Workshops & events
Join us for engaging workshops and dynamic events at Lancaster Art Vault, where creativity and community come together. Our hands-on sessions and special gatherings are designed for artists and art lovers of all levels, offering opportunities to learn new skills, connect with others, and explore fresh ideas. From technique-driven workshops to artist talks and community events, there’s always something happening to spark your imagination. Be part of the experience and see what’s coming up next.
Call for Art - "Between Land and Light"
Step into a world where nature's raw beauty meets artistic imagination in "Between Land and Light", at Lancaster Art Vault. This exhibition celebrates the transformative power of the natural world. bringing together a diverse range of works, each reflecting unique interpretations of the natural environment.
Exhibition Dates: June 6 – July 26, 2025
Location: Lancaster Art Vault, 100 North Queen Street, Lancaster, PA.
Important Submission Details:
Submission Deadline: April 27, 2025
Notification of Acceptance: May 8, 2025
Drop-off Deadline for Accepted Work: May 24, 2025
Artist Talk & Panel Discussion: Finding Joseph’s Many Colors
Artist Talk & Panel Discussion: Finding Joseph’s Many Colors
Thursday, April 17 | 6:00PM (doors open at 5:30PM)
Join us for an inspiring evening as emerging artist Joseph Roach debuts his powerful new series, “Finding Joseph’s Many Colors: Autism and the Gifts Within.” Through expressive color and personal perspective, Joseph’s work offers a vibrant reflection on the beauty of neurodiversity and the creative gifts that often accompany it.
Following the artist talk, stay for a panel discussion led by Friendship Community, highlighting resources and opportunities within the arts for individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism.
Let’s come together to celebrate diverse talents, self-expression, and inclusive collaboration in the arts.
Free and open to the public. All are welcome!
Live Model Figure Drawing
2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month from 6-9PM
Join Lancaster Art Vault for a Figure Drawing session with a live model for beginner and experienced artists (Adults 18+ only).
Sessions are uninstructed & artists must bring their own drawing/painting supplies. Tables and easels are available.
Each session is 3 hours and costs $20. Sign ups and payment can be made by clicking here. Walk-ins welcome and payment may be made via cash or card at the door.
Modern Mythos - Artist Talk with Resident Artist Kelby Weaver
Join us for an engaging artist talk with Lancaster Art Vault Resident Artist Kelby Weaver, whose vibrant, joy-filled paintings celebrate the emotional and physical act of painting itself. Kelby will share insights into his current body of work focused on his connection and reinterpretation of myths, fables,and fairytales to make modern images that use the past to tell our stories today! Free & open to the public!
Summer First Friday Artisan Markets
Artists, Crafters, Artisans and Visitors - Join in the First Friday celebrations at Lancaster Art Vault!
We will be hosting a Artisan Market every First Friday from May-October, 2025 outside, under the eaves of the building from 5-8PM. Stop by and shop local artisans, crafters and artists!
Vendors - Please apply here
$20/Vendor Space
Urban Plein Air Workshop with Sasha Budayev
Saturday, May 3rd (Art Walk Weekend)
Full day with lunch break, or half day session with artist and teacher Sasha Budayev in beautiful, historic downtown Lancaster.
No demonstration: Find the spot that speaks to you and receive individualized guidance on how to refine and expand your personal creative vision. Bring your easel and paints and join us for a glorious day of painting and discovery.
Sasha Budayev was born in 1988 in Minsk, Belarus, Saturday, May 3rd (Art Walk Weekend)
Full day with lunch break, or half day session with artist and teacher Sasha Budayev in beautiful, historic downtown Lancaster.
No demonstration: Find the spot that speaks to you and receive individualized guidance on how to refine and expand your personal creative vision. Bring your easel and paints and join us for a glorious day of painting and discovery.
Sasha Budayev was born in 1988 in Minsk, Belarus, and received his BFA from Minsk State Art School, Belarus, and his MFA from the I. E. Repin State Institute of Fine Arts, Architecture and Sculpture in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Upon graduation, he joined Minsk State Art College in Belarus as a professor of drawing, painting, and design for undergraduate students. Sasha has exhibited at numerous galleries in Russia, Europe, and the United States. His solo show "On the Unattainable Presence" took place in 2016 in St. Petersburg, Russia.
In 2018, he emigrated with his family to the US and settled in Philadelphia, PA. He currently teaches at Princeton Academy of Fine Art, Bridgeview School of Fine Art, NYC, Rowan College, Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia, and Fleisher Art Memorial, Philadelphia.
Full Day - $150 - (9am-5pm) - Register Here
Half Day - $80 - (9am-12pm or 2-5pm) - Register Here
Introduction to Paper Marbling with Robin Ashby
Join LAV Resident Artist for a one-day workshop where you will learn paper marbling, including its history, tools, and techniques. Participants will create 7-9 marbled papers through hands-on practice. No experience is needed—just curiosity and creativity. Comfortable clothing is recommended, and aprons and non-latex gloves will be provided for potential paint splashes.
Classes held April 5th or May 3rd
10:00AM-4:00PM (with a 30-45 min break for lunch - participants should bring lunch or money to purchase at a local restaurant)
$135/Person. All supplies included
(Class limited to 6 students)
Artist Talk and Demonstration with Resident Artist, Melissa Zane
Join local artist Melissa S Zane for an engaging artist talk and live painting demonstration during Lancaster's Spring Art Walk. Melissa will discuss her newest exhibition, "Nature Magnified," a vibrant collection of acrylic paintings that invites viewers to see the natural world through an enhanced lens of color, texture, and light.
Known for her signature layered metallic acrylic technique, Melissa will showcase her process in real time—demonstrating how she builds up rich, textured surfaces through high-relief paintings with intricate patterns, and shimmering touches of gold and bronze. During the demo, she’ll explain how each piece takes on a life of its own, guided by intuition and appreciation for nature and the small natural elements surrounding us.
Free Event - Open to the Public
Artist Talk: "Cartoons; Ideas and Execution" with Resident Artist, Brad Maurer
Artist Talk: "Cartoons; Ideas and Execution" with Resident Artist, Brad Maurer
Saturday, May 10th at 2PM (Art Walk Weekend)
Join us at Lancaster Art Vault for a lively and insightful artist talk with resident artist Brad Maurer, as he dives into his creative process in "Cartoons; Ideas and Execution." This talk coincides with Brad’s solo show, "Immature Content," a collection of cartoons he's drawn over the years—equal parts clever, weird, and wildly entertaining.
Brad’s path to becoming an artist is anything but linear. With roots in fine art, a detour through music, and a career in environmental engineering, he brings a uniquely irreverent and seasoned voice to the world of cartooning and drawing. A former cartoonist for Harrisburg Magazine and an active participant in the regional art scene, Brad now calls Lancaster Art Vault home, where his work continues to surprise and amuse.
Whether you're a fan of cartoons, curious about the behind-the-scenes of creative humor, or just looking for an afternoon of art and laughs, this talk is not to be missed.
Free and open to the public.
Fluid Acrylic Workshop with Marcy Stone
Join Marcy Stone at Lancaster Art Vault for an evening of fun, creation and exploration!
We supply everything you will need for this event
Wear clothing that can get messy! Real messy! (We do supply aprons)
Tie long hair back
Gloves and shoe booties will be supplied
This is a standing workshop so if a chair is needed, please let us know in advance by emailing soulfullartbymarcy@gmail.com
Once completed, the art will need to stay and dry. Marcy will varnish and work out arrangements to get your masterpieces back to you.
Fluid acrylic art is an abstract painting technique that involves pouring and turning thin, liquid paint, mixing with mediums and powered pigments, onto a canvas or other surface. The paint’s fluid consistency allows it to move and spread freely, creating organic shapes. Workshop max is 10 people.
Who is this workshop for?
Teens and adults
A fun way to spend time with family and friends or a wonderful team building or corporate event.
Fee – $100 per person (All supplies included)
Upcoming Dates: May 8th OR June 5th
Sign-Up and Pay Here
Mother's Day Shopping Event at Lancaster Art Vault
Celebrate Mother’s Day at Lancaster Art Vault!
Saturday, May 10 | 10AM – 3PM
Join us for a joyful Mother’s Day celebration with Lancaster’s MOB (Mom-Owned Businesses) community! It's a day filled with shopping, sipping, snacking, creating, and most of all—celebrating moms in all their glory.
✨ What’s Happening:
💍 Pop-Up Jewelry Shop by Renie B Jewelry
🌸 Fresh Blooms from Gallery Grow’s Pop-Up Floral Shop
🛍️ Exclusive Discounts from the Art Vault
🎨 Kids’ Mother’s Day Card-Making Station
🍷 Wine Tastings & Sips by Vine Bar
🍴 Delicious Bites from Gem’s Catering, Lemon Street Market, and Gourmet Market Lancaster
🎁 Raffle Prizes from all of our MOBs including:
Queen Street Studio, Regina Gutierrez Photography
Drift Spa
Studio Envy
and More!
Whether you're a mom, bringing a mom, or just want to celebrate the amazing women in your life—this event is for YOU. Come enjoy the creativity, community, and connection that make Mother's Day so special.
FREE & Family-Friendly
Artist Talk and Reception with Guest Artist, Laura Watt
Artist Talk & Reception with Guest Artist Laura Watt
Saturday, May 10th | Lancaster Art Vault
Doors open at 7:00 PM | Artist Talk begins at 7:15 PM
Reception immediately following
Join us for a special evening with abstract painter Laura Watt as she discusses her work, process, and artistic philosophy. The night begins with an Artist Talk at 7:15 PM, followed by a reception where guests can meet the artist and enjoy refreshments.
Laura’s work lives within the languages of abstraction—using color, line, and geometry to knit together interior psychological spaces and emotional narratives. Her paintings condense complex, nonverbal ideas through geometric pattern and structure, offering a syncretic approach that is both philosophical and deeply material.
Born in Lancaster, PA and currently based in Garrison, NY, Laura Watt holds an MFA from Yale University and a BFA from Bennington College. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, including shows at the Museum of Fine Arts in Split, Croatia; St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia; Stamford Museum in Connecticut; and numerous galleries in New York City and Philadelphia.
Reception to follow with bites and beverages by Yorgos, Vine Bar, and Spring House Brewery.
Free and open to the public.
Come experience the work, meet the artist, and take part in the conversation.
The Art of Making Collage with Mimi Shapiro
Collage is the art of assembling materials like paper, photographs, and fabric to create unique compositions. It’s a process of creative discovery, linking seemingly unrelated elements to form personal expressions. With diverse backgrounds and perspectives, participants—beginners and experienced artists alike—learn from each other while exploring new ways of seeing and making art.
Originating from Max Ernst’s papier collé technique, collage was embraced by Dadaists to merge disparate materials into meaningful designs. In this workshop, we’ll experiment with layering colored papers, newsprint, tickets, string, and fabric, transforming everyday objects into compelling visual stories.
Through playful exploration, we’ll challenge perspectives—altering contexts, adding or subtracting elements, and integrating paint or crayon for a mixed-media approach. From abstract patterns to figurative imagery, participants will build compositions through repetition, superimposition, and textural contrasts. Found objects, discarded items, and unexpected materials will be assembled into dynamic 3D structures.
Collage is more than an art form—it’s a way of thinking, a visual meditation on emotion, experience, and identity. Keep an artist journal, experiment, and embrace creativity as a lifelong skill. Join us to play, explore, and spark new artistic possibilities!
$35/person. All supplies incuded
Charles Bock Writing Workshop
Don’t miss this opportunity to hone your writing, whether it’s fiction, memoir or nonfiction, with best-selling, award-winning writer Charles Bock. Charles is a well known writer and a big-hearted, generous teacher ferociously on the side of your very best writing.
Join us May 16-18 for an intensive workshop and writing retreat at the Lancaster Art Vault in beautiful, historic downtown Lancaster PA.
Morning and afternoon meetings to workshop pieces and discuss craft at the Lancaster Art Vault. The rest of the time is free to write at your hotel, one of the many fantastic cafes and restaurants, the library across the street from the Vault, etc.
Accommodations and meal arrangements to be made separately, according to participants' preference: ask for recommendations. Lots of wonderful places right nearby but make reservations soon)
Optional extra: work with poet Dana Kinsey at her Ekphrasic workshop on Saturday at the Lancaster Art Vault gallery to hone descriptive and observational skills (additional cost). Also for an additional fee, individual meeting time with Charles is available over the weekend. Contact Kristin to arrange.
Sat May 17 public book reading and signing 7pm.
Email Kristin kristin@splashingwaters.com with brief CV and writing sample. We'll be working with up to 15 pages of your project.
Retreat fee is refundable until April 16. We strongly encourage participants to purchase travel insurance as no refunds will be issued after April 14. Thank you for your understanding.
Dan Graziano Workshop: Painting In A “Painterly” Manner
This two-day workshop will focus on painting “alla prima” (all at once) as well as developing greater skills of observation, simplification and quickly painting “wet on wet” to create strong “painterly” paintings. The workshop will also discuss techniques to quickly transfer the important elements from a reference photo to the canvas, creating an artistic and personal interpretation rather than simply rendering a photograph.
This workshop is designed for intermediate to advanced painters in both oil and acrylic mediums, however proficiency in basic drawing is required. Participants will be able to choose from a wide variety of reference photos supplied by the instructor for their painting exercises.
Two Day Workshop:
Saturday, May 17 - 9:00AM-4:00PM and
Sunday, May 18 - 9:00AM-4:00PM
CLASS SIZE IS LIMITED SO REGISTER SOON. Participants supply their own art supplies and equipment. For a registration form and suggested supply list, CLICK HERE.
The Ekphrastic Experience with Lancaster Poet Laureate, Dana Kinsey
Join us for a powerful two-part workshop that brings poetry and visual art into conversation. The Ekphrastic Experience, led by Lancaster City Poet Laureate Dana Kinsey, invites writers of all levels to engage deeply with the creative process through the lens of ekphrasis—writing inspired by art.
Session 1 - Saturday May 17, 4:00-6:00PM:
Take a guided tour of the artwork at Lancaster Art Vault and select a piece that resonates with you. Then, under the guidance of Lancaster City Poet Laureate Dana Kinsey, learn techniques for writing poetry inspired by visual art. You'll craft your poem surrounded by the very work that sparked it.
Session 2 - Saturday May 24, 4:00-6:00PM:
This public event invites the community to celebrate your creations. Meet the artist behind your chosen piece and share your finished poem alongside fellow writers. It's a unique opportunity for dialogue between visual art, poetry, and audience.
$20 for both sessions.
Register Here
Critique Club
Critique Club is an opportunity for any kind of artist, beginner or established, to bring in artwork for critique from fellow artists. The club is not only meant to receive critique on your artwork, but to engage in discussion with others about their pieces as well.
Held on the 3rd Tuesaday of every month. April 15, May 20, June 17, July 15…
6-8PM
It’s requested to only bring one piece to allow for time to be distributed evenly to all participants.
Please arrive on time or contact @_tinaborsht (on Instagram) if you are late as the door will be locked and you will need to be let in.
“Words of Wisdom” Card Deck Workshop with Marcy Stone
In this class you will create your very own deck of inspirational wisdom cards, with key words/phrases that speak specifically to you!!
I find that collage unlocks our intuitive nature and allows themes, symbols, and messages to arise in our lives. It can serve as a playground for exploring imagery and juxtaposition, but it can also stir our imagination, prompting new ideas, concepts, and styles.
The best part of collage is that EVERYONE can do it! No need for drawing or painting experience. We will be using things like collage images, lace, old magazines, etc. to begin this journey of creating your very own deck of daily wisdoms!
All supplies are supplied for this class.
Who is this workshop for?
Teens and adults
A fun way to spend time with family and friends or a wonderful team building or corporate event.
Fee - $75 per person
Upcoming Dates: May 22nd OR June 19th
Introduction to Alcohol Inks with Ann Benton Yeager
Introduction to Alcohol Inks with Ann Benton Yeager
Alcohol Inks are a highly fluid color that are vibrant and fast drying. They are also moisture-resistant and permanent once dry, and will work perfectly on almost any clean, oil-free surface. Alcohol inks can be used to make stunning paintings on a variety of non-porous surfaces. These concentrated inks are alcohol-based and waterproof. They are semi-transparent, which means they can be layered and combined to create gorgeous effects. Ann will show you several techniques on a variety of different substrates, and give you ample time to create your own beautiful pieces. No experience is necessary to dive into this beautiful medium!
Saturday, May 31 OR Saturday, June 28
$90/ per person; all supplies included
Click Here to Register
Pysanky Artist Talk & Demonstration with Jennifer Domal
Join Guest Artist Jennifer Domal as she speaks about the ancient art of Pysanky. Pysanky are decorated eggs created using the beeswax resist (batik) technique. The word comes from the verb “pysaty” which means “to write”.
These talismans have a long, rich history among the peoples of Eastern and Central Europe, particularly Ukrainians and Poles. The intricate designs on real eggshells were originally written as requests to gods and goddesses for health, love, wealth, and fertility.
Today, artists continue this tradition, using the same techniques and motifs to create new works on blown eggshells. Their designs honor the past while engaging in dialogue with contemporary artistic practice.
Ernest Presents: Your Neighbors (Improv TheatrE Show)
Ernest Presents: Your Neighbors
Ernest Presents: Your Neighbors is an improv theatre show in two parts.
Part One: Your actual neighbors (potentially!) step into the spotlight to share their passions and expertise (like mini TED Talks!). Then, Ernest and friends will improvise instant comedic theatre based on what they share.
Part Two: Ernest, a veteran improv duo, will transport you into a world of characters and relationships crafted on the spot. Think of a play being written, rehearsed and performed all at once, based on a single suggestion.
Ernest is Tom Kelley and Melissa Widhson.
For more info about Ernest visit ernestimprov.com.
$10 - Pay at the door - Cash or Credit Card
See you on March 22nd at 7pm. Doors open at 6:30. BYOB.