Did you know BREC offers art classes and creative programs for both kids and adults throughout East Baton Rouge Parish?
From free after-school art programs and a unique kids’ book-and-art experience to open studios and creative nights out for grown-ups, BREC Art has plenty of opportunities to get creative this fall.
And if you’re not sure where to start, there’s a brand-new FREE event where you can check it all out!
🎨 BREC Mini Art Fest – A FREE Art Festival in Baton Rouge
BREC Art is hosting its first-ever Mini Art Fest Open House on Saturday, September 12!
Families can meet BREC Art educators, learn about upcoming fall programs, see artwork created by young artists and – most importantly – make some art themselves.
Kids will have opportunities to create art to take home and play with clay, and there will even be popcorn and lemonade.
Mini Art Fest Details
📅 Saturday, September 12, 2026
⏰ 1–4 p.m.
📍 Baringer Road Park
7401 Baringer Road, Baton Rouge
💰 FREE
👉 Get all the Mini Art Fest details from BREC.
Mini Art Fest is also a great opportunity to discover just how much BREC Art offers throughout the year.
Here are a few programs we think Baton Rouge families – and grown-ups! – should have on their radar.
🎨 BREC Art Programs for Kids
📚 Book Days: FREE Books + Art!
This one is such a gem.
BREC Art partners with Line 4 Line, a nonprofit that promotes literacy through diverse books that engage, inspire and connect young readers.
Each Book Days session begins with a beautifully illustrated children’s book. Kids then create an original piece of art inspired by the message of the story.
And here’s the really fun part:
Kids get to take home BOTH their artwork and the book!
Thanks to books donated by Line 4 Line, Book Days is FREE, although advance registration is required and space is limited.
The program is designed for ages 8–12 and has been offered at several BREC Art locations throughout East Baton Rouge Parish.
👉 Find upcoming Book Days and other youth programs through BREC Art.
🖌️ SmARTies: A FREE After-School Art Program
Parents of creative kids, put this one on your radar!
SmARTies is BREC Art’s FREE after-school art program designed to give kids an opportunity to explore creativity, imagination and art.
BREC’s goal is to help children develop open minds, try new experiences and build a lifelong appreciation of the arts.
SmARTies is designed for ages 8–12, while Little SmARTies gives younger artists ages 6–7 an opportunity to get creative too.
The program is FREE for East Baton Rouge Parish residents, but space is limited and registration is required.
👉 Explore SmARTies and BREC’s other youth art programs.
🎨 BREC Art Isn’t Just for Kids!
This might be our favorite discovery: BREC Art has programming for grown-ups, too.
Whether you’re already an artist, haven’t picked up a paintbrush since elementary school or simply need an excuse to get out of the house and do something creative, there are several programs worth checking out.
🎉 Wednesday Night Shindig
Need something different to do on a Wednesday night?
Keep an eye out for Wednesday Night Shindig, one of BREC Art’s adult offerings.
Instead of another night of the same old routine, make plans to spend an evening creating, connecting and trying something new.
No need to consider yourself an “artist.” BREC Art programs are designed to welcome a range of experience and skill levels.
👉 Check BREC Art for upcoming Wednesday Night Shindig dates and registration.
🖼️ Open Studio at Baringer
Already working on something of your own?
Open Studio at Baringer gives creatives a place to bring their personal projects, work alongside other artists, visit and receive supportive feedback.
It’s less structured than a traditional art class and more of a creative community — making it a great option for anyone who simply wants dedicated time and space to work.
Even better, BREC has offered Open Studio as a FREE, drop-in program at Baringer Art Center.
📍 Baringer Art Center
7401 Baringer Road, Baton Rouge
👉 See current Open Studio dates and BREC Art programming.
✂️ Arts + Krafts – AND Childcare!
Parents, this one deserves some attention.
Arts + Krafts gives adults an opportunity to enjoy a creative experience – with childcare included.
Yes, you read that correctly.
If finding childcare is usually the thing standing between you and actually signing up for something fun for yourself, this is definitely a BREC Art program to check out.
Grab a friend, plan a creative night out and let BREC help take care of one of the hardest parts of making those plans happen.
👉 Find upcoming Arts + Krafts dates and registration information.
Discover BREC Art in Baton Rouge
BREC Art offers hands-on visual arts programming for all ages and skill levels throughout East Baton Rouge Parish. Classes and workshops combine real artistic principles and techniques with plenty of room for creativity and fun.
BREC currently has permanent visual art programming at locations including:
🎨 Baringer Art Center at Baringer Road Park – 7401 Baringer Road
🏺 Drusilla Lane Park – BREC Art’s ceramics headquarters, complete with pottery wheels, kilns and tools for hand-building
🖌️ Milton J. Womack Park – home base for much of BREC’s youth art programming and seasonal art camps
You’ll also find BREC Art popping up at community events throughout the parish.
Whether you have a child who can’t get enough of drawing and painting, you’ve always wanted to try pottery, or you’re simply looking for a new creative outlet of your own, there’s probably a BREC Art program you haven’t discovered yet.
Start with Mini Art Fest on September 12 – meet the educators, make some art and see what inspires you!
👉 Explore all BREC Art programs, classes and upcoming events.
BREC Mini Art Fest
📅 Saturday, September 12, 2026
⏰ 1–4 p.m.
📍 Baringer Road Park, 7401 Baringer Road
💰 FREE
This post is sponsored by BREC. As always, Baton Rouge Family Fun only shares programs, events and resources we think our local families will genuinely want to know about.