Manhattan Youth Downtown Community Center

We attended an arts class here for ceramics. It was excellent and the instructor was greAt. The class itself lasted about 2.5 hours. We chose to make our own ceramics (first-​timers) rather than following the directions of making the mug. Everyone else’s mugs looked excellent. 2hours wasn’t for freelance sculpting however, so keep that in mind if you’re new to this and planning on making your own. The instructor was kind and she helped us with our side projects while instructing the class. I would definitely recommend this centre and to try ceramics :)
They look like they have cooking and other art classes as well.

Went here for a friends birthday gathering for pottery class. It was a deal, and it was fun. The facilities are really modern and clean, and it is primarily for young folks (kids) but they have classes for adults, like pottery.
The class itself was great very laid back, the teachers were very helpful in orchestrating our ideas. That’s what art needs support!
It’s a great spot for the community especially young people. There is a swimming pool and various recreational areas.
If there were more classes or services offered to adults I would not hesitate to visit the Manhattan Youth Downtown Community Center again, with the organization and cleanliness of the facility it is very inviting.

The Manhattan Youth Downtown Community Center is a very special place and everyone there treats each other with kindness. I worked there for three years teaching filmmaking to 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th graders, and I had a blast! We even were able to celebrate our work at the Tribeca Family Festival where the children were treated like real directors and filmmakers, walking down a red carpet and participating in Q&A’s!
I was lucky that the program director, Theseus Roche, reached out to me after he found one of my promotional postcards in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn. At the time I was running my own filmmaking program at the Creative Arts Studio called The Young Filmmakers Niche. He invited me to take a tour of the DCC, which was still under construction. After meeting with him, I was convinced that I had to help him build their after school program.
DCC’s goals were to revitalize the downtown community after ⁹⁄₁₁ by offering families a safe, fun and productive place for children and adults alike. They have grown to become a trusted center, a home away from home. Even after the DCC was struck hard by Hurricane Sandy, a year after I left to attend graduate school in Boston, the community came together and rebuilt the center. After reconnecting with Theseus just a few months ago, he gave me a tour and I was amazed by how much the facility has improved. This is surely thanks to the contributions of the community itself.
I love this place. My coworker even became one of my closest friends and every time I am in the neighborhood, I stop by just to say hello. The staff members there, especially my former supervisor Susan Kay, is always so happy to see me. I am sure if I run into Bob Townley, the founder, he’ll be happy to know that I am almost done with my MBA degree. The people of the DCC genuinely care about you, and it is no wonder so many families (even former staff) remain close by.

best thing downtown if you have a kid or a toddler. Our two year old baby jumps up and down when we just mention school. They have so many classes and activities that would fit most people.

great local resource for kids classes and afterschool programs. The staff is attentive and responsive and my son loves going here weekly for swim and recently started camp this summer. Can’t say enough good things about this place, or it’s importance in this community. We’re very luck to have such a resource in the neighborhood.

My kids have both taken swimming classes here and i do the adult yoga on Pier 25. Classes are priced so average people can afford to take them. The facilities are super clean, and the staff are knowledable and friendly. The atmosphere is very relaxed. If you are looking for a respite from the busy city, this is it.

Having never done ceramics before, I was unsure about whether or not I’d be able to keep up in a class with people who weren’t beginners. The fully equipped ceramics studio was a bit intimidating at first, everything was so professional looking, but Susan made sure to walk me through what the rest of the class already knew, making sure that I could keep up. It was so much fun I quickly forgot that I was a beginner and the time just flew by. The other students are great people to chat with, and to ask for help! After three classes, I felt comfortable enough to go back during open studio time to work on the project id started by myself, without Susan there. The open studio time is a great way to relax and unwind, working independently and at your own pace. Taking this class was definitely one of the best decisions I’ve made this year.

As someone who has always wanted to take ceramics, but didn’t know anything about it & didn’t think I had the time. Downtown Community Center’s Tribeca Clayworks was perfect! Not only is it extremely affordable (I had looked into other ceramics classes), but also the teachers are amazing. You can learn both hand building and throwing on the potters wheel. Most classes I had seen, you could do one or the other for a much higher price. Not only did I bring home lots of finished product my first semester, but it also allowed me to meet new people & find something that brought relaxation to my hectic schedule. Whether you’re brand new at ceramics or advance– this is the place to go. I couldn’t be happier with my decision!