and start your application today! The deadline to apply is February 2nd, 2025.

Connect With Us!

• Join or renew your Friends of Kala membership and receive 10% off all art classes and workshops and more!

• Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to Kala's annual fund before December 31st to support Kala's mission and work! 

• Follow Kala?s new IG account, @kalagallery_berkeley, to see work from Kala?s gallery and art sales program