For the 2026 Independent Activities Period (IAP) and Summer terms, the W20 Arts Studios class registration lottery will be affiliation-neutral, giving all prospective students equal standing. Fall and Spring terms will continue to prioritize MIT students.
Between December 5–10, 2025 prospective students may submit up to three class preferences ranked in order of priority. On December 11, lottery winners will be notified via email and have 24-hours to claim their seat. Any classes with remaining space after the lottery will be available via first-come first-served registration.
See individual class listings for their specific schedule, but IAP begins on Monday, January 5 and ends on Friday, January 30, 2026.
Friday, December 5–Wednesday, December 10 (9:00am, ET)
Thursday, December 11 (by 12:00pm, ET)
Questions? Contact us at arts-studios@mit.edu
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Day/Time: 1 Monday starting January 12, 10:00am—4:00pm Location: W20, 2D Studio (W20-425) Instructor: Heidi Erickson & Sarah Hirzel Gain practical skills and creative inspiration to extend the lifespan of your clothing and reduce the quantity of textiles consigned to landfills. The … Continued
Day/Time: 4 Mondays starting January 5, 4:30—7:00pm *There will be no class January 19 Location: W20, Ceramics Studio (W20-431) Instructor: Marc Mancuso Explore the world of clay through a variety of techniques used to create the mug. Wheelthrowing and handbuilding … Continued
Day/Time: 4 Mondays starting January 5, 7:30—10:00pm *There will be no class January 19 Location: W20, Ceramics Studio (W20-431) Instructor: Marc Mancuso Explore the world of clay through a variety of techniques used to create the mug. Wheelthrowing and handbuilding … Continued
Day/Time: 4 Tuesdays starting January 6, 7:00—9:30pm Location: W20, Ceramics Studio (W20-431) Instructor: Darrell Finnegan Oval, wavy, stretched, or crazy, the teapot is a wonderful subject that will show us a balance between functionality and creativity. In this four week … Continued
Day/Time: 4 Tuesdays starting January 6, 4:00—6:30pm Location: W20, Ceramics Studio (W20-431) Instructor: Darrell Finnegan This class will introduce you to the basics of wheel throwing, trimming, and glazing your creation. Learn basic techniques that will allow you to confidently … Continued
Day/Time: 4 Tuesdays starting January 6, 12:00—3:00pm Location: W20, 2D Studio (W20-425) Instructor: Timothy Lee This intensive introduction to drawing provides students with the tools to translate the observed world around them into a representational visual image. Students will engage with, and explore, a … Continued
Day/Time: 4 Tuesdays starting January 6, 2:30—5:00pm Location: W20, Studio 429 (W20-429) Instructor: Jacob Geiger In this class, students will begin by exploring the most fundamental forms of the camera: pinhole and box cameras. Students will construct cameras using low-cost … Continued
Day/Time: 4 Tuesdays starting January 6, 10:00am—12:30pm Location: W20, Ceramics Studio (W20-431) Instructor: Marc Mancuso Explore the world of clay through a variety of techniques used to create the mug. Wheelthrowing and handbuilding methods are combined to construct a mug … Continued
Day/Time: 4 Tuesdays starting January 6, 3:30—6:30pm Location: W20, 2D Studio (W20-425) Instructor: Timothy Lee Over four weeks, students will work on a painting within the genre of human portraiture and will be taught the tools to express themselves through the … Continued
Day/Time: 4 Wednesdays starting January 7, 12:30—4:30pm Location: W20, 2D Studio (W20-425) Instructor: Timothy Lee This open-format studio in oil painting is geared towards students who already possess foundational skills in representation and handling oil paint who wants to explore … Continued
Day/Time: 4 Wednesdays starting January 7, 4:30—7:00pm Location: W20, Ceramics Studio (W20-431) Instructor: Marc Mancuso Explore the world of clay through a variety of techniques used to create the bowl. Wheelthrowing and handbuilding methods are combined to construct a bowl fit … Continued
Day/Time: 4 Wednesdays starting January 7, 7:30—10:00pm Location: W20, Ceramics Studio (W20-431) Instructor: Marc Mancuso Explore the world of clay through a variety of techniques used to create the bowl. Wheelthrowing and handbuilding methods are combined to construct a bowl fit … Continued
Day/Time: 4 Thursdays starting January 8, 4:00—6:30pm Location: W20, Ceramics Studio (W20-431) Instructor: Darrell Finnegan This class will introduce you to the basics of wheel throwing, trimming, and glazing your creation. Learn basic techniques that will allow you to confidently … Continued
Day/Time: 4 Thursdays starting January 8, 3:30—6:00pm Location: W20, Studio 429 (W20-429) Instructor: Jacob Geiger In this course, we’ll use both analog methods of producing composite photographic images through layering, collaging, and stitching. Tools will include darkroom techniques, image transfer, … Continued
Day/Time: 4 Thursdays starting January 8, 7:00—9:30pm Location: W20, Ceramics Studio (W20-431) Instructor: Darrell Finnegan Oval, wavy, stretched, or crazy, the teapot is a wonderful subject that will show us a balance between functionality and creativity. In this four week … Continued
Day/Time: 4 Fridays starting January 9, 1:00—3:30pm Location: W20, Ceramics Studio (W20-431) Instructor: Darrell Finnegan This class will introduce you to the basics of wheel throwing, trimming, and glazing your creation. Learn basic techniques that will allow you to confidently … Continued