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Boston's Best Places To Do Arts & Crafts For The Whole Family

Spending quality time together as a family is something that most people cherish. However, some families want to experience something more than a day at the park, and many want to flex their creative muscles all at the same time. Whether it's painting on canvas, or designing your own usable pottery, here are some places that you can go as a family to do arts & crafts in and around the city of Boston.

Made By Me
(Photo Credit: Made By Me)

Made By Me
1685 Massachusetts Ave.
Cambridge, MA 02138

(617) 354-8111
www.made-by-me.com

Made By Me is a paint-your-own pottery studio in Harvard Square. It's a place where kids and adults can pick out a piece of pottery — from a plate to a vase, and everything in between — and paint it however they choose. Pieces range in price from $3 to $40, and there is a studio fee of $4 per 30 minutes. This covers paints, glazing, and firing (in a kiln). When you are finished painting, you must leave your pottery at the studio to get fired. This will make it safe to use at home (yes, you can actually use the pottery that you paint!). The process takes about a week.

ICA Boston
(Photo Credit: ICA Boston)

The Institute Of Contemporary Art Boston
100 Northern Ave.
Boston, MA 02210
(617) 478-3100
www.icaboston.org

At the ICA Boston, families can enjoy taking on the creative process together. On the weekends, families can enjoy hands-on art-making, performances, family gallery tours, films, and more — for free (museum admission offered required)! The schedule varies from week to week (check their website), but many say that a day spent at the ICA is a lot of fun. There seems to be something for everyone at the ICA, and many families find themselves returning for more.

Parched Painter
(Photo Credit: The Parched Painter)

The Parched Painter
85 West St.
Walpole, MA 02081
(508) 850-9909
www.theparchedpainter.com

The Parched Painter is a wonderful studio where families can enjoy painting beautiful artwork on canvas — even if they aren't great artists! There are plenty of pictures to choose from on the company's calendar, so families can choose which painting they'd like to create. The studio provides everything that you need to get creative, and the instructors are super helpful. It's great fun for all ages!

Related: Boston's Best Spring 2015 Art Events

Museum of Fine Arts Boston
(Photo Credit: The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA)

Museum Of Fine Arts Boston
465 Huntington Ave.
Boston, MA 02115
(617) 267-9300
www.mfa.org

At Boston's Museum Of Fine Arts, there are a multitude of family arts & crafts activities to enjoy. Most of the programs offered at the MFA are free with museum admission. By simply checking the calendar at MFA you will see that there are a variety of things to do for families that range from story time to museum scavenger hunts, and much more. On Wednesday evenings, for example, there is a program called "Drawing in the Galleries," which allows museum-goers to sketch from models in the museum's collections. While this may be better suited for older children and adults, the museum says it's for "all ages."

Commonwealth Shakespeare Company
(Photo Credit: Commonwealth Shakespeare Company)

Shakespeare On The Common
Tremont St. (across from the AMC Loews Movie Theater)
Boston, MA
(617) 426-0863
www.commshakes.org

If you are in the mood for more "arts" and less "crafts," the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company performs on the Boston Common each summer for free. Families are invited to enjoy some classic theater from July through August. Many families enjoy bringing snacks to watch the show which runs during various dates and times each year. The company has not announced their summer production yet, but you can check their website for more information.

Related: Boston's Best Upcoming Theater Productions

Boston-based writer Effie Orfanides keeps up with all of the latest happenings in her city. She loves eating at Boston's hotspots, having drinks at the trendiest bars, and enjoying all that Boston has to offer. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.

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