Creative Explorers
Art Classes For Children Aged 5 -16 Years
Hastings
The Journey
Every child starts at the beginning. Every child goes at their own pace.
At Creative Makes, we believe creativity develops through experience, not age. That's why every child who joins our Creative Explorers program begins at Phase 1: Curious Explorer and moves forward when they're ready, not when a timetable says so.
Each of our four phases builds on the last: from curiosity and confidence, through storytelling and making, to independent creative leadership. By the time a child reaches Phase 4: Creative Artist, they haven't just developed art skills. They've built a genuine creative identity.
There's no racing ahead. No comparing. Just a child, their ideas, and the space to grow into who they are as a maker.
Curious Explorer
This is where it all begins. Curious Explorers spend their time discovering what's possible: trying different materials, experimenting with tools, and learning that the studio is a place where there are no wrong moves.
Children work across five studio areas: drawing, painting, sculpture, construction, and textiles. With gentle support from their teacher, they start to make their own choices, try things they've never tried before, and take genuine pride in what they create.
By the end of this phase, your child will:
→ Feel confident giving new things a go, even when they're not sure what will happen
→ Enjoy experimenting with a range of materials and techniques
→ Begin to work independently in the studio, including caring for their own space
This is where curiosity leads, and creativity follows.
Courageous Storyteller
In this phase, children start to combine what they've learned into something more intentional. They bring ideas together, work across different materials, and begin to use art to tell their own stories.
Children are encouraged to document their thinking as they go: sketching ideas, noting what worked, reflecting on what they'd try differently. Some do this in a sketchbook from home. Some talk it through. However it happens, the habit of reflecting on their own creative process is something we actively nurture.
By the end of this phase, your child will:
→ Confidently combine materials to create artwork that means something to them
→ Be able to talk about the intention behind their work
→ Reflect on their ideas and share their thinking with teachers and peers
This is where imagination meets expression.
Confident Maker
Confident Makers are ready to take on something bigger. In this phase, children learn to plan, develop, and see a project through across multiple sessions, building real skills and real staying power along the way.
They make more of their own decisions, use feedback to strengthen their work, and start to develop a personal creative style that's recognisably their own.
By the end of this phase, your child will:
→ Plan and carry a project across several sessions
→ Use feedback from teachers and peers to develop and improve their ideas
→ Take pride in their own creative style and recurring themes
→ Take genuine ownership of their learning and their studio space
This is where focus, independence, and creative confidence come together.
Creative Artist
This is what it all builds toward. Creative Artists have a strong sense of who they are as makers and are ready to lead. They explore personal themes, develop their own body of work, and begin to inspire the students coming up behind them.
This phase is about ownership: of their ideas, their voice, and their place in the studio community.
By the end of this phase, your child will:
→ Design, develop, and share their own creative projects with confidence
→ Lead by example and support the growth of younger students
→ Create a personal portfolio or artist statement
→ Explore personal themes and develop a distinct artistic identity
This is where a child becomes an artist who knows exactly who they are.
Growing Through Creativity
At Creative Makes, our Creative Explorer classes are where creativity grows with your child. These sessions are about more than learning art skills. They're about exploring ideas, taking creative risks, and discovering who you are through making.
Children move through different phases of creative development, learning to experiment, express themselves, plan projects, and build their own artistic voice. Each stage is designed to nurture confidence, independence, and curiosity, all through hands-on, joyful, process-driven art.
And just as importantly, our studio is a community. A place where kids feel safe to be themselves, connect with others, and celebrate each other's ideas, whether they're just starting out or developing their own unique style.
Create as who you are. Boldly. Bravely. Freely. Fully. Unapologetically.
Because at Creative Makes, every mark tells a story. And every artist belongs.
Creative Explorers Memberships
Maker
Start your creative journey with the freedom to explore, play, and grow. The Maker level gives you everything you need to dive in and make art your way. No pressure, just possibility.
Weekly Creative Explorers Class
+
All materials included
+
Annual end-of-year showcase
+
Priority booking and first access to all new releases and events
+
Kiln access as you progress through the curriculum
+
Taught by practising artists and educators with extensive experience across all ages and abilities
Creative Maker
Our Recommendation
Step deeper into your creative practice. With extra access, more materials, and added flexibility, Creative Maker supports you to experiment boldly and build confidence in your artistic voice.
Weekly Creative Explorers Class
+
All materials included
+
Annual end-of-year showcase
+
Priority booking and first access to all new releases and events
+
Kiln access as you progress through the curriculum
+
Taught by practising artists and educators with extensive experience across all ages and abilities
+
Weekly 1 Hour Skills Class (clay access included in skills classes) or 1 Hour additional Creative Explorers class time
+
2 x School Holiday Activities
*Memberships are billed monthly by direct debit. See current terms at enrolment.
Big ideas, bold creativity!
From ages 5 to 16, children and teens are figuring out who they are. Art gives them a powerful way to do that. At Creative Makes, we support that process through hands-on, process-based experiences that grow with them: from playful early exploration to confident, independent self-expression.
For your child
Creative confidence
When children are trusted to follow their own ideas rather than copy an example, something shifts. They start to believe in their own instincts. Every decision they make in the studio builds that belief a little more.
Problem solving and resilience
Art is full of things not going to plan. Children learn to treat that as information, not failure: to look at what's in front of them, adjust, and keep going. That's a skill that travels well beyond the studio.
Fine motor skills and focus
From detailed painting to intricate construction, creative work builds hand-eye coordination, attention to detail, and the capacity to stick with something all the way through.
Emotional expression
Art gives children a way to express what they can't always put into words. It's calming, clarifying, and genuinely good for them, one session at a time.
Community and belonging
Our studio is a place where every child's ideas matter. Working alongside others, sharing what they've made, and celebrating each other's creativity builds real connection and confidence.
For you
Real skills, real growth
Art is so much more than a pretty picture. You'll see your child's focus, planning, and problem-solving strengthen, all while they explore, invent, and create freely.
Confidence you can see
The quiet pride of finishing something, or completely changing direction halfway through, is the heart of creative learning. It's a child learning to trust themselves.
No cleanup required
We provide the mess, the materials, and the magic. The glitter explosion stays here. You're welcome.
A place where they belong
Whether your child is a careful planner or a big thinker with wild ideas, they'll find their people here. A studio where creativity is celebrated and they can just be themselves.
At Creative Makes, we don't just teach art. We grow creative thinkers, makers, and doers. The paint may wash off, but the confidence sticks.
Excursions & Special Events
We love adding a little extra magic to studio life. Throughout the year, Creative Explorers members get first access to special events and excursions designed just for them.
From movie nights and Halloween discos to gallery visits and creative conventions, these experiences give students the chance to see creativity out in the world, connect with each other, and celebrate what they love.
Every event is inclusive, safe, and genuinely fun. Because art isn't just something we make. It's something we live, experience, and share together.