There are some places in Columbus that make you stop and think, “Wait… why didn’t I know this existed?” The Fran Ryan Center is one of those places.
We recently stopped by the Fran Ryan Center for Demo Day, which gave us a chance to peek inside the different studios, see some of the classes in action, and talk to the instructors. Honestly? We left wondering why we haven’t signed up for approximately 47 classes yet.
The Fran Ryan Center is a Columbus Recreation and Parks facility focused on creativity, wellness and community. The building has a whole collection of specialized studios designed for people who want to learn how to make things.
The center has eight specialty creative studios, including ceramics, glass, lapidary, model railroad and woodworking.
And these aren’t just rooms with a couple of tables and a box of tools. These are spaces with the equipment needed to learn some pretty cool skills.
The glass area has space for stained glass and glass fusing, while the ceramics studio is filled will pottery wheels and knils and glazes.
And then there is the model train room, which was basically guaranteed to make us stop and look around like kids at a museum.
One of our favorite parts of Demo Day wasn’t even the studios, it was the instructors.
Every instructor we talked to was incredibly friendly and genuinely excited to tell us about their space and what they teach. You could tell these weren’t people who were just there to clock in and explain where the supplies were. They were excited about their crafts and clearly wanted other people to get excited about them too.
That enthusiasm was contagious.
The classes we got to see during Demo Day looked genuinely fun . The whole point seems to be learning by actually doing and not just sitting through a lecture about how glass works and then being sent home.
There Are A LOT of Classes
Even though we only got a small taste of what’s offered, there is a surprisingly huge variety of classes.
Columbus Recreation and Parks offers arts and crafts classes ranging from woodworking and ceramics to stained glass, glass fusion, jewelry, fiber arts, painting, drawing, photography, sewing, printmaking and more. There are also plenty of special-interest classes.
So whether you’ve always wanted to try woodworking, have decided that 2026 is finally the year you become a stained-glass person, or just want to find a new hobby that doesn’t involve scrolling on your phone, there’s a good chance you’ll find something worth trying.
And that’s one of the things we really liked about the Fran Ryan Center: you don’t have to already be an artist.
The classes are designed for different skill levels, so you can show up knowing absolutely nothing and start learning.
What to Know Before You Go
Parking:
There is ample parking, so you don’t have to spend 20 minutes driving around wondering if you can legally park somewhere.
Materials:
Depending on the class, you may need to purchase some materials separately. Things like clay, glass or other specialty supplies may not be included in the class fee, so check the class details before signing up.
Check the Class Schedule:
There are a ton of classes, and offerings change. It’s worth checking the current Columbus Recreation and Parks class listings before making your plans.
The Final Takeaway
The Fran Ryan Center is one of those Columbus spaces that we’re really lucky to have.
It’s not just a place to take an art class. It’s a place where people can learn something new, make something with their hands, meet people and potentially discover an entirely new hobby.
And after walking through the studios and seeing what students are making, we’re convinced there is something pretty special happening here.
Plus, if you’re anything like us, you may walk in thinking, “I’ll just look around.”
And walk out thinking, “So apparently I’m taking a stained glass class now.”
Go check it out. Seriously.
Check out the Fran Ryan Center and see what classes are coming up. The center also hosts Demo Days, which are a great way to get a peek at the studios before signing up.
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