Art on the Meadow Workshops

Join the Ox-Bow community for a creative day by the lagoon. Art on the Meadow workshops invite West Michigan neighbors and visitors to make something new in a welcoming, intergenerational environment. These short, affordable workshops explore a wide range of practices — from plein air painting and botanical drawing to writing, sewing, and small crafts.

 Workshop Schedule
Saturday workshops are offered in three formats:

• Morning: 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

• Afternoon: 3:00–6:00 p.m.

• All Day: 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Four-day workshops are sprinkled throughout the summer and allow participants to dive deeper into a specific topic.

Choose from our Porch, Meadow, or Studio Series to experience Ox-Bow’s historic campus — and enjoy a meal before or after class. 

New in 2026, the Ox-Bow House Series offers opportunities to keep making into the fall, hosted at Ox-Bow House in Douglas at 137 Center Street. (Please note: Ox-Bow House workshops do not include meals.) 

All workshops are open to artists of any experience level, ages 13 and up.

On-site housing is not available for Art on the Meadow participants.

Registration for Summer on-campus Art on the Meadow workshops opens February 25, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. ET.  For questions, please email oxbow@ox-bow.org

Workshop Series

Porch Series: Relax and create in good company. Porch Series workshops focus on low-tech, accessible projects — such as drawing, writing, sewing, and small crafts — that can be enjoyed in a communal setting with simple tools and big ideas.

Meadow Series: The Meadow Series invites participants to make art in conversation with the landscape. These workshops often take place outdoors, exploring plein-air and nature-based practices, as well as tabletop crafts often inspired by Ox-Bow’s meadows, trees, and changing light.

Studio Series: For those who love to get hands-on with materials, the Studio Series takes place in Ox-Bow’s fully equipped studios. Participants may explore ceramics, metals, printmaking, or papermaking — guided by skilled artists sharing their technical and creative expertise.

Four-Day Series: These extended workshops offer more time for focus, exploration, and growth. The Four-Day Series provides the opportunity to build skills, develop ideas, and complete more ambitious projects with supportive guidance.

Ox-Bow House Series: Located in downtown Douglas, the Ox-Bow House Series offers intimate, community-centered workshops in dry media and small crafts. These gatherings invite participants to slow down, connect, and make together—extending Ox-Bow’s creative spirit beyond the summer season.

Tuition, Materials Fee, and meals

Tuition covers the cost of instruction and access to Ox-Bow’s facilities. Materials fees are decided by faculty based on the supplies needed to complete the workshop and are automatically added at registration. Some workshops may also require participants to bring specific materials; check the workshop description for details.

Tuition breakdown

Funding & Policies

Need-Based Funding

Need-based funding is available for Art on the Meadow workshops and applications will open soon.

Cancellation and Refund Policy 

Participants who drop a non-credit course or workshop between registration and two weeks before the start date will receive a credit to be used within the same calendar year. No credits will be issued for cancellations made within two weeks of the non-credit course or workshop start date. To drop a non-credit course or workshop, please email oxbow@ox-bow.org.

In the rare event that a faculty member is unable to instruct their class due to an emergency, a replacement instructor with similar expertise will be provided. The faculty replacement does not qualify participants for a refund.

Credits: All credits can be applied to any non-credit course and workshop registrations, events, rentals, or retail items at Ox-Bow School of Art & Artists’ Residency and Ox-Bow House.

General Information: Every purchase supports Ox-Bow and our historic, artist-driven community. We deeply appreciate your support and participation, which allows us to continue offering exceptional educational experiences and creative opportunities for artists at all stages of their careers.

Registration & Contact

The Ox-Bow House Series offers rolling registration and will host two in-person sign-up events in March and April.

Ox-Bow staff are available by phone at (269) 857-5811, Monday–Friday, 9:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m. and 2:00–5:00 p.m. ET

Photos by Natia Ser, 2023 Summer Fellow

Generous support for this year’s AOM program is provided by the Holly Palmer Foundation.