The W20 Student Art Studios receives exceptional interest in studio classes each semester. Because demand significantly exceeds facility capacity, a ranked choice lottery system is used to ensure the fairest possible access for all eligible students. This lottery allows students to rank their class preferences, giving them the best chance of being placed in courses that match their interests, skill level, and schedule.
For the spring and fall semesters, matriculated MIT students receive priority in the lottery. For IAP (Independent Activities Period) and summer terms, the lottery is affiliation-neutral, giving all MIT community members equal standing regardless of their affiliation with MIT.
Fall 2026 W20 Art Studio Dates
Classes begin the week of September 14 and end the week of November 16.
No classes October 12 and November 11.
W20 studios are closed the week of Thanksgiving (November 23-29).
Student access to the studios ends Friday, December 11, 4pm ET.
Stratton Student Center Fall Hours
Sunday–Saturday, unlocked from 6am to 7pm
Sunday–Saturday, card access only from 7pm to 1am
Tuesday, November 17 (9am, ET)
Class offerings are posted on the W20 Student Art Studios website.
Wednesday, November 18 (9am, ET)–Tuesday, November 24 (12pm, ET)
Need-based tuition waiver lottery application is open.
Wednesday, November 25 (by 12pm, ET)
Need-based tuition waiver lottery recipients are notified by email and have until Wednesday, December 2 at 12pm ET to confirm their enrollment.
Friday, December 4 (9am, ET)–Thursday, December 10 (12pm, ET)
IAP class lottery is open. Participants select their top three class choices (one submission per person). Modifications can be made until the lottery closes.
Friday, December 11 (by 12pm, ET)
Lottery results sent via email. Winners have until Monday, December 14 at 12pm ET to accept their spot and complete payment. Those who are not selected for class will automatically be assigned a position on the waitlist. Unclaimed seats will be released to waitlisted students.
*IAP 2027 classes begin the week of January 4 and end the week of January 25. No classes Monday, January 18. Student studio access ends Friday, February 5, 4pm unless your class has a make-up session the following week.
Payment & Confirmation: You must accept your lottery spot and pay by the deadline in your email notification. If you experience technical issues with payment but want to claim your seat, email art-studios@mit.edu immediately.
Waitlist: You must register for the lottery in order to get a spot on the waitlist for classes. If your name is not selected to register, you are automatically assigned a position on the waitlist(s) for your preferred class(es). You cannot be added to the waitlist after the lottery is closed, but you’re welcome to register for any classes that become publicly available.
Ceramics Placement: Please review the skill level guide carefully before selecting ceramics courses. To ensure a positive and productive learning experience for everyone, we reserve the right to drop students from the class if they do not yet have the necessary skills to fully engage with the course content.
Questions? Read our Studio Policies & FAQ. Still have questions? Contact us at art-studios@mit.edu
We’re excited to welcome you to the studios this fall!
Day/Time: Sunday, November 8, 1:00–3:00pm Location: W20 Art Studios, W20-425 Instructor: Sayako Hiroi Kintsugi is the Japanese practice of repairing broken ceramics so that the break becomes part of the object’s story rather than something to hide. In this beginner-friendly … Continued
Day/Time: Sunday, November 15, 1:00–3:00pm Location: W20 Art Studios, W20-425 Instructor: Sayako Hiroi Kintsugi is the Japanese practice of repairing broken ceramics so that the break becomes part of the object’s story rather than something to hide. In this beginner-friendly … Continued
Day/Time: 6 Thursdays starting October 15, 7:30–10:00 pm *No class November 5 and November 26 Location: W20 Art Studios, W20-429 Instructor: Jacob Geiger Photography started with black-and-white chemical processes, and black-and-white analog photography remains an important medium. During the semester, … Continued
![Anonymous, [Studio Photographer at Work], c. 1855](https://arts.mit.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Large-Format-Jacob-Geiger-350x262.png)
Day/Time: 6 Fridays starting October 23, 4:30–7:00 pm *No class November 6 and November 27 Location: W20 Art Studios, W20-425 Instructor: Jacob Geiger From under the dark cloth of a large format camera, discover one of photography’s most rewarding and … Continued
Day/Time: 10 Mondays starting September 14, 4:30–7:00pm *No class October 12 and November 23 Location: W20 Ceramics Studio, W20-431 Instructor: Marc Mancuso This class introduces students to the basics of wheel throwing, trimming, and glazing. You’ll learn fundamental techniques to … Continued
Day/Time: 10 Mondays starting September 14, 7:30–10:00pm *No class October 12 and November 23 Location: W20 Ceramics Studio, W20-431 Instructor: Marc Mancuso This class introduces students to the basics of wheel throwing, trimming, and glazing. You’ll learn fundamental techniques to … Continued
Day/Time: 10 Mondays starting September 14, 5:30–8:00 pm *No class October 12 or November 23 Location: W20 Art Studios, W20-429 Instructor: Jacob Geiger Learn how to make and process photographs with a digital camera. This course covers camera controls, exposure … Continued
Day/Time: 10 Tuesdays starting September 15, 7:00–10:00pm *No class October 13 and November 24 Location: W20 Ceramics Studio, W20-431 Instructor: Darrell Finnegan Take your clay skills to another level while we explore challenging techniques such as altering, stretching, and cutting. … Continued
Day/Time: 10 Tuesdays starting September 15, 10:00am–12:30pm Location: W20 Ceramics Studio, W20-431 Instructor: Marc Mancuso This course introduces you to the basics of wheel throwing, trimming, and glazing while building confidence with fundamental techniques. Whether you’re new to ceramics or … Continued
Day/Time: 10 Tuesdays starting September 15, 4:00–6:30pm *No class October 13 and November 24 Location: W20 Art Studios, W20-431 Instructor: Darrell Finnegan This course is designed to help you improve your throwing and hand-building skills while taking on new and … Continued
Day/Time: 10 Tuesdays starting September 15, 3:00–5:30pm *No class October 6 or October 13 Location: W20 Art Studios, W20-425 Instructor: Timothy Lee This course provides an introduction to the fundamentals of drawing. Students will explore a variety of drawing methods … Continued
Day/Time: 10 Tuesdays starting September 15, 6:00–8:30pm *No class October 6 or October 13 Location: W20 Art Studios, W20-425 Instructor: Timothy Lee This course provides an introduction to the fundamentals of oil painting. Students will engage in a series of … Continued
Day/Time: 10 Wednesdays starting September 16, 4:30–7:00pm *No class November 11 and November 25 Location: W20 Ceramics Studio, W20-431 Instructor: Marc Mancuso This class introduces students to the basics of wheel throwing, trimming, and glazing. You’ll learn fundamental techniques to … Continued
Day/Time: 10 Wednesdays starting September 16, 7:30–10:00pm *No class November 11 and November 25 Location: W20 Art Studios, W20-431 Instructor: Marc Mancuso This course is designed to help you improve your throwing and hand-building skills while taking on new and … Continued
Day/Time: 10 Wednesdays starting September 16, 5:30–8:00 pm *No class November 11 and November 25 Location: W20Art Studios, W20-425 Instructor: Jacob Geiger Photography started with black-and-white chemical processes, and black-and-white analog photography remains an important medium. During the semester, students … Continued
Day/Time: 10 Thursdays starting September 17, 4:00–6:30pm *No class October 15 and November 26 Location: W20 Ceramics Studio, W20-431 Instructor: Darrell Finnegan This class introduces students to the basics of wheel throwing, trimming, and glazing. You’ll learn fundamental techniques to … Continued
Day/Time: 10 Thursdays starting September 17, 3:00–5:30pm *No class October 8 or October 15 Location: W20 Art Studios, W20-425 Instructor: Timothy Lee The perception of color is not a fixed mode of seeing but rather psychological and relative. Understanding the … Continued
Day/Time: 10 Thursdays starting September 17, 7:00–9:30pm *No class October 15 and November 26 Location: W20 Art Studios, W20-431 Instructor: Darrell Finnegan This course is designed to help you improve your throwing and hand-building skills while taking on new and … Continued
Day/Time: 10 Thursdays starting September 17, 6:00–8:30pm *No class October 8 or October 15 Location: W20 Art Studios (W20-425) Instructor: Timothy Lee This open-format studio in oil painting is geared towards students who already possess foundational skills in representation and … Continued
Day/Time: 10 Fridays starting September 18, 1:00–3:30pm *No class October 16 and November 27 Location: W20 Ceramics Studio, W20-431 Instructor: Darrell Finnegan This class introduces students to the basics of wheel throwing, trimming, and glazing. You’ll learn fundamental techniques to … Continued
Day/Time: Monday, September 14, 8:00–9:00pm mandatory initial meeting. Final critique and other dates scheduled based on student interest. Location: W20 Art Studios, W20-429 Instructor: Jacob Geiger This course is designed for photographers with extensive experience in either film or digital … Continued