Join your Osher colleagues for a fun afternoon reception followed by a wonderful concert by our UR students. This annual spring concert will showcase UR choral performers. Fees are non-refundable unless we are able to fill the slot.

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Sunday, April 12, TBD - UR Campus (10 seats (13%) remaining)

Join your Osher colleagues for a fun evening of a reception followed by a wonderful concert by our UR students. This annual spring concert will showcase UR student jazz combos performing rock, blues, swing, and more. Fees are not refundable unless your slot can be filled.

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Wednesday, April 8, TBD - UR Campus ( No seats currently available )

Join us for this two-part class on Leon Russell, a gifted musician, songwriter, performer, and producer. This afternoon class will feature the screening of the 1971 documentary 'Mad Dogs and Englishmen.' The documentary captures live concert performances from Joe Cocker with Leon Russell as the musical director for the musicians and singers who are backing Mr. Cocker. Join us for part two the next morning.

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Monday, April 13, TBD - UR Campus ( No seats currently available )

This part of our class will look in depth at Leon Russell. Early in his career, Mr. Russell was a much sought-after session musician in Los Angeles. Gradually, his skills as a songwriter allowed him to make the transition to becoming a very successful solo artist. From his recordings to his concert performances, Mr. Russell was known around the world for quality of his work.

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Tuesday, April 14, TBD - UR Campus ( No seats currently available )

Are you missing the beauty of summer flowers? Or feeling the need for a little touch of spring color? Come join us for a peek at the beautiful botanicals that live within the Galvin Rare Books and Special Collections. In this course, we'll explore some rare botanical collections, highlighted by the newly donated set of 19th Century engraved lilies from the renowned French botanical artist Pierre-Joseph Redouté.

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Wednesday, May 6, Boatwright Library, Room B1-22

American Impressionism was a style of painting related to European Impressionism and practiced by American artists in the United States from the mid-nineteenth century through the beginning of the twentieth. The style is characterized by loose brushwork and vivid colors with a wide array of subject matters, often focusing on landscapes and upper-class domestic life. Join us for an exploration of some famous (and not so famous) American artists working in the Impressionist mode.

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Thursday, March 19, Synchronous Online (8 seats (8%) remaining)

When we think about 20th century art, we are often drawn to the mid-century birth of abstract expressionism, colorists, and pop art. But the second half of the century offers us an explosive foray of creative artistic expression. Join us in this engaging look at the next generation of artistic exploration in the 20th century as we consider the emerging artists who brought us a new approach to realism, street art, graffiti and public murals.

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Thursday, March 5, Synchronous Online

The class will feature a complete performance with running commentary of Beethoven's monumental Piano Sonata #29, Opus 106 in B-flat. More than 200 years after its publication it remains a unique challenge for both performers and listeners. This is the third and final part of a series about Beethoven's Late Period piano music. Attendance at the previous parts of the series is not required. Alan is offering this twice, but please register for only one.

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Thursday, April 30, NRCT, Room 124 (Choir Room) ( No seats currently available )

The class will feature a complete performance with running commentary of Beethoven's monumental Piano Sonata #29, Opus 106 in B-flat. More than 200 years after its publication it remains a unique challenge for both performers and listeners. This is the third and final part of a series about Beethoven's Late Period piano music. Attendance at the previous parts of the series is not required. Alan is offering this twice, but please register for only one.

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Tuesday, May 5, NRCT, Room 124 (Choir Room) (9 seats (15%) remaining)

The class is designed to capture the most common and important photography concepts. The class will cover both cell phone and regular camera applications.

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Monday, March 23, TBD - UR Campus ( No seats currently available )

This two-hour session helps artists build body awareness and reduce studio strain. With practical tools like a joint check-in and movement-based observation, you'll learn how to stay aligned, supported, and pain-free while making art. Ideal for painters, sculptors, ceramicists, textile makers, and anyone who creates with their hands.

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Monday, March 9, TBD - UR Campus

Join us for a fun-filled class making sterling silver chain maille jewelry. This sterling silver weave is one you can wear on its own or stacked with others due to its slender size. While this is considered an 'intermediate' pattern, some previous beginner's experience and a little bit of patience will make it work! Instructor will provide all materials and tools; participants should bring good eyesight, patience, and sense of humor. Bracelet: $75 (included in this registration); Necklace: $125 (add the additional sub-session for the necklace).

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Thursdays, Feb 5 and 12, TBD - UR Campus

Join us for a fun-filled class making sterling silver chain maille jewelry. This pattern is a mix of the three-in-three pattern and the Half Byzantine pattern and is suitable for Beginners. All materials (sterling silver jumprings and clasps) will be provided and the instructor will bring tools to use during class. Your choice of bracelet or necklace (20' long).

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No session is currently available for registration

Documentary Screening: Fine artist Dora Fugh Lee was born to a noble family in China. In this Emmy-nominated film produced for PBS and narrated by Rose Nan-Ping Chen, Lee's compelling life and art are explored. She is considered one of the last Chinese literati painters. After the film there will be a panel discussion with the director E. Samantha Cheng, followed by a reception. Then join us for One Man Show and Book Launch: Jesse Appell is an independent creative, entrepreneur and intercultural comedian based in Beijing who uses comedy as a means to bridge cultural divides between China and the West.

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Friday, February 6, BUS, Ukrop Auditorium Q162

Come to this class to learn about the long-term health benefits of just moving! BeMoved® embraces the joy of dance with people of all movement abilities. Movement expressed through dance and music has a transformative power that enriches a person's well-being above and beyond the well-known physical fitness benefits. BeMoved® is a dance fitness experience that begins with easy-to-follow therapeutic movements that flow into dance styles inspired by a wide variety of musical genres.

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Mondays; Jan 26, Feb 2, 9 16, 23, Mar 2, 9, 16, 23, Apr 6, 13, 20, TBD - UR Campus

The most fundamental aspect of contemporary art is that it is art from our current period. Unlike many past art movements with singular ideologies, contemporary art is defined by its lack of a uniform organizing principle. Themes may include Identity, Society & Culture, Technology & Globalization, and Power & Politics. Join us as we explore a curated program.

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Thursday, Jan 22, Synchronous Online

Visit the recently opened Lora Robins gallery with Matthew Houle, Curator of Museum Collections, and Martha Wright, Curator for Academic Initiatives. This visit will share insights on the renovation, the re-installation, highlights of the collection and new community-focused initiatives. This is offered twice; please register for only one.

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Thursday, April 30, Lora Robins Gallery ( No seats currently available )

Visit the recently opened Lora Robins gallery with Matthew Houle, Curator of Museum Collections, and Martha Wright, Curator for Academic Initiatives. This visit will share insights on the renovation, the re-installation, highlights of the collection and new community-focused initiatives. This is offered twice; please register for only one.

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Thursday, May 14, Lora Robins Gallery ( No seats currently available )

This is an introductory class for those who do not know how to crochet. You will learn the basic crochet stitches, yarn weights, and hook sizes. Yarn and crochet hooks will be provided for the first class as well as patterns for simple projects.

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Wednesdays; Jan 14, 21, 28, Special Programs Building, Room 160 ( No seats currently available )

This class is for individuals who have basic knitting skills and want to take those skills to the next level. We will cover cables, knitting in the round, finishing techniques, and reading a pattern. If you want to upgrade your knitting ability or just need help with a project you have started, this class is for you.

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No session is currently available for registration

The Japanese characters forming the word 'ike-bana' can be best translated as 'living flowers.' However, ikebana has become generally accepted as meaning the art form of Japanese flower arrangement. Watch a demonstration then create your own arrangement, using materials and flowers provided. Bring a flower snipping tool and a bucket to take home your flowers. You will keep the suiban container, kenzan spiky frog, handouts, flowers, and branch material to re-create your arrangement at home. Fees are non-refundable unless we are able to fill your slot.

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Tuesday, Jan 20, Special Programs Building, Room 160 ( No seats currently available )

The Mughal Empire was an early modern empire in South Asia. At its peak, the empire stretched from the outer fringes of the Indus River Basin in the west, northern Afghanistan in the northwest, and Kashmir in the north, to the highlands of present-day Assam and Bangladesh in the east, and the uplands of the Deccan Plateau in South India.

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Thursday, April 16, TBD - UR Campus

Emerging in the manuscripts produced by the court ateliers of the Mughal dynasty, a major tradition of miniature painting was established in the Indian subcontinent in the mid-16th century. We will talk about the style, the influences, the beauty, and how these painting were used.

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Thursday, April 23, TBD - UR Campus

Did ancient Greek, Chinese, and aboriginal healers know something about music that we don't? The ancients intuitively understood what 21st-century scientists are now proving: music isn't just an art or entertainment, it is also a potent therapeutic force that can modulate blood pressure, alleviate anxiety, reduce pain, and help stroke patients speak and walk again. We are living at the dawn of humankind's science-driven realization of the power of music.

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Monday, April 6, TBD - UR Campus ( No seats currently available )

Art in the streets (including graffiti, murals, stickers, and paste-ups) gives voice to marginalized communities, shapes urban environments, and challenges institutional norms. Let's explore graffiti and street art in the US and around the world, examining their histories, motivations, and social impact. Participants will consider the rise of global mural movements, efforts to preserve and present street art, and its evolving role in activism, community identity, and social change.

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Wednesdays, April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, May 6, Synchronous Online

Comics (blending words and pictures to tell stories) stretch from cave paintings and the Bayeux Tapestry to today's Batman and Spider-Man. Far more than superhero tales, comics are a versatile literary artform, capturing intimate and epic stories, social issues, and cultural moments through panels and word balloons. In this course, we will trace their history, explore their power, and read and discuss works including 'Understanding Comics,' 'Watchmen,' 'Maus,' 'Fun Home,' and 'Persepolis.'

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Tuesdays, March 31, April 7, 14, 21, 28, May 5, Synchronous Online

Learn the skills and techniques used to create professional quality images of your adventures in the natural world. Topics will include exposure, depth of field, motion effects, the principles of visual communication, and the qualities of natural light. The course will incorporate slide-illustrated lectures and group discussions, and provide ample time for student feedback.

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Mondays; Jan 26, Feb 2, 9, 16, 23, Mar 2, Synchronous Online

Music has long provoked debate, from Beethoven and Stravinsky's bold innovations to Broadway works like 'Annie Get Your Gun' and 'South Pacific,' now revisited through modern concerns about race, consent, and gender. Is political correctness enriching art or erasing cultural heritage? We will examine plagiarism and borrowing in pop and film music, with cases involving The Beatles, Pink Floyd, and Peter Frampton. This course blends audiovisuals, anecdotes, and humor to explore music's most controversial moments.

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Wednesdays, April 15, 22, 29, May 6, 13, 20, Synchronous Online

Let's explore Post-Impressionism's bold departure from naturalistic light and color, focusing on the expressive use of form, symbolism, and vivid, often unnatural color. Through the work of C?zanne, van Gogh, Gauguin, Seurat, and Matisse, we will trace the movement's challenge to artistic norms and social values: laying the foundation for modern art and redefining the artist's role in society.

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Mondays; Jan 26, Feb 2, 9, 16, 23, Mar 2, Synchronous Online

Discover how film music enhances storytelling, sets mood and place, defines character, and blends styles such as jazz, classical, and pop into powerful cinematic impressions. We will discuss how composers shape emotions across genres like drama, romance, comedy, sci-fi, and westerns. From 'The Jazz Singer' to James Bond, we will trace the evolution of film scores, spotlighting legendary composers such as Bernard Herrmann, Ennio Morricone, and John Williams.

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Wednesdays; Jan 14, 21, 28, Feb 4, 11, 18, Synchronous Online ( No seats currently available )

Why do so many great violinists also become composers? Let's explore the fascinating legacy of violinist-composers, including Baroque virtuosos like Heinrich Biber, Romantic legends like Niccol< Paganini, and 20th century innovators like George Enescu and Grazyna Bacewicz. We will examine how these artists wrote music tailored to their instruments and themselves. Taught by a professional violinist, this course takes a behind-the-strings look at how performance and composition intertwine.

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Mondays, April 6, 13, 20, 27, May 4, 11, Synchronous Online

Increase your connection to the natural world by slowing down to focus on drawing from observation and recording your experiences in a nature journal. In this series of weekly classes, students will learn tips and techniques for building their own creative toolkit for keeping a nature journal. Pencil, pen and watercolor will be used as participants learn inspiring ways to draw, write and paint. No experience is necessary for this fun and relaxing introductory class.

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Wednesdays; Jan 28, Feb 4, 11, 18, Synchronous Online

Every photo worth showing or sharing is worth editing. The class is designed to cover cell phone editing in the first hour and computer-based editing in the second hour. Before class, participants should download 'Snapseed' for cell phones and Photoshop Elements for computers.

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Monday, March 30, TBD - UR Campus ( No seats currently available )

Let's talk about Rajput painting, painting of the regional Hindu courts during the Mughal era, roughly from the end of the 16th century to the middle of the 19th century. Traditionally, Rajput painting is further divided into Rajasthan and Pahari painting which flourished in two different areas far apart from each other in terms of distance but all under the rule of Rajput chiefs, and bound together by a common culture.

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Thursday, April 30, TBD - UR Campus

Join this deep dive into the 2025-2026 Richmond Symphony Series concerts. Each class in this course will focus on the repertoire of the upcoming Symphony Series concert and feature a special guest with a critical role in the performance. Guests will include Music Director Valentina Peleggi, guest artists, and composers. Through recordings, images, scholarship, biographies, backstage stories, and discussion we will engage more deeply with the music and the artists who bring it to life.

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Mondays; Jan 12, 26, Feb 23, Mar 2, April 6, May 11 , Synchronous Online

Want to experience art in a contemplative, meaningful way? Join us at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts for an hourlong session of 'slow looking,' a mindful approach to engaging with art. Together, we'll explore two works from the museum's permanent collection, allowing for a personal and immersive experience. There could be long periods of standing.

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Thursday, Feb 26, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts ( No seats currently available )
Wednesday, May 13, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts ( No seats currently available )

You will (probably) know some of these songwriters, but you will (probably) not know them all. The presentation includes a discussion of some of the instructor's favorite cover songs, background on the songwriters, and, of course, a live performance of the songs discussed.

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Thursday, May 7, TBD - UR Campus ( No seats currently available )

We all experienced soul music as teenagers on radio, television, and the dance floor. Let's see how soul music moved from the African American community into the mainstream of American popular music. We'll hear our favorite songs, and we'll see what Dr. King meant when he told Barry Gordy, the head of Motown Records, that sharing Black music was as important to the civil rights struggle as the marches.

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Wednesday, Feb 25, TBD - UR Campus ( No seats currently available )

Unleash your creativity and craft a one-of-a-kind dried flower wreath that adds a charming seasonal flair to your spring decor! Join designer Conner Parrish from Bloomistry Garden Company for an inspiring workshop where you'll use exquisite dried materials sourced directly from the farm. Fees are non-refundable unless we are able to fill your slot.

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Monday, April 27, TBD - UR Campus

Through playful writing games inspired by Surrealist artists, we'll surprise ourselves with strange and delightful stories. No writing experience needed, just a willingness to have fun and see where your imagination goes.

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Wednesday, April 1, TBD - UR Campus (3 seats (15%) remaining)

This course offers an exploration of the Christmas story through works of art. The story has inspired artists to produce some of the most tender images created. Images have evolved over time along with changes in society and shifts in religious attitudes. Depictions of the Nativity moved from the mother and child to a scene with a cast of hundreds. Images depicting events preceding and following the Nativity are also examined.

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No session is currently available for registration

Click here to be notified about the next scheduled program.

In Session 1, five ingredients will be illustrated through musical examples. The five ingredients can be mixed in many combinations, and the class will develop a comparison chart. Session 2 focuses on songs from the musical 'Chess.' Benny and Bjorn of ABBA, with Tim Rice, created well-crafted songs that deserve closer scrutiny. 'One Night in Bangkok' achieved #3 in both the US and Canada. 'A Model of Decorum' is a worthy successor to Mozartean 'singspeil.'

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Mondays; Feb 16 and 23, TBD - UR Campus

John Singer Sargent was one of the most sought-after portraitists of his time. Of Sargent's early work, the novelist/art critic Henry James wrote that Sargent offered 'the slightly 'uncanny' spectacle of a talent which on the very threshold of its career has nothing more to learn'. Sargent would create roughly 900 oil paintings, more than 2,000 watercolors, and countless sketches and drawings.

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Wednesdays; Feb 18, 25, Mar 4, 11, Synchronous Online (20 seats (20%) remaining)

Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino, known as Raphael, was a young contemporary of Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. When critics speak of Raphael, they tend to come up with the same word to describe the genius in his work: grace. It is said that his works reflect his character. He was charming, handsome, and insanely talented. It's thought he might have been the happiest, most successful, and best-loved artist in history.

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No session is currently available for registration

The proliferation of skyscrapers in the early 20th Century gave artists new inspiration for rendering landscapes. Rather than the lush vista of greenery, steel and concrete became their passion. In this session, we will explore the many ways our urban landscapes have been used to communicate both the beauty and the challenge of urban life.

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No session is currently available for registration

Visit the largest collection of book art in the Southeast at VCU Libraries. Our visit begins in the reading room of Special Collections and Archives, followed by a tour of the secured storage stacks to get a glimpse into the many and varied holdings. We will finish the event with refreshments in the Cabell Room.

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Tuesday, Jan 20, VCU James Branch Cabell Library ( No seats currently available )
Tuesday, March 31, VCU James Branch Cabell Library ( No seats currently available )

The first draft of every class we design contains between 12 and 15 artworks picked to fit the program theme. Imagine the heartbreak when some must be cast aside, as we simply cannot cover them all in the time allowed. In this session we will bring back the outcasts to look at, discuss, and enjoy. Join us for this hodgepodge of never-seens and see why, although they were set aside before, they will shine now!

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Wednesday, April 8, Synchronous Online