About The Crucible

The Crucible is a nonprofit organization and art school dedicated to making the fine and industrial arts accessible for all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. Our work is centered in Oakland and the East Bay, where we provide high-quality, fun classes and workshops to thousands of people each year.

What is The Crucible?

Our staff, students, and faculty share what makes The Crucible in West Oakland different from other art schools. With eighteen departments, including welding, blacksmithing, glass flameworking, ceramics, and more, there is a class and medium for every interest and level of experience. We also offer free programming, scholarships, and paid leadership opportunities for youth and adults who live locally and otherwise could not participate.

Mission

The Crucible inspires creative exploration and expression through welcoming, hands-on arts education and experiences for people of diverse ages and backgrounds. As an innovative hub built around the industrial arts, The Crucible is a catalyst for individual growth and vibrant community connections. A leader in the Bay Area arts community, The Crucible is widely recognized for its exceptional learning experiences, rich and varied arts programs, skilled and committed faculty, and unparalleled educational facilities.

History

The Crucible first opened its doors on January 15, 1999, in a rented 6,000-square-foot warehouse in West Berkeley. In 2003, we moved to our 56,000-square-foot facility in West Oakland, and since then, have further grown our community-driven industrial arts programming, serving West Oakland and the Greater Bay Area. As the largest nonprofit industrial arts education facility in the United States, we are committed to meeting individuals where they are, welcoming diverse voices, and using art to support creative exploration, personal transformation, and local economic development.

Values

We value innovative, non-competitive, imaginative creation and play.

We respect our community – inside and outside the building – and center our work in Oakland and the East Bay.

We celebrate a culture of lifelong learning and teaching, sharing the transformative power of art with everyone who is interested.

We cultivate a safe, welcoming, respectful environment where we honor people, varied life experiences, and craftsmanship.

We meet people where they are and learn and collaborate with them.

We ignite joy.

Something for All Ages, Schedules, and Experience Levels

From welding to glass blowing, woodworking to ceramics, our classes are designed to bring together beginners, experienced artists, and tradespeople to create a one-of-a-kind learning environment. With an average student-to-teacher ratio of 6:1, our award-winning faculty make learning the industrial arts fun and approachable.

Our Impact

We are dedicated to making the industrial arts accessible to everyone interested. Accessibility means taking our show on the road, providing youth and adult scholarships, offering studio access programs, employing working artists, and keeping our doors open every day—for you.
20,000

We’re waiting for you

Each year, we engage with over 20,000 people inside and outside The Crucible, working to inspire you.
$100K

Everyone should make art

That’s why we provide over $100,000 in scholarships and free programming each year, prioritizing our West Oakland neighbors.
900

We have variety

Each year, we run over 900 classes, including multi-disciplinary courses, continuing classes, hard-to-find offerings, and more.
#1

We’re at the top

The Crucible is the largest industrial arts education nonprofit in the country with award-winning classes, camps, and faculty.