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 over nineteen different art departments, including welding, blacksmithing, glass flameworking, and more, this 56,000-square-foot space is waiting for you to come find your next creative adventure.
As part of celebrating and empowering Oakland, 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, then moved to West Oakland in 2003. Since then, we have evolved into a community-focused industrial arts school and community, serving West Oakland and the Greater Bay Area.
We are the largest nonprofit industrial arts education facility in the United States and are committed to meeting everyone where they are, welcoming diverse voices, and using art to support creativity, 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 to woodworking to jewelry-making, 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.
We’re waiting for you
Everyone should make art
We have variety
We’re at the top
What Our Community Has To Say
People are more proactive in their lives when they know they have somewhere to go. As some of the Fuego Leaders are growing up and having more hardships in their life, they know they always have an opportunity here at The Crucible. The people here are definitely a family.
Ale’ah, Instructor, Fuego LeaderBeing a Crucible member has brought out the artistic side of me. Engaging with this community gives me ideas I would never think of on my own. If I have a good idea, someone here will make it a better idea. It is one thing to get opinions from other makers, but here, you have teachers with such expertise and a depth of knowledge.
RC, Crucible memberI tell my students if you have a goal, work to surpass it. Because in life, there are only so many opportunities you get. This is by far the best one that came past me.
Maliq, Studio Manager, Instructor