Creative Things to Do in Vermont: Galleries, Studios & Classes in Mad River Valley
When our guests look for things to do in Vermont, outdoor activities like hiking, skiing, and biking usually steal the spotlight. The Mad River Valley delivers these in abundance, but there’s another side to Vermont that deserves equal attention: the creative community that transforms raw materials into art you can see, touch, and even make yourself.
The Mad River Valley supports a thriving arts scene where you can watch glass blowers shape molten glass, try your hand at Vermont pottery on a wheel, browse galleries showcasing 170+ artists, and take classes in everything from ceramic sculpture to watercolor painting. Whether you’re visiting for a weekend or staying longer at our lodging in Vermont, these creative experiences are fun for travelers of any age.
Art Galleries & Studios in the Mad River Valley
Artisans’ Gallery
If you can only visit one gallery, make it Artisans’ Gallery. Located on Bridge Street in downtown Waitsfield’s historic 1830s storefront, this artist-owned cooperative has operated for over 31 years, representing more than 170 Vermont artists.
The gallery’s strength lies in its range. You’ll find hand-built ceramic birdhouses next to hand-woven chenille scarves, blown glass vases beside natural wood furniture, and jewelry displayed near encaustic paintings. Categories span clay, fiber, glass, jewelry, prints, woodworking, Vermont pottery, and specialty items like hand-painted kites. The result is a space that feels approachable and varied, where you can browse everything from everyday pieces to one-of-a-kind artwork.
The Bundy Modern
Open seasonally during the summer, The Bundy Modern occupies a striking modernist building on Bundy Road, originally created by noted sculptor Harlow Carpenter. The space began as the Bundy Center for the Arts, an outdoor sculpture garden designed to house Carpenter’s private collection, support emerging artists, and host Vermont Symphony Orchestra summer concerts.
Today, The Bundy Modern continues that creative legacy with rotating contemporary exhibitions in a unique, thoughtfully designed setting. The gallery is open on weekends beginning in June and by appointment.
Mad River Valley Arts
Located in Village Square in Waitsfield, Mad River Valley Arts has fostered creativity in the valley for over two decades through exhibitions, workshops, events, and educational programs.
The gallery hosts rotating exhibitions throughout the year, including contemporary art explorations, watercolor exhibitions, and photography shows displayed in the Red Barn Galleries at Lareau Farm. Their annual Green Mountain Photo Show, typically held in September, showcases photography from amateur and professional artists.
Visitors can explore both the art center and The MAD Art & Design Shop in the same location. The shop offers art kits, totes, prints, small artworks, ceramics, jewelry, cards, and memberships. Retail offerings rotate with each exhibition, highlighting new artists and creative goods throughout the year.
Mad River Glass Gallery
Mad River Glass Gallery houses blown glass pieces, including vases, bowls, fish vases, lanterns, and cairns. While primarily a gallery rather than a teaching studio, a visit can inspire and demonstrate the range of what glass artists can create.
Art in the Village
Located in downtown Warren next to the Warren Store, Art in the Village features colorful, eclectic art from almost 50 different artists, including the owner and her son. If you appreciate bold colors and diverse artistic styles, this gallery is the perfect choice.
Hands-On Art Classes & Workshops in the Mad River Valley
Blockhouse Studio
Blockhouse Studio operates as a community pottery studio offering classes, workshops, memberships, and a curated retail shop featuring pottery by members and instructors.
Offerings range from beginner wheel-throwing to more advanced techniques, with options for both adults and kids. Workshops focus on specific techniques or projects, allowing you to try your hand at pottery without committing to a full series.
Luke Iannuzzi Pottery
Luke Iannuzzi Pottery in Warren offers “Play With Clay on the Potter’s Wheel” sessions, one-and-a-half-hour classes that take you from a ball of clay to your own cup or bowl. You’ll learn basic centering and forming techniques in a hands-on experience that’s both fun and meditative. You can keep all or none of the pieces you make, and the studio will fire and ship finished pottery to you.
Salt & Sand Studios
Salt & Sand Studios in Warren offers Vermont glassblowing workshops where you can create your own glass pieces under expert instruction. The studio specializes in both glassblowing and fused glass techniques.
Fused glass classes teach you to cut and arrange glass into your own designs for plates or mini sushi trays. The glass is then fused and slumped into shape in a kiln. These 60 to 90-minute classes require no previous experience and take place under a tent in front of the barn studio.
The studio also offers glassblowing workshops where you shape molten glass into paperweights, ornaments, or small vessels. Instructor Spencer Kirk-Jackson brings extensive training from Massachusetts College of Art, Pilchuck Glass School, and The Studio at Corning Museum of Glass, ensuring you learn proper techniques safely.
Kids’ Creation 802
Kids Creations 802 offers hands-on art classes and workshops designed specifically for young artists. Their programs focus on creativity and exploration, with projects that can include painting, mixed media, seasonal crafts, and more.
Offerings change throughout the year, so if you’re traveling with children and looking for an engaging indoor activity, it’s worth checking their current schedule ahead of your visit.
Mad River Valley Arts
In addition to their gallery, Mad River Valley Arts also offers summer workshops and classes for all skill levels. Art camps for kids teach various media and techniques. Adult workshops cover topics from watercolor to encaustic painting. Check their calendar for current offerings, as these change seasonally.
Experience Vermont Art Throughout the Valley
The Mad River Valley’s art scene extends well beyond dedicated galleries and studios. It’s part of everyday life here, shaped by a strong community of local makers, artists, and small businesses.
During the summer months, the Waitsfield Farmers Market brings this creative energy together in one place. Alongside fresh produce and prepared foods, you’ll find local artisans selling handmade goods, artwork, and one-of-a-kind items created right here in Vermont.
You’ll also notice art woven throughout the valley in more unexpected ways, from locally made pieces in retail shops to handcrafted goods featured in small businesses and shops. It’s a reflection of a place where artists and makers are part of the community, not separate from it.
Our four lodges in the Mad River Valley put you minutes from all these creative destinations. Book your stay and discover the Mad River Valley’s thriving arts community. From art galleries to hands-on Vermont glass blowing and pottery classes, there are so many creative things to do in Vermont that go far beyond the standard tourist activities. Pack curiosity along with your hiking boots and experience Vermont’s artistic side.
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